Someones got to let the cat out the bag, just got to be careful with what you say and how you word it. This is a big opportunity to get Les Reed sacked, that's a pretty big prize for a journalist?
Sure, fair question and one I'd probably ask myself if I wasn't in this position. I've spoken to a fair few guys on the circuit and no one has ever seemed to be aware of it though...
I don't blame the local journos for doing nothing, if they indeed know something. Clubs have a tonne of power given that most sports journalism at that level is access-driven: their employers would be loathe to step on those toes even if it proved correct, and even if the club acted upon it. And if you don't trust that the club will do something, well...your paper just ensured that you'll be publishing nothing but match reports (that you generated from watching the match on TV) for the foreseeable future. Bigger papers would be more than happy to claim that scalp, though.
I don't want to get people sacked, not really anything to be proud of whatever the circumstance (unless it's Trump). I just think it's a subject of interest.
If he's abused his power in that way then he deserves to be sacked, no? It's not like he'll be a struggling pensioner.
I get that to a point and Saints are incredibly important to the internet traffic of the echo website, but if your research and sources are sound then I think a journalists instinct would be to report on any potential wrong doing. Going very extreme as an example, but we’ve seen with that whole Harvey Weinstein fiasco how seemingly easy it is for many with a certain power to abuse it unchecked because it’s easier to turn a blind eye
Seem to remember it being suggested that he wasn't going to be replaced. Or perhaps no one has applied yet. I should send in my CV...I have extensive management experience not only in Football Manager but in the Out Of The Park baseball series, and the club appears to appreciate foreigners with a well-rounded sports background. Plus, at my current job I have between three and five impressive-sounding management-level titles (it is a very silly place of business).
But there’s nothing solid enough to suggest that he in particular has. So I’m not about to start calling for heads or start suggesting it’s any more than it is at current. People abusing power happens all over the shop, nobody needs telling about that. It’s just accepted, isn’t it. Harvey Weinstein is a whole different story but I accept the reference you are making in terms of reporting on wrongdoing if people unearth it and have enough proof to show that it exists.
Not really something I can do and there’s not exactly anything to break. The difficult thing with academy football is there are plenty of people with axes to grind - you can imagine the amount of sour parents or coaches - and are willing to sound off about it privately. I suspect whoever takes on these kind of stories has issues with getting people on record. I’d just like to know why the claims seem to exist and why multiple people seem to have had issues. There were those BBC reports not too long back on people pulling their kids out of the academy, and I don’t remember ever hearing why people like Paul Williams left Saints. Do we know why?
Kat may also be aware of it. May sound odd but most things that you think are going unnoticed have some sort of "collusion" element. Honestly wouldn't be surprised!
I’m not sure how involved she is anyway. She always seemed like a fairly withdrawn financial backer. I know a lot of people have been speaking about Gao because he owns 80% and Liebherr only has 20% but has she been at any games since the takeover? I really can’t remember seeing her, but I don’t see every game.
C is difficult. ‘Value’ in football is all based on individuals and their perceptions of what someone is worth. So some people will say it’s worthwhile, some will say it’s not. Same as when contract renewal figures come out in the press, etc. West Ham paying Andy Carroll a reported £100k+ seems a pretty prime example. To address D - it seems on closer inspection that the younger Reed went into football agency in 2015 after a career with London hedge funds.
Now if this is all true, then as much information needs to fall Into the hands of someone who has an emotional tie to the club of, say 44 years; someone who stands to lose nothing (like someone who was a ST holder until very recently); someone who isn’t scared to question a point and doggedly keep questioning that point until they get an answer; someone who can be polite but also a little bit gobby and occasionally full of themselves; someone who could use the full Force of their passion in a creative way; someone who won’t let go. That someone may take this up and start sending mails. Any ideas???? Ps. @- Doing The Lambert Walk you should see my letter to my son’s headmistress!!!
A good mate of mine works at a hotel in Winchester and an old colleague of his who now works at Limewood has told him that Kruger's booked a week's worth of meetings there. Perhaps regarding a new manager or new players or more realistically - nicer lunches with all the players.
I mean why not investigate it? I appreciate you posting your bits on here, and you don't strike me as someone who would post that stuff like that forum unless you were pretty convinced of the validity of the claims. I didn't mean get Les Reed sacked on hearsay and rumors - but why not investigate the claims you've heard? You're as well connected as anyone and you seem to be one of very few people aware of this situation. If what you're saying is true then I can't imagine it'll be too hard to find an ex youth team player (or their parents) that have left due to Reeds actions and is willing to give more details on the matter. Of course abuses of power happen, and usually they are left unchecked. But there are circumstances when people can do something about it, for example having a (potentially) corrupt Executive at a Premier League football club.
