Difficult decision, become very close to Jack, regular conversations about expectations at the club. After the weekend, the desire of the club to get promoted this season is clear, and if that is becoming less likely, as the person responsible you have to make judgement as whether you going to get there. At this stage I considered it too big a risk that we wouldn’t get there so, on balance, best chance of promotion is to change it.
Not influenced by supporters online, don’t read message boards and twitter I take with a pinch of salt. At Sunderland, Jack and I have talked about it, if the fans do turn, it’s difficult to turn them back, Ross felt like he had to win every game and pressure is too high. Haven’t made this decision because of the fans. Can’t please the fans. Only thing can do is see if the end of the season changing manager gets us promoted.
Hanging on this thread for anything positive re:takeover. Keep typing Jasper. You’re doing a fine job.
In response to Barnes asking if Ross’s response to Saturday’s defeat had an impact. If things arent going well, it’s tough. A lot of talk about structure and behind scenes but reality of this club, we have best travel arrangements best medical facilities best budget, and best squad. Extremely well funded at this level. Going to spend £500k on new scouts. Stuff behind the scenes is not the mess everyone’s talking about. Most professional L1 club there’s ever been. With that setup it’s fair to expect the delivery of success. Jack will turn around and will say how many games has he lost? He’ll be disappointed with sacking given his record, but at any other club there’s little chance of being sacked by being 6th.
Q-Has Jack been handicapped by the perception we have the biggest best squad in the league when we haven’t? If you look at it, the things that Jack had to deal with were the different dynamics he inherited. We spent a lot of money acquiring players but an awful lot of players we signed on big money. If you look at the majority of those players that makes up this year’s budget, it’s big, noone else will have that. But turnover of players has been an issue for Jack. But not money. Recent period, it’s all about assessing the atmosphere in the club and that leads you to the judgment.
Decision with Jack gives the best chance to get promoted (doesn’t say that it’s not related to takeover). If there wasn’t any potential investment I would be able to talk about. The fact that I’m not means it is ongoing. When I can say something I will. If any potential deal was dead I would mention it. Laughed at suggestion it was to bury bad news. Can’t win both ways with investment. Got the club in a position where it is investable, lots of people interested and i’ll Tell the fans when I can what’s happened. Any fans think I’m playing funny buggers with the price they’re wrong. Plenty of money to get out of L1, this investment is about long term. We’re talking to people, nobody has dropped out we’re just looking at the detail.
Looking for a manager that can get us promoted. Know there’s frustration to get things right. Might take a short time to do. Life will now get absorbed with manager interviewing process etc. Daniel Stendel? Will be someone potentially looked at. But Jack has gone because I think promotion this season is best done by someone else. Nothing has been pre done. Not because of takeover or investment or because someone has become available. Barnes-licks Donald’s arse about how he knows how much Ross likes Donald.
