OK, you now know that I go under the name of John in France when I correspond with Jon Marks. I feel really cheated that Baz didn't show, so I intend to send the following to him via the club. Any suggestions on how it can be improved will be greatfully received. Dear Mr, Bassini, Last night you missed the best opportunity you have ever had to win over the 10,000 or so fans of Watford football club to your plans for the future. The fact that you didn't appear shows either a serious illness or a fear of facing the people who contribute week in and week out to the club that they love. Although I cannot wish that you do have a serious illness, I do think that a cough or cold would have hardly have been sufficient reason to pull out of such an event that has great significance for football fans. I have supported Watford for sixty years now, and would feel cheated if the current owner felt unable to talk to me. Maybe you do not place the same importance as I do to such an event, but to listen to your fellow directors trying to cover up for you was embarassing to say the least. If you feel unable to speak directly to the people who pay money to keep the club alive, maybe you will put out an official statement confirming that you will be starting the South West corner fitting out shortly, that you will be relaying the pitch in the close season, that the bonds will be repayed on time, that you will continue to take no payment for your work at the club, need I go on. Even better why not hold an interview with Jon Marks on 3CR, when you can take and answer questions directly from fans? You not only let the fans down, but to a greater degree you let yourself down. To hear someone who has spoken directly to you say that they were not surprised that you had pulled out shows that you do not share the passion for supporting a club such as Watford. I live in hope that you might reply to my message, but if you don't it will soon be known that you are not the man you would like us to think that you are. John in France
Well said OFH, he would have faced some difficult questions tonight but his non-appearance will lead to far more concerning rumours and conjecture. I hope he will commit to an interview on 3CR with open questions from fans on the line. If he won't do that then something is very up. Good to hear that Dyche has more of a vision than his football so far this year might suggest, not sure I agree with all he said but appreciate his conviction and the fact he showed up!
It'll be interesting to see how long it takes the club to attempt to spin this situation. If he was too ill to turn up to the biggest PR opportunity in the Watford calendar, I assume that he will not be well enough to have detailed discussions with his advisor first thing tomorrow morning.
Tonight was a bit of a watershed. Surely no one can now be in any doubt that the club is owned by someone who cares not a jot about it other than as a vehicle to make money. All of that guff about judging him on his actions....well, consider yourself judged Baz.
your missive is good Frenchie I would be most interested to see if you are answered by LB himself or by a club official! heartened to read that Sean shares a vision beyond the standard of this seasons headless chickens!
All my concerns about baz originally are now heightened.... Dyche comes across as a honest guy etc etc... BUT we need to score goals..... Graham was the diff last season plus a couple more classier players in the squad etc... I am still worried ++ BUT on Saturday we had enough about us to improve and stay up..
The timing was rather unfortunate more than anything.. Had there been a statement made on Monday or even Tuesday afternoon saying Bassini was ill and unable to attend people might have thought in a more positive manner.. Clearly GT and co weren't happy and not able to give the detailed answers people were hoping for. On a more positive note I though Dyche did come across well and at least gave people time to air their view and accepeted not everything was well. You cannot expect a manager to come out in public and not defend his way of working though.
I listened to it last night, and other than Bas not being there, I did come away with it feeling positive! Dyche did seem to get a bit of a hard time and felt his was finding it tough to hold back and say "i'm the Manager, not you", but fair play to him. I think he answered a lot of the questions well, and GT backing him helped too! I'm hoping a lot of fans have come away feeling better about the team (if not the owner) and that we are moving forward, albeit too slowly for some people's liking! We are very much a work in progress on and off the field... it would just be nice if Bas would field some questions!
I was not able to listen to the broadcast, but reading the comments here and elsewhere, I think that this was GT signing off. He was clearly embarrassed and annoyed at Mr B. not turning up, and he seems to be on the margins of decision making at the club. Though he may feel he can offer some football advice to SD he must realise that by staying all he is doing is giving some legitimacy to Mr B, and he may not want to do that for much longer. The no-show was a disaster for Mr B, and the e-mail from OFH/John in France puts it very well. He MUST respond. The trust Mr B built up by his early season promises and actions has now been squandered, and we are all suspicious about his motives , intentions and competences once more. The idea that the future of the club depends on him is very worrying.
I hope he or at least someone at the club takes the time to reply, it is not as if you are having a rant!
You can listen to the Forum on the BBC i-player for Three Counties. Ignore the first 30 minutes introduction, and go to the start of the questions. The first half hour of the questions is very revealing of a dysfunctional management at the club. Timperley makes it clear that the "very able" Winter and his no 2 left because "it was not working for them". Since then the club has had no CEO--"Bassini is not a CEO.." Timperley describes a "big hole" in the senior management of the club. They have had to "reactivate the leadership" , put together a new management structure and are in the process of revising the "Winter plan" for the club. It is clear that Bas often surprises the board with his actions, marginalises the non -execs and ignores fan opinion/concern. The scheme for the Red Lion comes entirely from Bas -- GT and Timperley seem bemused by it. The renovation of the East Stand is in "the background" --it is an aspiration , but cannot be expected on any reasonable time frame. GT sounded frustrated , and admitted he had exactly the same concerns and questions as supporters-- so he is in the dark too! He was reading his responses to some questions from notes prepared for Bas--the first time GT had seen this information himself! What a position to put him in! It was telling that in answer to the key question about the financing of future bond repayments , nothing was admitted--except that for Timperley and GT the attraction of the original deal was that the debts could be paid off over time. HOW they will be paid off by the increasingly in-credible Bas was not explained. Dyche comes over as honest--never doubted--but then he will not be judged by how he answers questions at a fan's forum will he?
A good summary Roger and I believe that you have picked out the key points. I was quite horrified at the way the club was being run. Maybe our question about replacing Winter and his number 2 was answered, but not in the way that I expected.
