Honestly gobsmacked by this. I don't disagree that we should have done better so far this season but I'm surprised they've pulled the axe this early. https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2023/october/club-statement/
Wow. Very surprised sacked so soon in the season. Always got impression Galinson really liked Harris. Surely Galinson should of sacked Harris last season when he took over and we were bottom.
Tbph mate, and hold on to your seat for this bombshell... I'm actually not surprised, I probably should have said after Saturday or at the very least after Tuesday, but I didn't want to be disloyal in my support for Neil Harris, but now it is done, we move on and the Galinson's have my full support. All the best Neil in whatever he does next, and thank you for coming to us in our time of team, you'll always be high in my praise, but sometimes the business head these days has to kick in, and the owners have made their decision. Thank You.
I'm surprised more at the timing, as opposed to the decision itself. I think when you look at the statistics, 57 league goals in 75 leagues games he managed isn't pleasant reading. However, we still at this very point have the second best defence in the league and usually its a strong defence that gets you promoted from League Two rather than doing what Wrexham are in having 4-4 thrillers. I personally think Harris probably earned himself more time, this month is a particularly hard month for fixtures and I'm not sure changing manager will see some benefit until November personally. But at the same time you have to admire their ambition, although I can't help but feel that they may have been slightly swayed by the vociferous so called fans on the facebook forum.
Oh well, we are going to find out now, because the deed is done, at least it should keep the bantz going round this place a bit longer, any odds on Steve Evans coming back, he must be ready to jump ship at Stevenage by now. Edit: Hasn't Mark Hughes just been sacked at Bradford? <cough>
please log in to view this image Brad Galinson @BradGalinson · 25m The team, Neil, Kenny, myself had a hard morning. Neil was one of the first “Brits” I met in December. He remains one of the highest quality individuals I have ever met. He is a friend above all. The team must evolve and it will. Thank you, Neil
I suppose I had better have my say ! As a 'long-standing fan, I have seen it many times before - and usually there isn't an awful lot of long-term difference in the managerial merry-go-round.......and I'm not sure if that (long-term) scenario will ever change - however, .... That would have been the expected forecast in days gone by - when we didn't have a wealthy owner ! It's coincidental that a couple of days ago I started the ' it doesn't add up ' thread - where we discussed the fact that the squad is underachieving in comparison with it's collective abilities... I more than suggested the problem lies with Harris - who has been far too negative, and been using confusing tactics and personnel formations. I am sure that Brad has seen that his investment is not being used to its' full potential... He will have been as confused as I am by the aforementioned tactics etc... I would think that Brad will have spoken to Jackett and Hessenthaler - for their thoughts, before making his decision about Harris. ---- From a 'business' viewpoint, Brad is right to expect ' better ' (( as I said in the other thread. )) From a 'sympathetic' stance, I would have hoped that Brad, Harris and (at least Jackett ), will have had some discussion regarding 'managerial style' prior to today - where any opinion regarding tactics etc, would have been expressed. - and whilst I'm no expert, I think most agree that Harris needed to do things differently - or at least have a Plan B............. or has Brad been brutally ruthless - giving Harris no hint of the axe ? I might have liked for Harris to be given thoughts and 'advice' from Kenny & Andy - and an opportunity to make 'changes.' - but- it's not my money (as such), that Brad has used... ...If Brad has simply been a 'smiling assassin' (( behind that very broad, cheesy grin )), it might be a worrying sign for the future existence of a Club which is owned by a property developer.....if he sees that his money is being wasted on the pitch, he might look at providing a lot of new homes (( although, from what I hear, he'd do well not to employ Scally's son - otherwise any building project might not get completed until the completion of High Speed 2.))....... we'd do well to remember that Brad hasn't become a multi millionaire by throwing away his money. I would give my thanks to Neil for his efforts last season (and as a Gills player ) - and wish him well for the future.
It seemed odd the timing when Harris was sacked and now seems like other issues were to blame. Statement said at the time Gills looking to go in new direction. Looks like they didn't have new direction at the time at all
In light of what you've said gio, I've copied this from twitter, for those who want more context, I hasten to add it's not the full file (memory size), but it's all that can be loaded by the owner to twitter...
That's all I can see at the moment mate, well apart from people kicking off over it on twitter. I don't really have anything to say on the matter to be fair, I can't turn the clock and I don't like animosity among fans, so will just keep my head down out of it. In regards to Neil Harris, I wish him all the best, in regards to Brad Galinson, probably best he handles his social media in the way he has done so far to date, only engages in something when he feels it's worth saying. In regards to Scally, whatever lol.
What Luke has done there is very clever in that he has generated a lot of hate towards a certain former chairman. When you listen to what Harris actually says is very different to the caption. Harris mentions that "it was a football board decision led by Paul Scally", not a "football decision led by Paul Scally". By not using that one word, it makes it sound like Scally is the one calling the shots, when to me "football board" is Scally, Jackett & Hessenthaler. Add to that someone who posts on the Gills Vital forum who is usually very reliable with regards to being ITK has had it confirmed by more than one source that Jackett wanted Harris gone. People are all forgetting Brad's tweet on the same day as Harris was sacked "The team, Neil, Kenny, myself had a hard morning". KJ being mentioned by name may just suggest that the Director of Football is performing the role he is paid to do.
Well explained mate, and I agree with everything you have said. I also remember Brad's tweet about it having been a hard morning. I didn't see the game on Saturday, I didn't even watch the follow up on ifollow, not because we lost, because I feel things will come right eventually, once the new gaffer is in place. I'd originally had other plans for the day, but even they changed, but I just feel some of the constant moaning by fans is doing my nut in - that's then not helped, when the club will be reported again, due to the behaviour of one individual - I noticed it's already made BBC football news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67184671 10 years of sacking countless managers since maddog has got us where we are today, it's like a hamster in a wheel never changing motion or direction, we get a new owner in and fans still wanted yet another manager sacked lol. It's like the hamsters have taken over the human race... please log in to view this image
You can't make an omelette without breaking an egg! brb - ( as per your last post ) - I have to concede to being a fan who is guilty of moaning 'constantlyish' ! - but - I like to think that my views are expressed 'analytically' - with 'qualification'....and, more importantly, with some element of constructive criticism. My main 'complaint' will invariably centre around the lack of commitment - and sometimes questioning tactics / formation (( which tends to lead to a certain level of unreasonable lack of commitment)). .... I've always said that I don't mind losing ' per se ' - but the way in which defeat is achieved can greatly annoy me. Saturday was the latest example of disrespect to the paying customers !... We made no effort to go over the half-way line until we were 0-1 down...I have conceded that the 2nd half was much better - and even suggested that, had we been a little more adventurous in the first half, we could have won the game............ A question I might pose - just how long was Millen going to have us with 11 men just in front of our penalty area if Notts County didn't score ?? - I bet it would have been for the entire match... THAT is not fair to the fans - and I will ALWAYS express my displeasure if the team / manager / management / administration (( previous or past)) can't be bothered to give 100% commitment --- it's not as if I am paying-per-goal scored !
I've got to the stage now with twitter, that it's predictable after a loss it's either Harris out, then when he's gone it's Millen out, then once he's gone it'll be Out out. When we were on the old BBC606 I did a thread once that was 'Stimmo Out' - it was after our 7-0 defeat against Shrewsbury, me being me it was all done tongue in cheek, and how ironic it was as history was to prove that season. So I just get to the stage now where I go into TimeOUT from the vitriol that is often offered by X....because even Twitter was out. I still remember the Hessy out after the Dover cup game, and Scally's been out for longer than I care to remember. I'm surprised anyone even wants to play for us these days, let alone own us. What timescale we giving it before those same fans turn on the Galinson's, oh don't fret, I've been thinking that since day one of them taking us over, I was like you poor sods, you really don't know what you've let yourselves in for. please log in to view this image
I was there for that 0-7 against Shrewsbury (( and stayed to the bitter end. )) We were quite good at first.. Their keeper made a couple of blinding saves to stop Gills from going 2 up... then - somehow we found ourselves 0-4 at half time (( without playing badly ! ))........... So - do we wish we were still winning 1-0 and playing a fairly boring game ?. Unfortunately football is all about the 'result.'...entertainment is secondary - as evidenced by Gills fans keeping fairly quiet all the time it was 1-0 to the Gills....... There doesn't appear to be room for dinosaurs like me - who can accept a defeat - provided we have given a good 'go' in the game.... ....I believe we have players who are 'good enough' (( as has been shown a few times this season )) - and if they are allowed to play to their full collective potential, they will win more games than lose - and will entertain . Obviously Millen didn't care about the fans in the first half on Saturday - I can't understand why he was so negative (( especially as he doesn't want the job of manger - so shouldn't have been afraid to lose! ))
Oh don't worry, the facebook "discussion forum" (use the term discussion forum loosely) have been gunning for the Galinsons to get rid of Scally "once and for all" after the interview Harris gave and daring to mention Scally's name and again, the comments are purely vitriolic. As for the 7-0 game, I didn't attend but I recall that it went south in that game when Garry Richards got a head injury and went off the pitch for about 25 minutes. Stimson (he has since claimed in an interview with the ME7 Podcast) that he had been advised that Richards would only be off the pitch for 2 minutes so didn't bother to make a substitution. As it transpired, he was off more than ten times that and whilst Simon King was a marvellous defender, he couldn't cover all of that space against a rampant Grant Holt that day.
I will admit to not being happy when I saw that Scally still had a share in the club, however small that maybe, but I soon changed that thought to one of that he's got over two decades of experience within the business, that will include contacts - so it made perfect sense to me for Brad to keep him around. It's no good some sections of fans still gunning for Scally, it is what it is, at least Brad has overall control. I've never seen or been on that FB group you mention, and if I'm struggling with the moaning on twitter sometimes I'm best keeping well out of that place (FB) lol.
I'm banned from Facebook (( having never posted anything on/in it ! ))... As for Scally - I'm sorry, brb - he has only been interested in himself for many 'recent' years... I actually think he is being clever in retaining a minority share in the Club --- given that the new owner is a property developer.... The cynic in me thinks that Scally can't wait for Gills to ' fail.' - he might know that Galinson will simply turn the ground into housing - and kerching kerching ! ..... and I was disgusted to see the arrogance of Scally - taking centre position on the front row of the team photo at the beginning of the season - with Brad at the side.
