So we have been Managerless, for the past 3 games. Now I have said how negative I thought Gaffer Harris was. BUT we have now conceded 10 goals in those three games, and interim Gaffer red-carded. We seem to be playing like we did at the start of last season NOT A CLUE. Harris brought some alleged good players to Priestfields, and I thought/was looking at promotion with around 100 points. Looking at the present we could be struggling to finish mid-table. We are almost a third through the season and by some grace still just 4 points from Stockport. I hope that Mr and Mrs G find a solution before we get turned into blocks of flats
Well depending on which rumour you want to believe, I guess adds weight to the fact that Harris' sacking wasn't necessarily planned. I'll let you decide from the below as to what we think may have caused his abrupt departure: RUMOUR ONE: Following a usual Thursday staff meeting, Harris was called in to see Scally & Jackett to discuss matters with regards to his assistant manager David Livermore. It is believed that the club hierarchy were still incredibly unhappy about Livermore's actions after the Crawley game in which he allegedly threw a punch at a Crawley player, for which the club received a fine from the FA and also Livermore himself suffered a separate fine and four game touchline ban. That ban ended for him to return to the dugout for the Crewe game, which we subsequently lost. Now I wasn't at the game, but if Livermore got particularly animated during the match, more alarm bells may have been raised that he hadn't learned his lesson, and with the club having only recent delivered a pitch to the fans to improve behaviour, having a potential "loose canon" amongst the ranks does little to help promote that fact. The rumour is that in the meeting, Harris was told to relieve Livermore of his duties and to either appoint a new assistant manager that was lined up or at least look elsewhere. Harris supposedly refused to sack his mate and a disagreement occurred and Harris lost his job in said meeting (with BG's approval). RUMOUR TWO: It was Kenny Jackett that got Harris sacked and not Scally, apparently Scally was actually against his sacking and felt that with the club's position in the league we should endeavour with NH. KJ and NH apparently disagreed multiple times in the summer over signings of potential strikers. After the Colchester defeat, KJ wanted NH to leave there and then but BG felt he should be put "under review" and after the loss against Grimsby, his card was marked. The general feeling from KJ was that NH wasn't maximising the squad to its full potential and by the time of his sacking, all of the upper-management with exception of Scally were in agreement for his departure so Neil was relieved of his duties. This rumour has also has had fuel added to the flames by a tweet made by NH's wife suggesting that someone was a Snake to Neil, considering Neil & KJ had worked together before and Neil had often leant on KJ in the past for advice. Further weight is given to this rumour/theory from the fact we saw a sudden change to the style of play from the Doncaster loss onwards where its believed NH was changing the style in a bid to protect & save his job.
All very sad mate whichever rumour is true. I'd always stood by Neil Harris stating he would get my support until the end of the season and his goal, my goal for him was no less than a play-off place, which I felt was reasonable considering the tools he had now been given to do his job. However, as I said at the time his departure, it came as no surprise to me, I'm loyal but it don't mean I agreed with his tactics. Yes they worked to a degree, and more so evident they did since his departure. But I really don't like parking the bus no matter how effective it is, unless it;s the last 5 mins of the game. Once his departure came, I was always going to support a Galinson decision no matter how it came about rumour 1 or 2. I don't see Kenny as a grass at any stretch of the imagination, so with no foundation I'd go with r1 because I don't even want to consider r2. I strongly suspect NH is also a guy that is loyal those around him, so his subsequent reaction would not surprise me. (all the best to Neil) It's what good teams are built on loyalty, sadly somewhere here it all went a tad pear shape, and things have not looked good since Neil has gone. A twist to this tale with tongue firmly placed in cheek would be for Evans to turn up again, then the gates of hellfire would really open lol. In the Galinsons we trust UTG
Kenny Jackett came in the same time as Andy Hessenthaler, KJ is director of football and AH in charge of recruitment, if ive got my facts right, so any coach coming in to replace NH, I assume would be under Jackett, who works closely with the owners (assumption), so I'd imagine a lot of power. That's why I always thought Neil Harris being ex Millwall as well was a good fit, but clearly things went a bit awry somewhere. It happens I suppose when the heat is on and heads get lost, and something small can usually become quite big, quite quickly unintentionally. All assumptions of life more than anything by me. Should be noted that Scally has always been a Millwall fan allegedly so the names popping up within the management team comes as no surprise.
Did we have a 'manager' today ? .....It's not that I mind losing - but - not the way we lost today. It was obvious at 3.00.01' today that Gills had absolutely NO intention to attack the opposition... WHY? were we playing some sort of super power ? With no disrespect to Notts County - they are a humble L2 side - nothing more (( who also got stuffed 1-4 last week ))!... The tactics employed by who was in 'control' today was an insult to the fans.......and, unfortunately it is us fans who suffer the consequences. I could have stayed at home watching the cricket (more entertaining ), instead of doing my usual 100 mile commute to the ground in crappy weather - if I had known we weren't going to bother in the first half. Admittedly the 2nd half was a lot better ( anything would be better that the excrement of the first half. ) Notts County looked very vulnerable when we decided to go forward - and, if we hadn't been asleep to their quick corner, Gills could have gone on to get at least a point.... The game was lost in the first half - and the Gills fans deserved better (( not the idiots who decided to throw stuff at the keeper. )) If Gills don't want to 'try' for both halves of the game, wouldn't it be fair of me to ask for a 50% refund ?
Notts County are 2nd for a reason. Yes we could of attacked them more but that could of left us vulnerable at the back like last few games.
A 'rose' by another name ! So - Brad has stated that the new appointment will be the First Team 'coach' -- but won't be in charge of recruitment --- or, (( if I have got it right )), won't have any input regarding recruitment. ..... I actually think (( and hope )), that Brad has poorly chosen his words - to mislead (( or is it just me that is misled ? )) I find it difficult to believe that the First Team coach wont have any input with regards to potential players that he/she would like - that is how it must work at 99.99% of clubs -- the coach / manager can give the Chairman ( and recruitment Committee ), a 'wishlist'. ... Ultimately the Chair(person) at all clubs will say ' how much' is available. It would worry me if the Coach / manager wasn't permitted to have ' a say ' in recruitment....Without singling out people like Scally, what footballing 'expertise' has he got ? - He has only ever wanted to do things on the cheap (( unless it went into his pocket. )) - I have absolutely no confidence in any 'on field' decision that is controlled by Mr. Scally....... Mr. Galinson is right to admit limited 'footballing' knowledge - but he would be making a big mistake if he doesn't allow the new Coach to be involved in the selection process of new players.
As I understood it, that has more or less been the case since Brad took over. Kenny Jacket and Andy Hess are in charge of the rest, the new guy will be in charge of what goes on on the pitch. Like any team, I'm sure Kenny, Hessy and the new guy will all work together in what's best for the club. I don't see a problem with that.
brb - I agree with you.... like I said, I think Brad worded the 'position' in such words as to suggest that the new Coach wont have any say in recruitment choices.
Ah I see, yes I agree then, all about the words. I suppose the new gaffer will have had all that little detail ironed out, so he knows what his responsiblities are exactly...or I would hope so.
