Laudrup Meeting

[swanselona]

Its seems that Wales online was only snippets, not the full transcript, as I just found this on SWEP website

After that, when we ended the season, I tried hard to get players to Swansea. Some didn’t want to come, they wanted to go to bigger clubs, others agreed – they said we want to come and play for you.

I moved these names on to the chairman because I don’t negotiate the contract. I make the contact and talk to players and agents and try to convince them, but the negotiation part is for the chairman or the board.

But for one reason and another that I don’t know, none of these players came through.

At this stage, the media started to talk about internal problems, relationships. I said I was sure the club would stick to their word – that means we would strengthen our squad.

Clearly states the players he spoke to wanted to come to us, but it went wrong after that, now that could explain why ML and HJ have (as rumours claim) barely spoken since the summer. Maybe ML feels that the board let him down. We don't know the full story, but thats what I get from this whole thing, and with what is said there.

In mid January I was told they were not satisfied with the whole training staff, the manager and coaching staff.

We talked about it. I always want to listen, but I said I don’t agree with what is said.

After that we played a cup game, we win, a league game, we win, and then we have my last game against West Ham, we lose.

After that I get another message, this time saying I should really, really consider – more than consider – changing the staff.

My answer is that we already discussed that, but we agreed to have a meeting on the Tuesday.

The reason why it was Tuesday was because I had a personal matter on the Monday that my chairman knew about it – and it wasn’t in Paris.

On the Tuesday before training I had the meeting and again it was about changing the staff.

I said we already talked about it and I said it was a big mistake to talk about it at that moment because it was the week before Cardiff, one of the most important games.

What surprised me is that I had the meeting on Tuesday, but already on Monday the things I spoke to the chairman about were in the papers. I leave that with the chairman.

That there then say the second instance was not a request per se, but that they would discuss it at the meeting, a meeting which according to ML, he claimed it was not the right time to discuss it with a big game in regards to the club coming up, something I agree with anyway. Anyhow, he also makes a claim that news spreads so soon after the meeting, which means something is not right, someone was leaking info.

However, we ended up saying we had to stay together. We shook hands and thank you very much for the work you are doing for the club.

Later that afternoon I received a mail saying due to breach of contract, with immediate effect they would terminate – just a few hours after we shook hands.

Of course, I was very confused. I called and I asked what is going on. We talked this morning and shook hands, but they said yeah, but after thinking – it was a little difficult to hear what was said on the phone.

Then I said, what does breaches mean? He couldn’t explain. He didn’t really know.

While I was on the phone, my wife said it was already on the internet that I had been dismissed.

So professional of our board if what he says is right. If not, I expect our board to come out and dismiss it.

I actually think he speaks very well, doesn't really insult or have a go at the club, and just says his side of the story, which he is entitled to do, without goign too far in regards to what he shouldn't say due to the ongoing situation.

 

[Nottage Jack]

True, I just wish they could get it out there so we can make our mind up - and when I say make our mind up I mean critically think it through while considering both sides of it, not just acting on confirmation bias in favour of ML or against him like some seem to be determined to do at the moment.

I actually agree with the points you make, but unfortunately as ML is no longer part of the club, and the Board are, being STID, I will be biased towards the people still connected with the club, no matter how salient your argument is. I am trying my best to create my opinion on the facts so far, and what they are are as follows;

Background facts:
A) ML and the swans had their most successful season ever LAST season
B) Swansea refuse to deal with ML agent
C) Swansea performance against West Ham was abysmal and kept us within relegation mire.
1) The board Sack ML by email
2) The board do not allow ML to speak to players
3) ML states he does no know why
4) ML in his press conference confirm the board approached him (3 times!) saying they were not happy about the coaching
5) ML confirmed that he told the board he was not going to change anything

Based on the above, I am not pursuaded that the board were wrong.
Please note, everything else, e.g whether we were doing bad / average / good result wise this season can be argued either way and as such cannot be a FACT. Also issues about training / player unrest / ML not being committed are just opinions and rumours.

 

[Matthew Bound Still Lurks]

If the way he was given notice to quit is true then thats a pretty ****ty way of dismissing someone ,especially if they left in the morning exchanging pleasantries .Not even a face to face meeting to explain the boards actions & not a great way to treat someone imo .

 

[swan_and_only]

Is it me or is this just Fukcing boring!

Thank you laudrup for what you have done for this club, but unfortunately it didn't work out. If you have been dismissed unfairly, then you will get what's owed to you. Thank you and goodbye!
END.

 

[Nottage Jack]

Is it me or is this just Fukcing boring!

Thank you laudrup for what you have done for this club, but unfortunately it didn't work out. If you have been dismissed unfairly, then you will get what's owed to you. Thank you and goodbye!
END.

I have just deleted my 1000 word opinion, as it did'nt sum up my feelings as well as swan_and_only's does

 

[Sbulby]

It's clear from what I've read that there were issues between the board and ML, I also believe HJ has tried to save paying out a substantial compensation package to ML by using breach of contract to dismiss him. Big mistake it will prove very difficult to succeed with this action, all ML is doing is setting out his position in readiness for legal action should it happen. We all know that a long drawn out court battle will not only be extremely expensive it will also push the club into the limelight of bad publicity. The board need to reassess the situation and dismiss him on recent results, pay his contract up in full and move on. There is a lot of support for HJ and the board but don't let it cloud our judgement in this instance, it must also be remembered with the greatest respect may I add that in general our board are not financial moguls or high flying businessmen, they are in fact relatively new to all this. We should tread very carefully.

 

[neveroffsidereff]

Is it me or is this just Fukcing boring!

Thank you laudrup for what you have done for this club, but unfortunately it didn't work out. If you have been dismissed unfairly, then you will get what's owed to you. Thank you and goodbye!
END.

Swan I tend to agree with you on that.

Looking at it and to be honest I can't be arsed to listen or see whet Laudrup has said, and to me it looks like a nice PR stunt.

I thank him for the work he has done and especially our Capital One Cup win. We move on and support the Manager, Board etc

 

[ivoralljack]

What are you guys on about? Clearly Huw was not happy spending 12m on Bony as he said at the supporters meeting which indicates pretty stronly that he wasn't Huw's man. And the fact that laudrup didn't play Bony in every game 90 minutes was, as laudrup explained numourus times, to let Bony settle in, new culture, new level etc. easing him in which is a pretty f#cking normal thing to do when a club gets a new player who never played in the league before.

I've never seen so much disrespect and smear thrown at a manager ever it's discusting.

Bony also missed a proper preseason with us because of a glitch with the paperwork (where have I heard THAT before?) so was lagging behind in terms of fitness. As I remember it, Bony was put on specialised training to bring him up to speed. And, yes, Jenkins did moan about Bony's cost, so that would indicate that Bony wasn't his signing.

Sad it's come down to this. I'd like to hear a response from the club but, if legislation is pending, they won't be able to say too much. I'm open minded on this because I believe in integrity. If Laudrup is at fault then he can't complain if he bombs. If the club is at fault, ditto.

But whatever comes of the situation, one thing is clear. The attitude of Jenkins and the Board stinks with regard to banning Laudrup from the training ground. The implication is clear: that Laudrup must have been guilty of committing some real dastardly deeds to warrant that draconian course of action.

Jenkins must have known how this would be reported, how it would reflect on Laudrup, and whatever the feelings about results and the team's lack of commitment, HE DIDN'T DESERVE THAT. It really does lack class and is petty in the extreme. And to what purpose anyway? Did Jenkins think that ML didn't have a mobile phone? Didn't he imagine that they could meet up in their own time if they so wanted? Wasn't Laudrup entitled to say so long and pass his thanks to the players he had signed such as Michu, Chico, Canas, Amat, Pozuelo, and Pablo etc? No. Jenkins knew full well what he was doing and it sucks!

I don't know enough of the facts to comment on the other issues but will repeat that WHOEVER is proved to be at fault here should have their knuckles well and truly rapped - publicly in court if it comes to that.

 

[ValleyGraduate12]

Bony also missed a proper preseason with us because of a glitch with the paperwork (where have I heard THAT before?) so was lagging behind in terms of fitness. As I remember it, Bony was put on specialised training to bring him up to speed. And, yes, Jenkins did moan about Bony's cost, so that would indicate that Bony wasn't his signing.

Sad it's come down to this. I'd like to hear a response from the club but, if legislation is pending, they won't be able to say too much. I'm open minded on this because I believe in integrity. If Laudrup is at fault then he can't complain if he bombs. If the club is at fault, ditto.

But whatever comes of the situation, one thing is clear. The attitude of Jenkins and the Board stinks with regard to banning Laudrup from the training ground. The implication is clear: that Laudrup must have been guilty of committing some real dastardly deeds to warrant that draconian course of action.

Jenkins must have known how this would be reported, how it would reflect on Laudrup, and whatever the feelings about results and the team's lack of commitment, HE DIDN'T DESERVE THAT. It really does lack class and is petty in the extreme. And to what purpose anyway? Did Jenkins think that ML didn't have a mobile phone? Didn't he imagine that they could meet up in their own time if they so wanted? Wasn't Laudrup entitled to say so long and pass his thanks to the players he had signed such as Michu, Chico, Canas, Amat, Pozuelo, and Pablo etc? No. Jenkins knew full well what he was doing and it sucks!

I don't know enough of the facts to comment on the other issues but will repeat that WHOEVER is proved to be at fault here should have their knuckles well and truly rapped - publicly in court if it comes to that.

Unless they have good reason too.

This needs to come out very soon. Surely legal advisors have had enough time now to decide whether Laudrup was dismissed unfairly.
We also need to know what Laudrup did to breach his contract.

 

[Matthew Bound Still Lurks]

Well it took the board 9 days to send out a letter of explanation so they've had to time to get the story air tight I'd imagine .

 

[Ramblin'Jack]

Very similar to the aftermath of his time at Spartak and Mallorca, where he provided the excuse to anyone who would listen that ' it wasn't his fault' why he left or was sacked. This just smacks of a PR exercise to try to get back on the wanted list' of the bigger clubs rumoured to have wanted him last summer.

Well, Spartak was obviously a mismatch of huge proportions. The director of Mallorca was a maniac. Even Rafael Nadal and his dad, co- owner of Mallorca sold their shares and left when Laudrup left. They now play in 2. division.
The reason he left Getafe was because he was told to. By Barcelona. The job as the next Barcelona manager was down to him and Pep and Barcelona at that time had a policy of not hiring managers already in a job. Backed by Getafe director Torres he took the chance but obviously didn't get it. Today he is still on good terms with Torres.

So all this BS about a pattern of trouble in his career to justify his sacking at Swansea is BS. Want to fire him? Fine. But show a little respect on the way.

 

[ValleyGraduate12]

Surprised nobody has mentioned that he intended to stay next season. Personally I couldn't see him here next season even if wasn't sacked.

 

[Matthew Bound Still Lurks]

Surprised nobody has mentioned that he intended to stay next season. Personally I couldn't see him here next season even if wasn't sacked.

So he said he'd have stayed but you say he wouldn't , which for me sums up the whole sorry episode .so many cynics

 

[ValleyGraduate12]

So he said he'd have stayed but you say he wouldn't , which for me sums up the whole sorry episode .so many cynics

It's always looked to me that he would have been moving on in the summer.

 

[DragonPhilljack]

Well not much to shout about from Laudrup here at all, so much for him saying he wants to put the lies to bed, complete not event in my view!......

 

[swanseaandproud]

Trying it on like any manager who has been rumbled would do... There is only one person responsible for his sacking and that is him, nobody else...He was useless at his job its as clear cut as that... Moaning about a letter 9 days later my aunt fanny. who does he think he is kidding......I would have sent one of the Ball boys to tell him he was sacked if it was me....The club is much happier now than it has ever been under his reign and he should be charged for putting a once organised club that he took over into the mess he left....good riddance

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Trying it on like any manager who has been rumbled would do... There is only one person responsible for his sacking and that is him, nobody else...He was useless at his job its as clear cut as that... Moaning about a letter 9 days later my aunt fanny. who does he think he is kidding......I would have sent one of the Ball boys to tell him he was sacked if it was me....The club is much happier now than it has ever been under his reign and he should be charged for putting a once organised club that he took over into the mess he left....good riddance

Low rent as per usual.

 

[Jack Uzi]

Bony also missed a proper preseason with us because of a glitch with the paperwork (where have I heard THAT before?) so was lagging behind in terms of fitness. As I remember it, Bony was put on specialised training to bring him up to speed. And, yes, Jenkins did moan about Bony's cost, so that would indicate that Bony wasn't his signing.

So you're agreeing that Laudrup used Bony correctly.

Changed your mind have you?

Finally, why no Bony AGAIN? Half time stats showed that we score twice as much when he starts. Also, the time between goals is almost HALVED. That is one set of stats that doesn't lie and I have to ask the question, why isn't Bony starting? I bet Bony is asking too.

Also an argument I've heard repeatedly from the Laudrup supporters (not from you, I think) is that players are extremely well paid professionals who should need no motivation and should do their own training if the clubs fitness regime is not good enough. Presumably you also believe this argument is rubbish.

 

[MasterOfNone]

Regardless of what ML has said surely if the board wanted changes then (using my very thin knowledge of employment law) there should have been a sequence of events such as:

1) the chat - ML we're not happy with performance and feel training and staff should change. ML can disagree
2) the written warning repeating request to improve performance
3) the written dismissal

Breach of contract is going to be such a subjective argument

Surely once again the board felt they followed the rules but screwed up the process a la the many other occurrences of dodgy paperwork. I personally feel it's time we had some proper businessmen at the top who have had more experience with multi-million pound companies

 

[DragonPhilljack]

Sousa didn't see the need to do this? ok he wasn't sacked, but was on the end of similar treatment by our Board of Directors, can't see anything coming from this at all! Pay him up Huw, and Laudrup move on please...............