Mr Scally has written a letter to the fans explaining the current management predicament. He explains that he doesn't know who the manager is yet and that he wants the fans to email in with their views. An announcement probably won't be due for another week. The full letter can be read here: http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.c...cally-chairman-supporters-letter-2200162.aspx
I'm staggered he hasnt actually met any of the candidates yet but very relieved Hessy and his crazy gang are not being considered.
Well, full credit to the Chairman for saying something even if it is a bit late to be defending his manager from the senseless personal insults which seem to have become endemic in some quarters and, almost unbelievably re-emerge on this thread. The Chairman should have spoken out a couple of month ago. It is also a bit alarming that he pays such heed to these forums. It is quite apparent that a large proportion of the contributors do not go to the matches (with the notable exception of this one of course). What is now intriguing of course, is what the contents of the mysterious telephone call could have been. The Chairman suggests it was not money related and even Scally is unlikely to have interfered with on field matters so the plot thickens. The key thing now is what is the Chairman looking for? Is he going to back a 3 or 4 year vision of building a young squad who will get better season by season. Or does he want to go back to a squad of old pros who might have a better chance of avoiding relegation this year but who will only delay the problem until next year. He needs a vision and a personality to match and he cannot just appoint a crowd pleaser who will not be able to deliver everything. Staying up will inevitably be the priority Turning to the appointment process, it really does take a few weeks to recruit but more important is who, with any sense wants the job? Obviously there is always a flood of applicants but once you sift out the nutters there may not be much quality and an inexperienced up and coming manager is not exactly going to fancy an opportunity where managerial abuse haunts a job and where someone moves on after losing just two games to top teams over two months, whatever the circumstances. Experience of similar situations is likely to be the key but clearly it will be the end of next week before anyone has a clue. Pending any appointment, it may be sensible to construct a new route under the stand from dressing room to dug out for when the next guy ( or maybe Hope Powell) loses two successive home games.
Dear Mr. Scally I haven't looked in other forums. I am, therefore, not qualified to dispute that some of the criticism that the manager and senior executives, namely yourself, have experienced. I have been as 'vocal' as most of the members of Not606. My criticism of the management style is fairly common among our members. The main grievance appears that, for too long, we have adopted a 'negative' playing style. This probably started in mid season of our championship winning year with Martin Allen. At the start of that season we were very flamboyant and attacked at will - scoring goals for fun. Then things became a little too conservative ( for my liking )- where we concentrated in 'crawling' over the finish line. We all know what then happened -culminating with the sacking of Martin Allen after our 0-2 defeat at Shrewsbury last season. I was pleased that you took the trouble to be present for that game - to witness some of the rubbish that fans have had to endure in many other subsequent matches. Peter Taylor was brought in to 'save' us from relegation from L1 last year. This was just about achieved - but the style of play was more tortuous than watching paint dry ! This season, with a couple of notable exceptions, we have had to endure an awful lot of negative football - by this I mean that we have been set up to defend ( I think even in the pre-match warm up ). Members of Not606 have constantly asked why we have to defend corners with ALL eleven players in our 6 yard box - if we clear the ball, it only returns quickly to keep us under pressure. Fans appreciate that we cannot always be as dynamic as everyone would desire - that there will always be times when we need to concentrate on defending - but, in my humble opinion, THAT time is not when we find ourselves losing or 0-2 down in a game. There have been too many occasions when much precious time has been wasted in even thinking about addressing a losing position - thus not giving the team sufficient time to retrieve the situation. It has frustrated me, that when the team has changed their tactics -to be progressive, we have greatly troubled our opponents - but if the opponent has the luxury of a one or two goal lead, it makes our task to gain precious league points extremely difficult. When the side has started to chase the game, they have often displayed more than sufficient levels of skill to win games - IF we could only have belief in the quality of the individual players - from minute 01 we might win a lot more games. I do not believe that you have any real issue with members of Not606. As aforementioned, I cannot comment on the 'abuse' you may receive from other forums - you may have justified grounds to voice your displeasure - which if it has been vulgar, is unwarranted - after all, it's only a game, and our humble L1 team is hardly going to set the world alight. My sadness is that I have seen players perform at a goodly level - but all too infrequently. If they can 'play', can we please see it a little more often. -- I don't care who is appointed as manager - as long as the players are encouraged to spend more time in the opponents half.( with the ball ! ) Yours Sincerely, alwaysright.
To be honest I find this letter a bit strange, surely the chairman of a football club has better things to do than scour the internet looking at managerial suggestions?? The whole thing sounds a little strange, especially asking the fans who they would like, we don't know, we just spout off nonsense most of the time!! All i gathered from the message was that we are unlikely to have manager in place for the foreseeable, meaning that we will have Hess et al in control for a few more weeks. Which leads me to think that we won't get anyone in before the end of the transfer window so which manager would want to inherit a team in a relegation battle without the ability to stamp their own mark on the squad?? So does that leave us with the dream team until the end of the season, these thoughts worry me. As for PT's departure I think it comes down too much more than losing two successive, although I do understand your point Bristol. PT never had the full support of the fans (and I don't think that should matter, which makes Scally's request for fan's input even more odd) due to the nature he took the mantle from Allen. So he would be expected to do significantly better than Allen, so to be in the similar position one season simply didn't cut the mustard with the fans. Yes he was building for the future but we need to mix building for the future with more success in the here and now
I wholeheartedly agree with the majority of what bristol and alwaysright have posted (and I'm not going to nit-pick regarding the bits that I don't). I have actually been able to get to 9 of Gills 25 league matches so far, and have seen 3 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats, which is a fair reflection of the overall performance this season. However at no time in any of those matches did I feel confident that we were actually in control of the game, the possible exception being the first half against Crewe at home. What I also found frustrating throughout the season was the constant changing of the team. I suppose if 11 particular players don't hack it (as they usually didn't) changes are necessary to try and improve matters, but surely that is something that needs to get better sorted out on the training ground. Also, unfortunately, we seem to have been stitched up a bit in the last 2 league games. I didn't go to Port Vale, but understand we were unlucky not to get a draw, and my views on the referee's performance last Saturday have been posted. Having condemned 'what if' scenarios on another thread I'm reluctant to mention that just another 2 points would probably have most supporters feeling significantly more confident about the interim management arrangement and our survival hopes that we do at the moment. Whilst I can understand the Chairman taking time and consideration over the appointment of our new manager, time is one thing that is slipping by. We could very easily find ourselves next to bottom by the time the appointment is made. And whilst I would love to see a younger, dynamic manager in place, with original ideas and a desire to play FOOTball, that is the more dangerous option and one that could go spectacularly wrong, with us not only ending up in L2 next year but with a manager that might not be able to get us back up (again) to where we think we belong (at least for the time being). On the other hand it could just be a totally inspired choice. All is not lost. Having got 25 points from the 25 games so far leaves us needing about 27 points from the remaining 21 games, so whilst improvement is obviously needed it's not (yet) at the 'miracles required' level. I'm not issuing a 'wish list' of managers. I'm more than happy to let the Chairman decide in the hope that he has taken note of the criticism that has been directed towards the style of play of his last 2 choices. Time for consideration notwithstanding, an appointment sooner rather than later is required.
Some excellent comments on here...if i had only one thing to add...a bit like the media do...why focus just on the negatives and never the positives of forums...if you praise certain quarters mr chairman then maybe forums such as not606 will know if we reach a medium balance.
i am totally baffled by this letter. On one hand he says PT was doing a good job, then says that our budget was equal to, if not better than around 14 teams I. The league. This would suggest we are performing below par. Sacking a manager because of the abuse he received? I have never heard anything like this. Did PT want out but rather than walk with no pay off by being relieved of his duties by the club with a golden goodbye so to speak. It's just bizarre. What did happen in that phone call? Guess we'll never know. But it is the fans fault whatever. Asking the fans for recruitment tips. I really feel Gwen as her mailbox is going to get some tripe in it. Again a completely bizarre thing to do. Looks like we will not be getting a manager in anytime soon, so the transfer window will close? Who will want to come in then? PS openly States he has no idea who will be in charge. Seems he has no idea full stop. While others have praised this letter it has left me feeling baffled, concerned and totally confused. Suppose support the Gills is rarely dull. These are just my opinions But it feels all that is left is hope. Hope that things will be ok. So here's hoping. UTG
No idea who I would really want to take on this assignment either... Although I'm believing PT was so defensive that he knew we would get taken apart if we played more open football (as has been seen since, especially in the Bristol match). So he was trying to make us tough to break down. Maybe Scally was just offering this to PT as a reason for the 'abuse' he was getting, and maybe suggested a less apprehensive style of play, to which PT may have said 'do one'... Anyway, the new manager really does need to strike a fine balance between defence and attack. Not going to be easy with the current options in our limited squad.
Taylor has already said that they had a "barney" over the phone together over 4 points, the abuse Taylor was getting, the formations, one player that played that game and something else which I can't for the life of me remember. It was this "barney" that lead to Taylor being dismissed. I've sent my letter of recommendation into the club though so if we appoint someone that I mentioned, then you can all thank me
after you have watched The Gills for as long as me you'll overcome desperation - but you'll have to avoid suicidal tendencies around 5pm on Saturdays
Ive never in the past hadca problem with the chairman but as some of these comnents correctly point out...he does sometimes want me to bury my head in my hands. He clearly needs guidance on how to deal with social media. Does he really think we spend endless hours and the site owner hundreds of pounds just to run a site for negative impact. Come on mr chairman please give us a break....you clearly from your message value our views...so how about for once give out some praise for the positive work...then maybe some social media outlets would only be to happy to the same.
Sorry for posting multiple but i cannot edit until i get my internet back...but as some of u may realise our chairman has touched a nerve. Ive banned ppl from here for their anti scally campaigns but jeez do we ever get recognition...no...we only here a peep when the club dont like something and we get threatened in some way. Democracy eh!
Gemini. PT wasn't sacked because of the abuse he recieved. Read the letter again (and PT's comments quoted elsewhere). There was something said/happened in the phone conversation that caused PS to sack PT. Nothing to do with abuse from fans. And brb, I feel pretty sure the Chairman's anger directed at "forums" is probably towards KoL. I, like many, have stopped bothering to look at their articles because of the crud that follows from "fans". I think sites like this one (and fansonline and 365 etc) are not the cause of any angst. Sure there can be some negativity around. That is to be expected after a loss or bad performance. But the views are normally pretty balanced and don't descend to the personal abuse found on KoL. Maybe it would be nice if PS directed his comments to the specific sites. But I dont doubt he is being careful in who he points a finger at, until he takes them to court anyway
I read the letter a few days ago and afterwards commented to someone that i thought it was well written and got to the points well, also giving away a lot more then he actually ever needs to. But i also stated that some people will still find a way to moan at him for it. Evidently it appears that i was right. Be careful what you wish for people, moan about Scally all you want but he's a damn sight better than a ot of other chairman.
Sir Keefy, As you picked up my point about being sacked because of of fan abuse, I am not the only person who interpreted the letter this way. http://www1.skysports.com/football/...eveals-reasons-behind-peter-taylors-dismissal http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
