S.A.F.C. - the future

Would it? How do you know all of this?

My money would be on Rodwell staying. He's been tarred from day one due to a decision he didn't make reference the season cards.

 

I think the horse has bolted.

 

How do I know what? That the new bloke, who has literally given a podcast where he detailed the incredibly wide ranging responsibilities he was taking over the football side of the club, will be having a big say on the football side of the club? Haway, we've got a Sporting Ditector, it's obvious that he is going to have a massive say going forward. Previously there was only Rodwell, and directors who were nowhere near the SoL. Of course Rodwell is going to be less involved than he was.

 

In what way has the horse bolted?

 

I think that's been well covered by other posters on the board.

 

Fair enough. What I would say is that it's probably worth waiting a while to see how things turn out. I don't think there's going to be any issue whatsoever between RAWA and KLD. It's likely that KLD will attend the next meeting with RAWA (I think in future he'd be likely to leave it to speakman and Rodwell but I think he'll be at the first one) and I imagine it will be a very amicable chat. Let's just see.

 

That's all that can be done really. Watch this space.

 

This was exactly the point I was making regarding not the end of the world if Rodwell stays. It shouldn’t cause concern if he’s still there unless there are other indicators to be concerned about. He will be making little to no decisions about football, and any business related decisions (like ticketing) you’d hope / imagine he will be able to act in a much less penny pinching way under his new boss.

And we all know the EFL are a basket case and frankly I think having somebody who is “in” with the EFL can only be of benefit; even if just during a transition for 6 months to a year.

On the flip of this, the fact Rodwell was linked to the top EFL gig would potentially suggest he’s been told or at least expects that his time may be limited.

 

Exactly. He seems to have done a bit of the football side and a bit of the business side in his career. The EFL stuff will have been more business oriented though, and since we've now got a director specifically to oversee the sporting side its not a reach to say that's likely where he'll be focusing again. Who decides on the coaches for the academy, the scouting, the recruitment, the pathway from academy to first team, the loaning of youth players, who has the footballing discussions with the manager? I think all that will be Speakman (or people who come in under him like an academy manager, reporting to him) or Johnson or a combination.

Effectively that leaves Rodwell doing more of the stuff Methven was doing around the business side. He's presumably quite competent at that, and as you say he'll certainly have a less penny pinching boss (I'm sure he'll still have a very tight grip on the finances, but he'll be able to spend if he thinks it'll help). I'm fine with Rodwell staying tbh, which I wouldn't have been if he was still overseeing the whole lot.

 

I don't really have an opinion if Rodwell stays or goes, but it does seem that Rodwell was brought in by SD to steer the ship and take any flak for him whilst he was trying to sell club and academy kids. However, on reflection at the time of his appointment seemed to coincide with takeover rumours starting so maybe he was brought in to steer us through this period and beyond. Whichever is the case at this present time our club needs unity and not the infighting of RR, WMS, RAWA, or any other fans group who claim to have 'biggest dad on the playground FFS we have a new owner who seems to be giving us a sense of identity and a direction we have craved for so long and if he decides to keep Rodwell then I will trust his decisions until I have reason not too. Its about time a few fans and fan groups just grow the f##k up strap themselves in and enjoy the ride instead of looking back and twisting about past mistakes.

 

Sadly it's a little worrying that some of the 'fans groups' seem to see that as their job.

There are many thousands of ordinary Newcastle supporters who are now seen as delusional loons because of the actions of a handful of self elected spokesmen for the entire 'Geordie Nation'. There are a handful of people, totally carried away with their own self importance, writing to the PM, stalking the PL and others like the idiot Wraith speaking on TV as if they're King of the Geordies.

Rodwell was brought into an absolute shytestorm and, virtually single handed, has had to deal with an angry support, absent owners, failing manager, huge financial problems, Covid, an imminent takeover and a maniac with a crazy beard, running around Roker seafront, claiming to be the new owner ...

... of course he'll be less involved and I'm sure he'll be bloody glad about that.

But ffs, he's a member of staff, exactly like Doris the tea lady.

Please can we drop this obsession with the inner workings of the club. The fans groups are getting far too carried away with these meetings with the new owner, supporters demands and future involvement. Of course the RAWA meeting with the new owner will be amicable, why the hell wouldn't it be ...

... KLD will smile, nod and think 'that's lovely lads but I have a massive club to run, now finish your coffee and get out of my office'.

Sorry but that's the truth and everyone needs to get real and get used to it.

 

I can't recollect the actual timing, but could Rodwell have applied for the EFL job because a previous potential owner had indicated that they would be bringing their own team in? Or perhaps he was just sick of the SD & CM circus. We will never know but he appears to have been given the chance to get on with his job and he will know who is paying his wages and will act accordingly. The choice is his, get on with the job or be replaced, don't expect much sympathy or old pals act from the new owners.

 

I think people need to realise that history whilst great to look back on is to all intents and purposes irrelevant. We can learn from history be it successes or failures but history is that it is yesterday and all we can do as a club is deal with today's and tomorrow's we have to plan move forward and to create new memories which will be our bright future. And just maybe when we look back we will remember these days with a smile and add new ' history to our already historic club. And I would also like to add the history of football in this country did not start in 1992 when the Premier league started as a lot of the mainstream media in this country seem to think.

 

Well said that man.

 

And as the mags should have come to realise, that no petition, letters to MPs or protests have any influence on how an owner runs his club.
The one and only thing any fan can do to make any difference is to not turn up.
If the mags suddenly started getting 15000 attendances Ashley would sell to the highest bidder in a flash, they have tried everything they can and it hasn't made any difference whatsoever.
Hopefully our fan groups can have a good relationship with KLD and everybody is happy. From what is happening so far I'm very excited for the future and as you have said mate I don't really think KLD will really be that worried about what RAWA have to say for themselves.
Roll on transfer window I cant wait and can everyone now just get behind the lads and get this party started

 

At least we're a happy group on not606 with the takeover.
If KLD reads this at least he knows that we're not all a bunch of miserable sods, and appreciative of his efforts so far.

 

This sums the British media up perfectly. In their eyes good news is no news, not the other way around.

 

To he honest mate, I'm not one for "I knew that" but the one genuine bit of information I got very very early on was from a lad that done some work for one of our fringe players Dads, (sounds like my next door neighbours, best mates aunties uncle in know)and he told me within around 2 months of them coming in they were flogging off youth players from the Academy. I kept it to myself and took it with a pinch of salt, but not long after the stories started coming out.

I'm with you, on let's just enjoy it and see what happens.

 

No clouds raining on our parade,mate. Can't wait for the new boss to clock in. Young, passionate about football, business minded, loaded with a history of football in the family. Let's get our seat belts on. Oh and Happy New Year to you and yours,Mr Smug.

 

Sadly they feed the public and the public will always lap up bad news.

Cheers mate, all the best to you all.