Im really disappointed by the news.I feel it was not just to do with results,but things behind the scenes.On the Football side he has given us our first League Title in around 50 years,and he had a great bond with the fans.I felt he deserved the full season as he earnt time by what he achieved.But there must be more than meets the eye to why Allen has been sacked.Allen will always be fondly remembered by fans,and I wish him well for the future.Whoever comes in I hope they treat the fans as well as Allen did.
If anything was demonstrated today it was the fans passion one way or another for Martin Allen. I have to admit, I've never seen anything like it in all the time I've been on the social media network. With no attempt of broad promotion or publishing from the site ie never even touched newsnow, Hoadie's four simple words for the title averaged 100 hits every single hour continually for the first six hours and during those early hours the viewing figures never dipped below 40-50 people at any one time. Probably the most visited thread ever in such a short space of time for our Gills board...Wow.
I am desperately sad for Mad Dog and hoped he'd finally found a club where he could settle down and become something more than an impact manager. Media savvy and great with us supporters, he raised the profile of the club and delivered the Title after a couple of years of underachievement. I wish him well and I'm sure we will all be grateful for what he did for us. Mad Dog, we'll miss you. However, I also think criticism of the Chairman is unfair. He's got a job to do and I'm sure he feels he is doing the right thing for the club - if we had stuck with Martin and got relegated we'd all have been very quick to blame Paul and the Board for not acting quickly enough. For those who routinely criticize Paul Scally, take a good look at the ground and compare it to how it was before he took over and then look at what we have achieved over the years he has been running the club - sure, up and down but never dull and some great moments. We are not a rich club but we are financially secure and we do have a platform to build on. I'm willing to bet the Chairman already has someone lined up and no doubt there will be a honeymoon period and a few quid to spend.
I am totally behind this decision, I thank Martin Allen for delivering our first 'league title' in my lifetime, but that as far as it goes, the actual football played for the last 12 months has been some of the worst we have seen in the whole time that Scally has been chairman, in league 2 you can get away with this, but in this league you need to keep the ball better and we have not done that. It is my opinion that the players are good enough to play a style of football that would keep us in this league, and with right appointment now that will be achieved.
Ridiculous, harsh decision. Allen has got the Gills punching above their weight. Where does Scally actually expect them to be, given their gates and turnover ?
In a way sad to see him go. Personalities like his are good for the game but in all the years Shrewsbury have come up against his teams his tactics never changed. From the long throw ins of Sterling at MK Dons to the same on Saturday by whoever.
Only just noticed that out of the 4 words I made a mistake, supposed to be 'has gone' not had gone. Was too angry at that time though so was not thinking about it, however still angry about what Scally has done. I think he has made a big mistake in sacking Martin Allen, if anyone was to blame it is him for not allowing him bring in some new players.
I disagree we should be able to compete at league 1 level, and its easy for people to look in from outside and say its a harsh decision but the on the pitch we have been poor for over a half a season now and the attritional, long ball style of play clearly is not working but we seem to have no plan B. Well now we might have.
Well this is a hard one to answer, yes I have enjoyed the time that he has been manager and enjoyed watching us climb the league last season however I can admit that the football has not been great at times but then it was effective last season so even though it was hard to watch I liked it, this season not so much however I still think it is the wrong call to sack him as Scally has played his part in this as he has not allowed Martin Allen to bring in better players. So to sum it up enjoyed it more last season however this season I have not enjoyed it as much but it is obvious that we need new players.
Thats fair enough Hoadie, but I think its a bit unfair on Scally to say that Martin was not allowed to bring in better players, we signed players in the close season who we can only assume Martin wanted, but did we sign the right players? Of the 4 signed only 1 has started regularly and we have also released alot of players who may have been valuable this season, how many players did we think we needed?
At the start of this season (having won the league the season before!!) and with squad Allen was ALLOWED to assemble. The other two teams have strengthened considerably, we are roughly where I and a lot of people thought we would end be. Expectations are just far to high. Terrible, terrible decision.
Even as a dispassionate observer, I'm shocked by this news. Yes, results haven't been great but seriously, what can be expected when the board hasn't supported all the good hard work put in last season with good hard cash? Trust he won't be out of work too long - in an era of grey, identikit managers the game needs people like him. And if you think the football has been dull of late, Heaven help you if it is to be Peter Taylor.
Yeah wonder what Scally expects, play offs? I think between 12th-16th is where we should be aiming for and we are not far off at the moment so sacking Martin Allen is wrong.
doobeegills I was talking to brb at Shrewsbury about the Clubs finances. I don't believe that the £10M or £12m ( or whatever figure ) debt can 'disappear' for ever. I said that I hoped that it wouldn't come back to bite us any time soon. I accept that Scally can make shrewd financial decisions - as well as some awful ones. I am grateful that he was able to persuade the creditors to accept a pittance, for money they were owed, when Scally took over. I am grateful for the improvements to the stadium - but - A football club primarily needs to perform on the pitch. Currently our team is reaping the rewards for tactics that were introduced half way through last season. As has been said we have employed hoofball & long throw-ins too often. Even under Stimson's relegation season we were playing some reasonably good football at home - trying to pass & move our way up the pitch. I thought that we had reverted to that style against Crewe & MKD, resulting in a fair 'deluge' of goals ! And against Shrewsbury we didn't resort to 'Plan A' & continued trying to pass the ball - but, collectively, just weren't good enough. I feel slightly sad for Martin Allen - but, despite his ' Mad Dog ' tag, he hasn't got the team playing fantastic football or giving 100%. In his last interview, after the Shrewsbury game, he said that Charlie Allen was fantastic at right back !! Can I just say that if Charlie Allen is to be our replacement right back we will get ripped. I can accept that there may be political issues between Chairman & manager. Both need to take responsibility and share of blame when things go wrong. Realistically - for the long term good of the Club, I don't think that this latest sacking will achieve anything. It might lead to a short term success in L1 survival for this season - but probably only delay the inevitable relegation for one more season. Previously I have talked about being pragmatic - we are are small club with small finances - with the likelihood that we will continually flit from L1 & L2. We would need major money to radically upgrade the situation. Scally went to Dubaii to look for overseas investment. For a number of years he has not been able to sell sand to the Arabs ! - and I don't suppose it will ever happen. I am, however 'happy' to support my team through thick & thin ( why do you think I keep going to all the away matches when I turn to brb and say that I expect us to lose 0-3 today even before we get on the coach ? )............. I do ask that they give 100% ( I don't expect anything fantastic.) I am ambitious for the Club - but - until the financial fairy god mother waves her magic wand, we won't be anything other than a L1 or L2 team.... unless, of course, the evil witch waves her wand and demands payment of the 'debt' - then we'll be no more.
Great bloke and personality... BUT did not like his style of football at all. Look at the stats and we have conceded the lions share of possession to most teams this season. We limped over the finish line last season and have limped through this current season as well. I'm afraid Scally was just waiting for the next bad result to pull the trigger... Have also just looked back at our results from back end of November last year. In total its 12 wins 13 draws and 14 defeats in 39 games... mediocre at best... In fact in the last 28 games of last season the figures are: 10 wins 10 draws and 8 defeats, not promotion form... (thankfully the great start last season JUST gave us enough of a cushion to hang in there... (AND I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR WITNESSING WINNING THE LEAGUE LAST SEASON ). Nice bloke.. limited tactically. And at least Monty can go for some nice long walks now...
From a personal perspective and not having a go at anyone's comments, me and alwaysright did talk privately on the way to Shrewsbury as he has said about the finances. I just cannot see for the life of me, how we can just lose, move or payoff £10 million debt. Which then leads to the next question...what affect did these finances have on MA and what affect does it have on any subsequent replacement coming through the door. Scares the bloody life out of me, thinking about it! The Chairman might say this is not relevant, then please let the supporters have some transparency in regards to finances, why MA was constantly allowed to ship out our young blood to make what it appeared, financial balance. It was Scally's job to support MA but also to reign him in...did he do that?...what do I mean...Essam, Jackman, Payne...only playing Davies recently.
Arse to Scally and arse to his supporters. You cannot live off a past success forever. Yes he saved the club but that pot of gold has run dry. The man is an idiot, he lies again and again to us supporters. I will be there Saturday and then not again, I am sick to death of lining a mans pockets who seems to have no interest in us supporters. I will support Gillingham till I die, I will not support a man who seems intent on driving us into the ground in pursuit of a pound note.
Interesting opinion, surely if the intent is drive the club into the ground then you stick with the manager who in the calendar year has lost as many matches as he has won, I am not saying Scally is perfect by any means and yes he cannot live forever on past success, however that should not be completely forgotten either, we dont seem to have people banging down the door wanting to invest there cash in the club. He may have unreal expectations based on our previous success, but I still think that if you take out the first 10 matches of last season Martin Allen has been not much better than any other manager that we have had since Hessenthaler the first time, and therefore in order to give us the best chance of staying up a change was needed, maybe if a buyer could be found we would benefit from a change at the very top too, but this looks unlikely to me. I am sure that there are much easier ways of making money in business than running a league 1 or 2 football club and whilst Scally has an extravagant expat life style in Dubai I am not sure that is as a result of his ownership of the Gills.
