Gone

[Vincemac]

If that is what Neil has done he is a disgrace. An absolute disgrace. To cause that level of unrest in the staff you are leaving behind, in any role in life, is despicable and only the most petty and sma minded of people would do it. It would be an incredibly selfish thing to deliberately leave a group of people you have worked with with an impression of the club like that. He would do well to show a bit of class. He was out of work, volunteering at Crewe with a bit of advice, and we gave him a job. He did brilliantly well but he seems to have some kind of ego that makes me think we are well rid. People hated LJ for his ego, if this is true this fella is off the scale.

It’s amazing what people will do for money

 

[DELETED ACCOUNT 1234]

exactly and he’s getting a live demonstration of how likely that big pay check will be here

He's not at all though. You're making the assumption that if we don't give into Neil's demands then we won't pay anyone.

It could be that Neils demands are ridiculous. It could be that he's been asked to prove himself until December and he's kicking off. It could be that Speakman thinks head coaches are replaceable. None of that means we won't pay Stewart what he deserves.

 

[SAFCDRUM]

The players can feel gutted that Neil has left, I don't have an issue with that. However, you play for the club, the badge and the fans. If some are sulking and huffing then they can go as well. No more bad apples. Need Wright and Gooch to rally around and remind the players of the history and pride of playing for Sunderland.

 

[FellTop]

The players will also be fuming because they’ll see how our main contract negotiator deals with contract negotiations. And now they probably fancy leaving whilst their stocks are high before having to negotiate

I honestly dont think it is about contract length. Money possibly, but more about control he thinks he should have in my opinion. He has been trying to drive a wedge between him and the club for a few weeks IMO.

 

[The Berk]

exactly and he’s getting a live demonstration of how likely that big pay check will be here

You have no idea what we are willing to pay a top striker that’s already under contract

 

[Chunksafc]

Players are fuming mind.

To add to my earlier post as you have a contact at the club.

Can you tell your contact to tell the "fuming" players, if they are that upset and can't be arsed tomorrow to not bother coming. Me and for a guess a few thousand others would rather see 11 lads busting their guts out for the shirt than some that have the hump that a manager has gone

It's going to be a hard enough day without sulking players

 

[O'conner flood]

Bit of a clutch there mate you’ve no idea what’s gone on. No need to suggest it’s the clubs fault.

exactly why would they pay him more than they think he's worth ?

 

[Southern A]

You have no idea what we are willing to pay a top striker that’s already under contract

no - but if (big if) that story doing the rounds is true, we’ve seen we aren’t willing to pay our top assets what other championship clubs are (from this one sample size)

 

[FellTop]

The players can feel gutted that Neil has left, I don't have an issue with that. However, you play for the club, the badge and the fans. If some are sulking and huffing then they can go as well. No more bad apples. Need Wright and Gooch to rally around and remind the players of the history and pride of playing for Sunderland.

Personally I think this is what will happen. Players might be in shock and disappointed, but when they get into the ground tomorrow it is game day and they need their game heads on. Anything else wont reflect well on them as professionals, and believe me clubs thinking of signing them in the future will have a note in the negative comment on them.

 

[Drugtester]

If Neil was unhappy with Speakman he should be talking to KLD not whining to the players.

 

[Whittylad]

To add to my earlier post as you have a contact at the club.

Can you tell your contact to tell the "fuming" players, if they are that upset and can't be arsed tomorrow to not bother coming. Me and for a guess a few thousand others would rather see 11 lads busting their guts out for the shirt than some that have the hump that a manager has gone

It's going to be a hard enough day without sulking players

Well said. Guess we will find out soon. Hopefully with it being on sky they will put a shift in.

 

[DELETED ACCOUNT 1234]

If every manager quit because they didn't get the players they wanted, or weren't in control of signings, there'd be no managers after a transfer window ...

... Neil is doing a 'Benitez' here. Lining up his visa, making vague noises about backing then scurrying off for the money.

Managers are never honest about these things. And they demand loyalty even if the player isn't being picked or whatever but they can happily swan off if they don't get their own way.

KLD has a vision for the club and if that means making it viable and sustainable that's fair enough. There are plenty of examples of how not to run a club.

KLD's vision for the club is going to cause us some pain at times, but it's for the long term security of this club (leaving aside arguments of it being successful or not).

Some people would make Neil the highest paid manager in the league if that's what he wants, make Stewart the highest paid striker and want the club to spend on another 7 or 8 players and wages to make us competitive. It will leave us losing money but KLD should fund that and if he doesn't want to, then he shouldn't have bought a football club.

I'd like to know where people would draw the line and just accept that steady progress is ok..

 

[O'conner flood]

wonder if dave Jones on sky tomorrow should give a update

 

[C19RK73]

I still can’t believe there is nothing official imagine getting an early night to prepare for a lunchtime kick off not knowing wtf is happening

what a total **** show

 

[Confucius]

Look I don’t mind him chasing the money, that’s his choice. What I can’t abide is that the slimy little **** has done this 24 hours before a big game, hours after taking a training session and allegedly telling players the reason he is leaving is because of the club not giving him what he wants. That’s a ****s trick of the highest order, unsettling players, turning them against the club and a blatant attempt at undermining the very people who brought him in from the football wilderness. If he has slagged the club off to the players, we should fine the **** the remainder of his wages and still have Stoke buy him out. I realise people may think I have overused the word ****, I assure you I haven’t, the ****

 

[Southern A]

I still can’t believe there is nothing official imagine getting an early night to prepare for a lunchtime kick off not knowing wtf is happening

what a total **** show

I guess the players all know and will likely have had a team meeting with canning tonight?!? Will be in a hotel together no?

 

[Weelid85]

Players are fuming mind.

**** the players. Neil didnt have to speak to Stoke. His choice to go. If the players want to follow, hand in a transfer request.

 

[C19RK73]

Look I don’t mind him chasing the money, that’s his choice. What I can’t abide is that the slimy little **** has done this 24 hours before a big game, hours after taking a training session and allegedly telling players the reason he is leaving is because of the club not giving him what he wants. That’s a ****s trick of the highest order, unsettling players, turning them against the club and a blatant attempt at undermining the very people who brought him in from the football wilderness. If he has slagged the club off to the players, we should fine the **** the remainder of his wages and still have Stoke buy him out. I realise people may think I have overused the word ****, I assure you I haven’t, the ****

Agreed the ****s a ****

 

[C19RK73]

I guess the players all know and will likely have had a team meeting with canning tonight?!? Will be in a hotel together no?

I dunno mate do they do that when we are at home I thought they mostly turned up separately?

 

[Bank of England 2]

Players are fuming mind.

If, and it's a big if, the account doing the rounds of what's happened this morning is accurate, we've got to hope that the players will run through brick walls for each other, rather than for our ex-manager.

If this account is true, both Neil and Speakman are to blame for both thinking they are bigger than the club - they're not! Neil for sulking cos he doesn't feel wanted and fuc**ng off on the eve of a match. Speakman for not being willing to do more to salvage the situation.

Neither has served their employer well if this account is correct.