That was before he spent time with us. Very complimentary about Harold Needler in books and articles since and in a question and answer session at Chalk Lane Club arranged byThe Action Group in the early 1980s.
A manager thanking the owners is a bit different from a player. The manager reports to the owners, the players don't.
Never hear any ex players being less than complimentary about Harold Needler. Though I don't think he was the spotless paragon of virtue some think he was.