Strong words from Scally about the season! Possibly the end for Hessy? http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/sport/2012/may/3/hess_future.aspx
I have to say I can't remember a board meeting being convened so soon after the end of the season, although when Stimson left, he went on the Monday after the Wycombe game without a board meeting. I suspect Scally can't make up his mind or has he got to consult with that chap on the board who supposedly has put some money in? Whatever, Scally does seem miffed about it and if he's been reading the message boards he'll know that most seem to want Hess and co out because we don't have any faith in him to produce a promotion side. If he couldn't do it this season with the squad Scally allowed him to have then there's no chance of him doing it on a restricted budget.
I think PS has got a bit of a conundrum. I thought we was meant to have gone up under the first season of Andy Hessenthaler, now at the end of season two we have still not achieved that goal, despite what appears good financial backing for the manager. Hence, now everything has to be financially balanced. Because promotion brings the rewards of the relevant league attendances, without even considering the initial outlays in our failures. Now for season three. Only PS knows the forecasts and what early bird season tickets have already been bought. I have seen many fans say they may not renew for varied reasons. The question would be have early bird sales reached there forecast sales target? If not then that would surely make it questionable to whether possible price increases or even maintaining current prices are still viable. I hope this is making sense so far. If everything is within league two plan, then maybe the manager being given until Christmas 2012 is a less of a financial loss, in comparison to relevant funds required for any dismissal. Only assuming such compensation would be due or collected by said party. Giving Andy Hessenthaler the first third of the new season surely is not a problem, unless it is deemed not to risk failure which in turn has further financial implications, basically what balances the books? My option would be to close the cheque book and ask is two seasons of rebuilding going to give us the ability to achieve our goal over the early months of the new season, accepted some changes can be made but only via returned income on outgoings. If failure still looks likely, when do you cut to the chase? It is now damage limitation but what is the best option that is the conundrum. The biggest question, surely has to be have we overspent this season, in the hope of the rewards for achievement. All unknowns to mere supporters. I feel it is no good shouting for the managers head, although it gets across the message. PS has to decide what is the right decision but any possibility of large numbers of stay away fans (if that should happen), must play a part in that call, remembering only 3,248 fans turned up for the home game against Rotherham.
I am not sure what to make of it, I think there may be a chance that Hessenthaler will be gone, which I think is the wrong decision.
Someone on another board said that he had it on good authority that Scally would sack Hess if season ticket sales were down. Obviously I don't know how true this is, but Scally says in that article that season ticket sales are holding up. Whether this is bravado on his part and hoping that people will believe him and continue to renew I don't know, but if I remember rightly he says the same sort of thing every year, but of course last close season ticket sales were probably increased by the marquee signings of Whelpdale, Lee and Kedwell. This time round there will be no big signings and it seems to me that Scally is weighing up the chances of Hess being successful. I think if he's going to get rid, then do it next week and get a new man in sooner rather than later. A new manager will want new signings, and he maybe won't want to keep many of the present lot, but if he keeps Hess and come October the team are not doing as well as he thinks they should, then if he sacks him then, a new manger will have to come in and try to rejuvinate the team and maybe another season will be down the pan. I would get shot of him now, because I just don't believe he is a good enough manager, but if he stays I'll continue to back the team as I always do.
personally I'm happy to hear this from Mr. Scally. Hessy this week has seemed to have a very relaxed attitude that personally I dislike. After failing two seasons in a row I personally would be sweating and trying to convince the chairman to give him another go. Instead he's gone off to spain to look for players in the mould of gazza a.k.a a early holiday now we can't get promoted. In my opinion there is no point giving him half a season next year and then sacking him as that would just ruin any continuity that is vital for a promotion push.
Keds has said the players are due in for a meeting am Weds, the morning after the Board Meeting. Does this mean they will be given 'The News' before PS goes to the media?
brb - I think the concept of a low cost rebuild of the team, probably bringing in youth players, would be an interesting way forward and one that could well appeal to a large number of fans. However there are many problems associated with this, among which are: a) I don't believe that Hessenthaler would be the manager that would be able to achieve anything with such a remit. He has shown a marked reluctance to bring youth players into the squad (let alone the team) despite the 'experienced' palyers he has at his disposal not achieving the required results, and has also shown himself to be tactically inept in playing players out of position. I don't believe that all of the times players have been played out of position were as a result of desperation and unavailability of players that would be better suited. b) To play an inexperienced team / squad would risk the danger of the team getting too close to the foot of the table for comfort. To bear a couple of years mid-table while rebuilding is one thing, to have the team drop out of the league is unthinkable c) We would risk any real quality players being poached by other teams. OK, financially that might not be such a bad thing, but it's difficult to replace quickly players that have been nurtured through the youth system over a number of years. As I have posted previously, my view is that Hessy should be given the first few months of the season and the situation reassessed before Christmas, but that was based on the current squad model. No doubt some players are not going to be offered new contracts, some who are offered might not want to accept them, and a few players would come in with the overall result being a reduced squad size but in any case probably with a higher proportion of youth players. That said, given the results of the last two seasons work, I would not shed any tears if he were not given the opportunity to continue next season.
Mr scally not happy about missing promotion again but wii he sack Hessy? I am not sure but there won t be too many signings next season, only 4 or 5 as i think we will play the youngsters. We will need A striker centre half, left back and a quick winger.
