Well -to be serious ( for a change ) - Should we worry about having a person in charge, whose personality makes it easy for him to alienate fans - and whose treatment of fans is not far removed from contempt -- but -- aren't we, fans of The Gills already familiar with this type of dictatorship at our Club ? -- we'll just be getting a double dose (( and I would pay to be in the Chairman's office after a few defeats )). If it is to be Steve Evans -- it won't stop me from supporting the team. I do not support the Chairman or the manager ( as such ). I will not be happy if GFC appoint ANY manager with questionable scruples ( if ANY exist ! ). I may have awkward decisions to make if Evans, ( or anyone else ), were to use dubious tactics to win -- anything that smacks of cheating would be difficult for me to tolerate. I will wish the new manager every good luck. I wish Mr.Scally good fortune for the Club, in any sincere attempt to raise the profile of GFC - so long as that profile is not due to infamy. The integrity of GFC has suffered too many times over the last 25 years - and the Club has attracted enough adverse publicity - This fan wants to see good, honest 100% effort from the team - regardless of result - not to see an organ grinder fighting with a 'monkey'.
A good post, and despite my jest to liven the place up, I support both sides of the argument over Evans. I could name @itstimupnorth and @The Gills PegLeg who have also both posted valid personal opinions on the topic. It's a diificult one, and i've read with great interest what people have had to say over the matter and for some, it's an easy decision either way, for others they might be the on the fence. So where do i sit within all this, well i sit on the fence but having thought about it, I'm going to drop one side of it. There are some people, that clubs should not employ, I class those people such as Adam Johnson, I will not go on to why. In regards to the matter of Steve Evans, he's a wind bag, he's been found guilty of wrong financial doing within football. However, in the same breath, Gillingham FC have no money if you take the Scally equasion out. The Chairman based on his history with the club is never going to allow Evans any control of financial purse strings. And that is what sways me in my decision, as long has Evans sole job is managing the team within a TIGHT financial player budget, as long has the books are balanced legally during his reign, I will tolerate him (Evans). He has a proven track record of doing well, I give Rotherham, Mansfield and sort of Posh as examples. But he clearly needs to understand one thing if he should consider taking the job - he is going to have to do it on freebies, loans and a low financial budget, if he expects anymore than that, he can do one. Personally if i was in Scally's shoes I'd be offering the job to Barry Fuller, because he knows the club, he knows the expectations of the supporters, and like Lovell you know he would do the job to 100% of his ability. He is a hard grafter and he expects the same of others, something that has lacked at this club over recent seasons. It's a simple rule for me at Priestfield, we cannot afford to carry anyone.
Evans was convicted of making irregular payments to players, he was also convicted of tax fraud, is he the right fit for a family club
grumpygit - you raise a point of morals. I hate cheating - but - I cannot cast the first stone ! It is very easy to be judgemental with regards to the fault of others -- but are ANY of us 'without sin?' Who of us wouldn't seize an opportunity to avoid paying more tax ? (( how much is it for cash ??? )) etc etc. I am sure that ALL of us could quote MANY situations where we were presented with an 'advantage' to which we were not entitled - and TOOK it ! ----- which basically fits with the description of Evans' offence(s). I suspect that it is a question of personal scale as to what each of us think is acceptable. Evans is in the category of person whose persona is not what I look for in a friend ( I've got a mirror for that ! ). With regards to sport and cheats/ cheating - for me it's " no thanks. " I agree with brb, that Scally wouldn't allow Evans ( or anyone else ) to grab the wallet ----- and that is why GFC will not progress whilst Scally remains in charge - we've had 25 years of rhetoric.
If you delve further you will probably see that he only got Crawlet up because they had a lot of money at the time, when the money dried up they got relegated just after he jumped ship. The same happened again at Rotherham but he scarpered to Leeds where it didn't work there either. Mansfield he had enough funds again to take them up but left for Peterborough mid season, Mansfield have just sacked their manager for not making it through the play offs and Mansfield weren't even in the play offs at the time he took over at Peterborough. Somebody asked Darragh Macanthony (Posh chairman) if he regretted sacking Evans when he did as they missed out on play-offs and he said not one bit. He couldn't have been more sure on the decision he made. Says it all for me. So ignoring the fact he's a convicted criminal, made allegations about a Gills legend, regularly been a cry baby and never accepted us as being the better team, had ex players celebrating when he's left, abuses referees and linesmen, had numerous touchline bans or dressed up ridiculously on the last day of the season, maybe just maybe he's not that good of a manager?
I understand your reluctance to carry this thread on as it is somewhat embarrassing. However, I saw on Sky football news that the very same Steve Evans has been confirmed, yes confirmed in the post of manager of Gillingham FC. You have my eternal sympathy and I would understand it fully if there is a mass suicide on the terraces at your club. I'll start the chant for next season already for you "EVANS OUT......EVANS OUT"
It doesn't bode well...... When was the last time a manager was appointed - in circumstances where the Chairman's first job is to bend over backwards to defend the person -- talking in the 'priestly' future that he hopes for Evans............. I have to smile at Scally's ability to 'dismiss' the baggage that comes with Evans -- including the knowledge of the vitriol expressed by a large section of Gillingham fans on more than one occasion that Evans and GFC has crossed paths................... can you imagine the reaction of the fans if we have another 'Home' campaign like the last ....three ? --Stimson was hounded by idiots who 'attacked' his family - I reckon that some fans wouldn't be happy until Evans is put on a spit to roast..
Think it's fair to say he needs to hit the ground running immediately as there will be a massive backlash if he doesn't. As we now have to accept the man is our manager I have the following stats which may make things seem slightly more positive which is Steve Evans' win ratio in his management spells (excluding Stamford: Boston United1st spell: 49.5% Boston United 2nd spell: 31.5% Crawley Town: 48.1% Rotherham United: 41.6% Leeds United: 36.8% Mansfield Town: 46.1% Peterborough United: 40.4% Overall not actually bad reading in terms of statistics. There are arguments to suggest he underachieved with Mansfield & Posh more recently which probably is true considering their budgets, but with an average there of just over 40% win rate that's certainly top half form. Now I've made my thoughts on Steve Evans very clear but I can't change Mr Scally's decision in hiring him. I will continue to support the team, my club as I always have. I will eat humble pie if he turns it around and becomes a club hero, but doesn't mean I will be sad when he inevitably gets the chop either.
Hope all you gill fans don't like stiff necks because it be route one football most of the players will be giants Not bitter but glad hes not at posh any longer
