If he goes he can expect the same disdain as I have for Judas. I would also expect the same result unless he takes JE with him, I do not believe he's a fit at Cardiff and I think they'll be staring at league 1 rather than the prem.
Really bad news - GT was interviewed about Baz's comment about reporting to the board and he replied: "I support the statement made by the club's new owner. He now wishes to speak to all members of the Watford board over this matter and that will happen over the next few days, whether that is via a board meeting or done on an individual basis." "The truth of the matter is that we are essentially telling Cardiff to hold fire for the moment. I do believe this is the right way to go about things." I think OFH is right and it's only a matter of time
I was hoping they'd be mug enough to take on shearer,alas no...mind you he turned it down 'cos of the terms, surely MM should expect higher than AS, after all he's proven more than AS..... As an afterthought If Malky does go I wonder how much Chris Houghton would want to come to us?
It all comes down to why there is a need to consult the Board. It's weird. We have rejected their offer to approach Malky, what is there to discuss? 1) Has Bassini discovered they approached 'unofficially'? 2) Have they said they will come back with a better offer so he wants advice as to how he should play it? 3) Has Malky said he wants to go and so as above? I am at the stage now where I just want it dealt with. If Malky wants to go then we just need to get a good price and a clause saying that he cannot bid for any players for a certain period. (That would be more important than any compensation).
Could Malkys silence to date be due to the fact hes doing his job and working on transfer targets and Bassini/the board are getting on with deflecting Cardiffs aproaches? Well wishful thinking. The question is there though, what on earth is being done about putting the squad together for next season?, other clubs coming in for in contract managers should be banned as it could stop them being effective at a critical time!
We dont really have a call with any of this. Good players and managers will leave and all we can do is get the best price. Thats why the academy is so important to us. Prem clubs have in the past shown an interest in Massey and Murray for example. We need to keep turning them out and Nick Cox is the right man to be in on this. We also need to look after our small squad and the fitness guy Matt Springham has done a terrific job this year - we havnt had any really long term injuries apart from McGinn maybe. The plan is a good one and wont change until we have some real money in - unlikely with the present stadium. But the thst the 'orns.
I remember GT saying that when Aston Villa approached him years ago he spoke to SEJ about whether he could talk to them and was disappointed that SEJ said he could as it told him he was not wanted. I hope GT remembers this and makes clear to Baz that he has to let MM know he is loved, admired and respected at Watford and we want him to stay - it could make all the difference
Still reading my mail and have been informed that The Times is claiming that MM has been to two interviews with the Cardiff board. This has been backed up by someone else who has no interest in football. Should this be true then there has to be an official complaint about illegal approaches.
Also if true it does not say much for Malky's "integrity" as he should not attend interviews that are made illegally.
I've been thinking about that OFH. If Mackay has been in contact with Cardiff over the summer then any crumb of faith I had in footballing integrity is lost. If he leaves in the next few days, I will be in no doubt that he has, either directly himself or indirectly through his advisers, been negotiating with another club whilst under contract here. Footballers and managers are only too happy to sign contract extensions with huge wage rises on the back of short-term successes (e.g. a goalscoring streak or, in a manager's case, a manager of the month award) but, should a more lucrative wage be on offer elsewhere, that's that. I must, however, add that none of this whatsoever is proven just yet. Mackay may well have been perfectly honourable in his conduct and this may be offensive supposition. And, as I've said elsewhere, if he wants to leave I'm not sure anyone would hold it against him, provided he does so in the correct manner.
If we apply normal standards and employment law, would you resign your job before going for an interview elsewhere? No of course not so don't think so bad of him or anyone in that situation. That said, I can tell you that I know of someone who loves their job and has been there many years but has been approached and talked to many companies about moving before going back to his current employers and finding out what they would offer and whether he was wanted there. On each occasion he has stayed. I still feel - and people seem to be bearing it out now - that Cardiff made the approach after they knew he was interested and not before.
If Malky is innocent in all this, I'm not sure the board has done the right thing by refusing to let Malky speak to Cardiff. Let him talk to them if he wants. I'm not sure I would want anyone at my club who is interested in being elsewhere anyway.
