AFC Dunstable from a Gaffer's Perspective!

[smellynuts]

Sorry a bit “War & Peace” but in case you should be interested in hearing the management team and player perspective of AFC, you may find this of interest; 

 

As ex gaffer I have tried to keep out of commenting mainly out of respect for Steve the new gaffer, but sadly after a series of little digs I can no longer not counter the total ignorance of comments made by certain AFC officials, especially as they are the primary reason why it has all fallen apart.

 

The reason why I, Dermott, Kev (head coach) and now a staggering 9 quality players have walked out are for two primary reasons. Firstly and astonishingly AFC First team barely have a support structure and no longer have a first team focused committee. The last two first team focused committee members joined the AFC Youth team committee in the summer. For a few years now I have not only managed the first team which as every manager knows is a task in itself, but have conducted a whole array of other activities once carried out by a large committee.

 

Secondly and much more importantly, the total lack of gratitude and constant criticism from these very same people was totally draining and to the point that our players also became very aware. In fact it has been a standing joke for years that when committee members do make an appearance then they are there only to be negative or to criticize. Ironically with all the years of success we have had, regular users will be aware this blog has hardly if ever received any positive comment from AFC officials, but strangely now there has been a flurry of supportive comment embarrassingly bigg’ing up bad results. The latest being where even a heavy defeat against a lowly division one side (no disrespect) is now turned into a positive!

 

Just to show this is not a recent thing, these are a few of the more printable comments I sent within the club this pre-season highlighting the issues, and ironically predicting the possible demise of our great club and players:

 

START “we do need to sit down as a group and discuss the whole direction of the club and the dwindling support for the 1^st team and its efforts. On the playing side we have continued to move the club massively forward, but to me it looks as though the drive and ambition of the committee has headed in the other direction”

 

“but we need to take a long hard look at our club and see how we can maintain our current high quality squad before it all falls apart. If for example we pulled in a first team committee of the quality of say Crawley, or a combination of them and Dunni, then we stand far more of a chance to maintain success”

 

“I believe we can and should be doing so much better off field, otherwise the club support and first team lack of recognition will continue to slide backwards if we do not do anything about it “END

 

The comment I have attached below is just an example...OD“get away from the "mates" factor situation” (wtf!) clearly demonstrates the total ignorance and contempt from within for all we have built at AFC. 

 

Dirtyclaret, on 05 Dec 2013 - 2:53 PM, said:

Still confident in the gaffa OD? Will he attract any local lads? With the number of local teams, Barton, DTFc, Stotfold, Ampthill, Arlesey, Leighton, both the Bedfords, , I would say 90% of the lads that were there were there bcoz of the 'mates' factor and locality.

Very confident in Steve. His hands are tied at the moment regarding the 1 approach per club every 28 days. Players are slowly coming over and to be fair would like to get away from the "mates" factor situation. As mentioned before, looking away from Bedfordshire. Pick up 10 more points and should be safe from the drop and build for next season.
Its going to be tough until the end of the season, we know that but looking forward to 14/15.END 

 

Even outsiders know the biggest reason why we have been so successful (as a few impartial observers have commented upon) is that we have built that success on some of the best of local boyz not only playing, but socializing as mates together. It is a POSITIVE not a kin NEGATIVE - it promotes bonding, team spirit, camaraderie, fills bars and is now why no less than 6 senior clubs know it is open season and have come swarming for our players, because they now know that the team spirit has been broken apart. Many players over the years have stayed even though they had regular offers for large sums of money to play elsewhere, they didn’t take them up because of the team spirit of the club.

 

To dismiss the unprecedented loyalty of these players, 8 of which have been with us the whole 9 years and 12 more than 5, again demonstrates the total lack of understanding within the club of how important loyalty is. Again ironically even people from outside the club have picked up on this incredible team spirit, and it is an aspect other managers would easily identify and empathize with.

 

It was a great relief and a big weight off my shoulders to get away from the negativity and resign. I am still totally at ease with that decision, however I have become angry for our family of players who are now totally devastated that their total contempt for the way the committee have acted has provoked them to leave our great club, albeit we will be keeping some great memories.

 

The heart and soul has been ripped out of AFC, and certain people should be ashamed of themselves for the way they have conducted themselves.

 

Queue SavageeBee to get on his high horse - should join our committee!

[Savagebee]

Queue SavageeBee to get on his high horse - should join our committee!

 

What are you on about ? Below are my recent posts regarding AFC Dunstable and they are hardly high horse

 

OD's, on 30 Nov 2013 - 10:18 PM, said:

Would not get too carried away with their win today. A massive transition is going on at AFC at the moment.

 

They have still scored 10 goals in two League games against you lot and they beat Berkhamsted 4 2 away not bad in my eyes. Most teams would be very happy with those stats.

 

 

OD's, on 20 Nov 2013 - 8:33 PM, said:

After a great game against Luton Town in the Beds Senior Cup, BJ Christie was invited to trial for their Development Squad.

He did not let them down as he notched a hat trick. He has been invited back for further games.

 

Good luck to the guy he can defo score goals.

 

 

OD's, on 04 Nov 2013 - 10:28 PM, said:

AFC Dunstable have parted company with 1st Team manager

Alex Butler and his assistant Dermot Butler.

Butler felt he has taken the team as far as he can and

the AFC Chairman Simon Bullard accepted his resignation.

In Butler's 8 year reign, he has won the Bedfordshire

Senior Trophy twice, the Spartan South Midlands Division One Cup, Division Two

title and took them to runners up in Division One which see's them now

competing in the SSMFL Premier Division. He came close to winning the title in

his first season in the Premier but in the end finished 3rd. He also took AFC

to the final of the Bedfordshire Senior Cup last season.

Butler's last game in charge will be this Saturday when

they entertain Biggleswade United. After that 1st Team Coach Kevin Taylor will

take charge of the team in a caretaker capacity.

Butler leaves the team in a healthy position, as they are

currently 5th in the league.

In the meantime the club are open to applications for the

vacant position. Please contact Chairman Simon Bullard in writing to

iafservices@btinternet.com or phone 07956 447995.

 

 

Im not that surprised by this newes.

 

AFC Dunstable have had a stop start season so far.

 

Good luck to them though.

 

 

 

Here's a challenge for you all. With only a few moves made in the transfer market and no pre-season games played yet, how do you think the ssml prem will pan out this year?

 

I'm thinking Hertford to win it, with Hanwell pushing them.

 

At the other end Holmer, Hatfield, Oxhey Jets and St Margs scrapping it out.

 

Ampthill Town, Oxhey Jets, AFC Dunstable or Berkhamsted for the title.

 

Hillingdon Borough, Hatfield Town or Holmer Green to go down.

 

I think us Hanwell Town should finish in the top 6 and I would be happy with that.

[Dirtyclaret]

Well said Butts.

Totally agree with everything u said. No less than 10 players at crawley over the last 2 seasons have played for AFC, and the only reason they went there was because of Alex and the 'mates factor'. Nothing else. And the ones that left afc to come to us was purely down to minutes on the pitch which is hard to get in such a successful side. The social side of afc lads is the envy of all clubs locally and what we at crawley at the minute are trying to replicate. I know for a fact our manager smithy loved his time at afc as did the players.

 

Just to add, thanks for the acknowledgement of our outstanding commitee at crawley we are plessed. Top drawer all of them.