The Chairman's Statement

[AFF]

© Rob the Saint's web-site:

 

 

Chaiman John Gibson on the managerial vacancy, Steve Castle's resignation and the departure of Richard Thomas.

 

"The Managerial Vacancy

Following on from Steve Castle's resignation last week, we have been

inundated with applications for the vacant position. I think that it is fair to say that the applicants vary considerably in terms of character, age, experience, background and ability to manage at our level. Having consulted with our Board Members and others closely associated with the club, it is also safe to say that we are all very much on the same wavelength, as to the type of person that we require. It is hoped that we will be in a position to speak to applicants very soon, with the possibility of a new manager being installed in time for Saturday's game.

In the meanwhile, the team is being temporarily supervised by Miguel De Souza who certainly seemed to lift the side on Saturday. I had spoken to both Migs and Dean Hooper on Friday about selecting the side together but Dean felt that it would be better if he concentrated on playing, as long as Migs selected him !! I was and am quite happy with this arrangement, as all of the

discussions between us have been frank and honest.

May I confirm with regard to Richard Thomas, that he has now left the Club which is most regrettable as once again, I have not dealt with this issue particularly well. Since Steve's resignation I have been concentrating on his replacements both temporary and permanent, whilst not forgetting that I still have a "proper" job to do. I wanted the players to go out on Saturday and prove

themselves and I wanted someone to fire them up in order to prove, if only for Steve's sake that they had the passion and committment. Rightly or wrongly I did not feel that Richard was the right person to do this but I should have told him of my feelings personally and I did not. Richard quite obviously and understandably feels deeply aggrieved about this and all I can do is sincerely apologise, as he is an honest, likeable person who has always given 100 per cent for the Club. I would therefore like to wish Richard all the best for the

future.

With regard to Steve Castle, may I say that he left on very amicable terms and I am sure that he will have taken heart from the win on Saturday as it has totally vindicated him of any criticism relating to his signings. The squad is quite clearly good enough to move up the league without the need for a new manager to involve himself in any major surgery. Dean Hooper asked me after the game what was different about that performance as opposed to earlier games which we had lost and the answer is probably quite simple - a little passion perhaps but mostly luck !!

 

Regards

John Gibson

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Quote:

With regard to Steve Castle, may I say that he left on very amicable terms and I am sure that he will have taken heart from the win on Saturday as it has totally vindicated him of any criticism relating to his signings.

Erm, yes, but has slightly shown him up in releation to his management skills. Another classic Gibbo quote!

[Laz]

Quote:

Following on from Steve Castle's resignation last week, we have been
inundated with applications for the vacant position.

Maybe that explains why the boards outside the ground still advertise the Basingstoke game.

[The Caretaker]

Quote:

as once again, I have not dealt with this issue particularly well.

 

Quote:

I should have told him of my feelings personally and I did not. Richard quite obviously and understandably feels deeply aggrieved about this and all I can do is sincerely apologise, as he is an honest, likeable person who has always given 100 per cent for the Club. I would therefore like to wish Richard all the best for the future

 

Ring a bell to any one involved with the reserves last year. Would have been nice to see similar words for Kev and Vince maybe, who as you will all know still come and support the club despite their deep feelings. Sorry to drag up the past but people at this club do have a habit of repeating the same mistakes.

 

Remember a mistake is only a mistake if you fail to learn from it. If you do it becomes a lesson <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Rob_the_Saint]

Quote:

inundated with applications

Perhaps someone has changed the fixture board to say 'Manager required - apply within'.

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wiggle.gif" alt="" />

[Blaze]

Here Here Caretaker.

With all the success kev n vince brung to the club they shouldve been offered the 1st team job. They didnt have the same team for two weeks on the spin all season yet they still only came second to Canvey!!!

Very under-rated and a crying shame how the club have let them drift away!

to be honest steve castle probably felt threatened by their success!! its a conspiracy people!!

[JKiF]

can only echo what you lot have said

esp. the Ressies/management skills

 

 

another great gibson quote....

 

apparently there's only lucky managers ala Sven Goran Eriksson

and unlucky managers ala Keegan

[The Caretaker]

Thanks Blaze / JKIF

 

Kev and Vince wouldn't have wanted the first team job. Quite happy working with the young players coming through and happy to develop the reserve side and yes it was popular because we kept people informed and involved.

 

Thing is, it was all changed without any consultation with those involved, who have since been singled out as being behind some of the bad feelings, both at the time and ever since. The Chairman in fact reported his feelings at the end of season presentation when he said something along the lines of " I don't want to hear anymore about that s**t" .......... it could have been handled better ....

 

........back to the start of my first post ........ <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

To attribute the win against Basingstoke to "luck", is surely one hell of a coincidence that it came just 72 hours after the resignation of one of the worst managers in our history.