Roddis leaves the Saints

[Wilf Woodend]

From todays Herts Ad.

 

'Gibson denied the speculation that Castle would be appointed to either the first team manager or reserve team boss.'

 

"We haven't discussed the reserves at all. Clearly it is the case that the reserve team is fundamental to the first team and it would be ridiculous to even consider that until we have a first team manager in place. Steve is not one of the people we are talking to for the managerial position.

 

Steve's general knowledge and training is excellent but if the new manager comes in and doesn't want to utilise that facility that will be up to the that manager. When I get involved with a a manager he decides what he is doing football wise and the board have to let him get on with it."

 

Talks are hopefully to be held with two or three candidates for the managers job over the next few days.

 

Re Bastock & Davis he is "holding on to them at the moment until a new manager comes in. I cannot get rid of half the squad before a new manager is appointed."

 

There are short interviews with Hakim & Batt who both say they had a good time at City but felt the need to be full time to forward careers etc.

[GHA EFM]

Reserve team fundamental to the first team...

 

Yet we didn't have one in the season spent at the highest level in our history?

 

What's Castle's general knowledge got to do with anything?

[AFF]

It's probably quite useful at Quiz Nites and stuff like that, GHA. Or when the team are having a meeting at someone's house and 'University Challenge' is on the TV. That kind of thing.

 

;-)

[GHA EFM]

In that case, if they're looking for someone with extensive general knowledge, they need look no further.

[AFF]

Perhaps once a preliminary short-list has been prepared, it could be reduced still further if they are all made to play a couple of games of Trivial Pursuit.

 

Least number of cheeses can close the door on the way out.

[Terminal]

I've got a Disney DVD version which can be borrowed if required.....

[AFF]

Thanks all the same, Terminal, but it's the level of general knowledge that appears to be key here.

 

Knowing that George Sanders was the voice of Bagheera in 'Jungle Book' may be a little narrow in the circumstances.

[AFF]

.

[AFF]

Test.

[AFF]

Oi. Wilf Woodend.

 

You kindly posted extracts from the Herts Advertiser on this thread last Friday.

 

The local newsagent here had sold out of the St Albans Observer this morning and I wondered if you could oblige once again with any relevant news from it?

 

Thanks in anticipation.

 

AFF.

[Duke of York]

Here's a scan of today's Observer:

 

[AFF]

That doesn't work for me, DofY. All I get is a little box thing with a red cross in it which doesn't do anything when I click on it.

 

Wilf Woodend is definitely about on here and the other board at the moment so I'm sure that he will assist shortly.

[Wilf Woodend]

The Observer gives more space to the appointment and there are similar interviews. The Herts Ad includes the following:-

 

RH "There are some good players here and a nice pitch. I thought what better place for a starting job than here? I like CL and know him well but he has moved on to pastures new and the club has moved on to pastures new. I have asked Lee Clarke to help out in the short term and he is very positive. He likes the club. He will be my captain and my lynchpin. I was with Scott Cousins at Chelsea and he is a very good player. We need him fit. I also played with Matt Hann at Peterboro and I know he is a good player"

 

"You don't want unhappy players players who you are not going to get the best out of but I wont be rushing into the market because wage demands are a little excessive at the moment. I know the positions I want, namely a defensive midfielder, a left winger and a goalkeeper."

 

 

There is a bit of football speak, as you would expect, he is to hold talks with players soon, will arrange PSF's as they are a "major source of income. I need to work hard now because we need games and not just any old games."

 

He lives in Abbots Langley, was working as an agent since packing up and had arranged some trial games(as an agent, not City boss). His initial contact with the club was not an application for the job. He is to appoint his own assistant.

 

It is all worth a read. The kids next door deliver the HA so I get it early.

 

For what it is worth I have seen plenty of experienced managers come to the Park having built a reputation for themselves elsewhere and then seen them fail,under various Chairman. Gary Hill was, I believe a Sunday League manager before Heybridge signed him, he has done alright since and so is an example of what can happen. It seems RH is a pal of Adi Boothroyd who is an example at another level. Then again there was Jimmy Howard.

 

I prefer to consider my glass half full and look forward to the new season.

[Laz]

Garry Hill was doing quite well at Heybridge as I recall before he came to the park. Do you remember them beating us 3-0 at home! It was Heybridge that took the risk, not City!

 

I still think this is a risk and is somehow connected to Steve Castle.

 

However, I wish Ritchie every success, of course, for obvious reasons.

 

I'll pick my copy of the Observer up later.

[AFF]

I have finally located a copy of the St Albans Observer, Wilf.

 

There's a lot of stuff about the new manager of course, and the article under the headline "City bet on rookie boss" was clearly written following the Media Presentation at t'Park yesterday. It's well worth the read as usual but you will be particularly interetsted in these bits, Wilf:

 

'A key factor in Hanlon's appointment was his relationship with Steve Castle, a former City boss who runs the college side at Oaklands College and the man who will be in charge of the City Reserves in the Capital League next season.

 

Hanlon was a team-mate of Castle during their playing days at Peterborough and the pair also crossed paths at Cambridge United where Hanlon was a player and Castle the assistant manager.

 

Grade A UEFA coach Castle and Lee Clarke, who runs a soccer school, will assist Hanlon with the coaching as the new manager takes time out to appoint his number two.'

 

 

There's another sentence in the piece which made me chuckle, I have to say:

 

'Hanlon, who briefly branched into the world of football agency after calling time on his playing career at the turn of year, initially called Gibson "on another matter" three weeks ago before the conversation quickly turned to the vacancy at Clarence Park.'

 

Reading that bit, I couldn't help myself smile a small smile. I wondered if the new manager knew Elliot Benyon in any professional capacity while he was an agent, and whether Gibbo outlined his well-publicised views of football agents when they spoke. But that's just my sense of humour.

 

Anyway, there's enough comment elsewhere on here so I wont copy any more of it. I'll watch out for the Herts Advertiser tommorrow, Wilf.