Fenty - Woods was cheap option

Quoted Text

DEPARTING Grimsby Town chairman John Fenty has defended his record of appointing six managers in just seven years at the helm.

Mr Fenty has often been criticised by Town followers for something of a 'trigger-happy' approach to changing manager.

But he says every appointment was made with the best interests of the club in mind.

He has revealed, however, the board was originally split over the decision to appoint Neil Woods from within rather than re-appoint Russell Slade in 2009.

Speaking exclusively to the Telegraph following his decision to step down, Mr Fenty said: "It was my job, as chairman, to make contact and collate information about prospective managers and give the board an opportunity to short-list down to those considered for interview.

"This has always been a very diligent exercise, carefully carried out each time we have done this.

"It does get difficult when they virtually all say the same – I think there must be some sort of phrase book for would-be managers.

"In the case of appointing Neil Woods caretaker at the time, he was one of two that were under serious consideration, the other being Russell Slade, who had effectively negotiated and agreed contract terms.

"The board chose Russell over Neil. Given the position in the table this was a big decision and the board were split over who to choose.

"The club's longest serving director (Peter Furneaux) supported the appointment of Neil as manager, while Mike Chapman and John Elsom wanted to go with the experience of Russell.

"On such an issue we debated further until there was a consensus when John and Mike conceded, as they often did, it was ultimately a financial decision.

"I am not prepared to elaborate any further on who I supported.

"I will say that Neil worked tirelessly. We all wanted him to succeed that's for sure.

"I guess the expectation that goes with a club our size in this league brought such pressure it made things very difficult.

"He was a gentleman and it's sad when the club loses long-serving staff like him."

The fact Slade was even in the running for a return to Blundell Park at that time may have surprised some after his much-publicised departure in 2006.

Since then, some fans have suggested it was a mistake to let him leave after going so close to promotion to League One.

Mr Fenty, however, stands by the decision to let his contract run out and says it's hypothetical to say things would have been different if he had stayed.

He added: "Firstly let's get this clear, Russell and I speak quite often; I attended his wedding which was long after he left the club and we remain good friends.

"When the Brighton job came up, I gave a good reference to male private Knight when he rang me about Russell.

"Russell didn't leave Grimsby on bad terms. I never understood why the fans were not more receptive to him either, I couldn't get my head around that one.

"Contrary to popular belief the money issue in the end had been settled.

"It wasn't just about money; the contract ran down and was not renewed, there was nothing more sinister than that.

"Could we have done better by keeping him?

"Possibly, but when we didn't go up effectively we had the guts ripped out of the team.

"We had been in the top three for most of the season and other clubs were circling like vultures for the players.

"It was impossible extending player contracts; if we had been promoted at the Millennium Stadium to League One, I am sure we would have kept the team together and things may have been different."

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

"The club's longest serving director (Peter Furneaux) supported the appointment of Neil as manager, while Mike Chapman and John Elsom wanted to go with the experience of Russell.

"On such an issue we debated further until there was a consensus when John and Mike conceded, as they often did, it was ultimately a financial decision.

"I am not prepared to elaborate any further on who I supported".

Am I missing something or does he not need to elaborate on who he supported? if he'd supported Slade it would've been 3:1 and Slade would've been appointed wouldn't he?

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

"The club's longest serving director (Peter Furneaux) supported the appointment of Neil as manager, while Mike Chapman and John Elsom wanted to go with the experience of Russell.

"On such an issue we debated further until there was a consensus when John and Mike conceded, as they often did, it was ultimately a financial decision.

"I am not prepared to elaborate any further on who I supported".

Am I missing something or does he not need to elaborate on who he supported? if he'd supported Slade it would've been 3:1 and Slade would've been appointed wouldn't he?