Latest board statement

https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2018/february/board-of-directors-statement/

Thoughts???

I'm pleased they think our new signings are proven and exciting.

Where is this?

Why doesn't he just write the loans off?

Get in the bin and stop taking the urine out of us.

No mention of the Bignot debacle.

So what they are saying is if you have money Marlet might talk to you and despite us being a useless bunch of twits not fit to run the club you still have to support us.

Quoted from Sigone

https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2018/february/board-of-directors-statement/

Thoughts???

I'm pleased they think our new signings are proven and exciting.

Well I hope the board are right and the 90% of active supporters are wrong. However on this occasion I think the majority are correct and this shower of leadership should hang their heads in shame before departing as soon as possible.

I still hope we win on Saturday which will release some of the negative thoughts.

Thoughts ?

A load of poppycock.


Oh and interested parties to contact Steven Marley ? No wonder we ain't found no one yet.

Embarrassing.

Quoted from realist

No mention of the Bignot debacle...

Well....
"In the fickle and volatile world of football in which we operate, Football Clubs far too quickly respond to demands to change managers with the hope of a short-term points boost."

Two statements backing the management team. They better hope to the heavens that they can turn this around starting on Saturday otherwise Mr Fenty and his friends have set themselves up to be pilloried like never before.

At least we know the clubs PR department works.

I,m pleased to see the statement of the support of Paul Hurst, always a mariner etc etc

Difference is Paul Hurst has proved to be a winning manager...slade???

Well at least it's a coherent, well written statement

Unfortunately I have to agree entirely with the comment about the negativity having a detrimental effect on the players. I've already said it before.. a lot of these players are young lads. They're going to be reading the endless hammerings on social media and forums such as this and there's just no way it can't get to them and overall grind them down. Look how defensive Slade is about it all.. at his age and experience he should be a thick-skinned seasoned professional but the pressure shows on him too. Because he's human. And for the players it must be ten times worse as many of them simply do not have the experience to handle it.

I just don't think we're helping ourselves by taking the urine out of the manager, taking the urine out of the chairman, and largely slating most of the team. I accept everyone is frustrated with the current situation and I totally agree that all the positivity and progress created from the promotion has completely been squandered.. but this is our reality and our situation and we just need to accept it and try to make the best of it.

I won't defend the manager or the chairman currently - I never wanted Slade for a manager, and I haven't seen anything yet to make me doubt my feelings there. But I just think we're never ever going to get out of this vicious circle of poor results and this awful rift between the club and the fan base if we carry on as we are.. I think the statement is right that, at this point in time, a change of manager wouldn't help matters.

And I simply don't agree that it's enough to "pay your money" and expect to turn up and see great football, as if that's all fans need to do. It needs to be more than that. We have to get behind them even if what we're seeing on the pitch is hugely disappointing as it will at least help to build confidence.

Just my 2p.

I will always back the players 100%, but since the day he rejoined till the day he leaves I back slade 0%.

Yep... the bit about building towards a team capable of a challenge for next season...  didn't someone say there was no reason why we wouldn't be challenging for play offs this season  ?   And the dissatisfaction shown by fans is not doing the club any good...   our fault then....   we need to give ourselves a smacked bottom... how dare we show disapproval...

Quoted from RoboCod

Well....
"In the fickle and volatile world of football in which we operate, Football Clubs far too quickly respond to demands to change managers with the hope of a short-term points boost."

What as apposed to long term relegation? Ffs who comes up with these statements?!!!

What an absolute load of balderdash again.

Slade & Wilko were never the answer.
Two men on there way to the bottom and you Mr Fenty employed em to take our club down with them.
Mr Fenty your ego and arrogance is off the charts, you are a bully ( as well demonstrated with you ambush on MD)
You have never made one good decision that has benefitted our club.
I was always willing to concede you as you always say you are a big fan of the club but can't even do that now because that to is a load of balderdash.
Leave the club and take the rest of the dross with you.

"Despite pressure and direction to do otherwise, the Board are firmly of the opinion that, with time, Russell and Paul will turn the results around on the pitch and assemble a team capable of challenging in League Two next season. "

They've had two windows, have shipped out more talented players than they have brought in and half our team is made up of loan signings. Do they actually engage their brains before making these decisions or writing the statements?

In the fickle and volatile world of football in which we operate.

So I am fickle and volatile am I John.   You'll be calling us vile next !!

You quote Paul Hurst as sticking by the manager ?  Don't make me laugh.  There was nothing like the feeling of animosity towards him as there is to SLADE.

If you stuck by Paul Hurst why did he leave us ?  His sly comments about Town when he went weren't about the fans were they John ??

You have basically stated that Slade is here to stay so screw you lot.

If anyone thinks they can do better then just buy the club off us.  (Fully in the knowledge we can't afford it).

So by not turning up, it is us that are making the players play not so well?  Well guess what John, players for other clubs in front of much smaller crowds manage it. It's called being professional (and having a manager that can motivate helps).

I do like the bit about trying to get the fantastic support we know we are capable of though.
I'm sure I read something similar on here by one of the better posters only last week  

Overall, it seems to me that you have called our bluffs.  You have let your personal feelings cloud your professional judgement.  And by surrounding yourself with 'yes' men you haven't been advised any different.  Well take your ball and fcuk off home John. This club will survive in one form or another without you and your two bob mates.

Your dummy is still on the floor and I am not picking it up.


UTM

Quoted from Cloudy

https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2018/february/board-of-directors-statement/

Thanks. I applaud the board for making this statement cheered me up no end....

Quoted from gary_elton

Yep... the bit about building towards a team capable of a challenge for next season...  didn't someone say there was no reason why we wouldn't be challenging for play offs this season  ?   And the dissatisfaction shown by fans is not doing the club any good...   our fault then....   we need to give ourselves a smacked bottom... how dare we show disapproval...

Exactly!

Pointing the finger at others.

No mention of why they have allowed the euphoria of Promotion to vanish so quickly. Sadly they think it is down to performances on the pitch, it isnt and never is the full story. It is the total and utter failure to embrace the supporters.

Reading the statement there is yet again, no attempt to engage, just ram their views down our throat.

After 50+ years attending BP I have had enough. Right now I couldnt despise any person more than our majority shareholder  

Joke

what needs to happen here is that someone from the club needs to front up for an interview and answer some of the questions that arise from this statement. It has to be an interview that is recorded live. Maybe a good idea for one of the directors to hold a press conference with the Tel and Humberside.

Be great to hear Matt Dean interview Fenty. Can't imagine anyone at the club would be up for it though.

Add me to 50 year list. Not getting season ticket next season  if slade still here. Just pick and chose the odd game to go to. Sad it's come to this but going to BP has just become a habit and one that won't be too hard to break.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

what needs to happen here is that someone from the club needs to front up for an interview and answer some of the questions that arise from this statement. It has to be an interview that is recorded live. Maybe a good idea for one of the directors to hold a press conference with the Tel and Humberside.

Be great to hear Matt Dean interview Fenty. Can't imagine anyone at the club would be up for it though.

hm No point is there all they do is tell us lies or what they think we want to hear.The only thing Mr Fenty has got right in his tenure is the uncanny knack of hoodwinking and appeasing the supporters most of the time to head off the inevitable sh1tstorm. That has now come full circle the storms here and starting Saturday he will reap the whirlwind he has got this totally wrong and in his long line of clangers keeping Slade will be his biggest. The Club are on a hiding to nothing Saturday even a win won`t make this go away anytime soon the lids off Pandora`s box and I see no way back.

“The Board firmly believed that Russell Slade and Paul Wilkinson were the right men to lead the Club when they were appointed eleven months ago and continue to believe this today”.  
Really ? What have they done to make you believe that ?!!

“Supporters should not underestimate the impact the current environment at Blundell Park has on the players. It does nothing to help the team. We therefore ask the fans to do what they do best and that is to get behind the team and give them their wholehearted support.”
Why don’t you ask the management team what they have done to support the players insofar as the best players have all left or been hounded out only to be replaced with a bunch of journeymen and kids ?
Why would the supporters support the board and management team when you LIE and try and fill us with BS ? The latest one being the crock of sh.it about giving the manager funds to buy quality players . Simeon flipping Jackson ?!! All these statements don’t mean anything anymore you w.ankers .

Directors loans and shareholdings should not be a barrier.
Mmmm

Really do think it is time for the Trust to consider it position of the Board,they have no real influence,and are being tainted by association.It really impacts on their credibility and integrity and their presence on the board is only tokenistic.

Additionally with Slade and Wilkinson in charge next season attendances are going to dwindle and therefore bar profits.
Do not let yourselves be used any further and disassociate yourself from this nonsense,you will be respected all the more for it.

Quoted from friskneymariner

Really do think it is time for the Trust to consider it position of the Board,they have no real influence,and are being tainted by association.It really impacts on their credibility and integrity and their presence on the board is only tokenistic.

Additionally with Slade and Wilkinson in charge next season attendances are going to dwindle and therefore bar profits.
Do not let yourselves be used any further and disassociate yourself from this nonsense,you will be respected all the more for it.

Isnt there a survey going on currently which will, amongst other things, decide the fans stance on the board seat?

Quoted from chicaneuk

Well at least it's a coherent, well written statement

Unfortunately I have to agree entirely with the comment about the negativity having a detrimental effect on the players. I've already said it before.. a lot of these players are young lads. They're going to be reading the endless hammerings on social media and forums such as this and there's just no way it can't get to them and overall grind them down. Look how defensive Slade is about it all.. at his age and experience he should be a thick-skinned seasoned professional but the pressure shows on him too. Because he's human. And for the players it must be ten times worse as many of them simply do not have the experience to handle it.

I just don't think we're helping ourselves by taking the urine out of the manager, taking the urine out of the chairman, and largely slating most of the team. I accept everyone is frustrated with the current situation and I totally agree that all the positivity and progress created from the promotion has completely been squandered.. but this is our reality and our situation and we just need to accept it and try to make the best of it.

I won't defend the manager or the chairman currently - I never wanted Slade for a manager, and I haven't seen anything yet to make me doubt my feelings there. But I just think we're never ever going to get out of this vicious circle of poor results and this awful rift between the club and the fan base if we carry on as we are.. I think the statement is right that, at this point in time, a change of manager wouldn't help matters.

And I simply don't agree that it's enough to "pay your money" and expect to turn up and see great football, as if that's all fans need to do. It needs to be more than that. We have to get behind them even if what we're seeing on the pitch is hugely disappointing as it will at least help to build confidence.

Just my 2p.

I'm sorry but I wouldn't pay 2p for your comments.

That statement by the board is another complete load of balderdash.

No mention of the excrement players Slade has signed or the fact that his team selections / tactics / excrement players have led the team to this run of abject performances.

Fenty is blaming the fans again, the sooner he felicitations off and takes that ex teacher (I always hated teachers) with him and the rest of that useless flipping shower that runs this club that I have supported for over 50 years, the better.

Quoted from mariner91

They've had two windows, have shipped out more talented players than they have brought in and half our team is made up of loan signings. Do they actually engage their brains before making these decisions or writing the statements?

No.

Quoted from chicaneuk

Well at least it's a coherent, well written statement

Unfortunately I have to agree entirely with the comment about the negativity having a detrimental effect on the players. I've already said it before.. a lot of these players are young lads. They're going to be reading the endless hammerings on social media and forums such as this and there's just no way it can't get to them and overall grind them down. Look how defensive Slade is about it all.. at his age and experience he should be a thick-skinned seasoned professional but the pressure shows on him too. Because he's human. And for the players it must be ten times worse as many of them simply do not have the experience to handle it.

I just don't think we're helping ourselves by taking the urine out of the manager, taking the urine out of the chairman, and largely slating most of the team. I accept everyone is frustrated with the current situation and I totally agree that all the positivity and progress created from the promotion has completely been squandered.. but this is our reality and our situation and we just need to accept it and try to make the best of it.

I won't defend the manager or the chairman currently - I never wanted Slade for a manager, and I haven't seen anything yet to make me doubt my feelings there. But I just think we're never ever going to get out of this vicious circle of poor results and this awful rift between the club and the fan base if we carry on as we are.. I think the statement is right that, at this point in time, a change of manager wouldn't help matters.

And I simply don't agree that it's enough to "pay your money" and expect to turn up and see great football, as if that's all fans need to do. It needs to be more than that. We have to get behind them even if what we're seeing on the pitch is hugely disappointing as it will at least help to build confidence.

Just my 2p.

Not a pop at you by any means.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  But a genuine question.  How many matches have you attended this season ?  I could be wrong (that is quite common) but I thought you were an exile.  It doesn't mean your opinion is any less valid, but I do wonder how you came to it.  This is normally the bit where you inform me that you have been to every match home and away and I get right back into my box  

Quoted from MarinerMart

Add me to 50 year list . Not getting season ticket next season  if slade still here. Just pick and chose the odd game to go to. Sad it's come to this but going to BP has just become a habit and one that won't be too hard to break.

And add me to that 50 year list (well 49 since 1969). I passionately support the players if I can but I just don't want to be there any more. We are 3 generations with 4 season tickets and for a variety of reasons none of us will be there Saturday. Hope they win and we stay up but I can't sit through that dross any longer.

Quoted from friskneymariner

Really do think it is time for the Trust to consider it position of the Board,they have no real influence,and are being tainted by association.It really impacts on their credibility and integrity and their presence on the board is only tokenistic.

Disagree with this.

Much better to be inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in.

If the Trust leaves the board, they will have absolutely no influence thereafter. Flouncing off isn't the way to go, even if they can't achieve a huge amount at present. Hopefully things will change at some point in the future and they'll be able to have a more meaningful input into the running of the club.

The club is a joke, and will remain so whilst these muppets are in charge.  The best course of action is to stay away and let them get on with it.  Nobody in their right mind would back Slade at this stage, it just shows what a complete farce this club has become.  I am voting with my feet even though I have had a season ticket 40 plus seasons.  The Board are insulting our loyalty, passion and intelligence with this latest statement .  The sooner Fenty and the rest of them are out of this football club the better, the man has been a curse on this fantastic club.  The real asset of this football club are the FANS, without them, their is nothing left.

UTM

Quoted from Maringer

Disagree with this.

Much better to be inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in.

If the Trust leaves the board, they will have absolutely no influence thereafter. Flouncing off isn't the way to go, even if they can't achieve a huge amount at present. Hopefully things will change at some point in the future and they'll be able to have a more meaningful input into the running of the club.

I'm not saying whether they should resign form the board or stay but I'm asking what influence do they have having someone on the board.

The Trust should come out and state whether their representative supported this and the last statement from the board.

Quoted from Maringer

Disagree with this.

Much better to be inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in.

If the Trust leaves the board, they will have absolutely no influence thereafter. Flouncing off isn't the way to go, even if they can't achieve a huge amount at present. Hopefully things will change at some point in the future and they'll be able to have a more meaningful input into the running of the club.

This was always my view BUT I have come round to the thought that the only way to attempt to force change is to come off the board and then try and question everything, become a thorn in Fenty's side even hand the bars back.

Significant change but it is the only way to force change

Quoted from Maringer

Disagree with this.

Much better to be inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in.

If the Trust leaves the board, they will have absolutely no influence thereafter. Flouncing off isn't the way to go, even if they can't achieve a huge amount at present. Hopefully things will change at some point in the future and they'll be able to have a more meaningful input into the running of the club.

Oh, if this was only true we are inside the tent being drunk on.
We have no absolutely influence now and being charged £30.k for it.

Personally I think they should shut the fcuk up and start making a difference, talk is cheap and at the moment it's all talk. Just posting a statement on a web sit means nothing.

It feels like a case of "we are the only one who'll do this so you'll just have to put up with it".

I just fear that this is there way of warming towards an administration situation on the back of they can no longer deal and cover the liability, I don't get them and furthermore I don't trust them.

Though I did not agree with some of the things they have done as was happy to stay positive as in reality I knew they didn't have the personal wealth, leadership or commercial acumen to take us forward, I termed them as enthusiastic armatures.

The fans forum was the tipping point as the came across as just ammeters and pretty dangerous ones at that in that they sowed complete contempt for supporters and behaved unprofessionally in public with Matt Dean.

Since the POF other than sacking Bignot they have got everything wrong.  

Fickle and volatile? Please explain the Marcus Bognor departure then. Thanks.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Personally I think they should shut the fcuk up and start making a difference, talk is cheap and at the moment it's all talk. Just posting a statement on a web sit means nothing.

It feels like a case of "we are the only one who'll do this so you'll just have to put up with it".

I just fear that this is there way of warming towards an administration situation on the back of they can no longer deal and cover the liability, I don't get them and furthermore I don't trust them.

Though I did not agree with some of the things they have done as was happy to stay positive as in reality I knew they didn't have the personal wealth, leadership or commercial acumen to take us forward, I termed them as enthusiastic armatures.

The fans forum was the tipping point as the came across as just ammeters and pretty dangerous ones at that in that they sowed complete contempt for supporters and behaved unprofessionally in public with Matt Dean.

Since the POF other than sacking Bignot they have got everything wrong.  

Dont think they would consider moving towards Administration as the primary person to lose out would be JSF

Well, when you have to keep churning out statements to back the manager ask yourself this...

Was the appointment really a good appointment?

They know they are going to have to sack him before the end of the season otherwise season ticket sales could be down to the sub-1000 mark. And that's if we're in this division. So why not just do it now????

Well Mr Fenty,
I was totally for peaks parkway but now I will be writing to the council regarding my opposition to peaks parkway. The only reason he is clinging on to this club  is because he wants money from the housing in connection to the peaks parkway project. That is fair enough but why should I trust you in building a football stadium when you have destroyed a football club? If he wanted to sell the club then he would have sold it to the Americans instead of saying that ‘he wants to give the fans of this a football club a voice’. We are yelling at you now and you are not listening. Before people say anything I am not a resident of peaks parkway and I live in Waltham but this and boycotting the games are the only two ways Fenty will listen.

Do you know what would be a laugh... Another fans forum.

Another 50 years and more supporter who won't be back until the rotten fish head and his sycophants have been thrown back in the North Sea.
Can't take any more of their crap. You lose trust you know and I don't trust any of them one little bit.
Sad, sad days for GTFC  

Yep 40 years here who`s had enough of the spin

Quoted from friskneymariner

Really do think it is time for the Trust to consider it position of the Board,they have no real influence,and are being tainted by association.It really impacts on their credibility and integrity and their presence on the board is only tokenistic.

Additionally with Slade and Wilkinson in charge next season attendances are going to dwindle and therefore bar profits.
Do not let yourselves be used any further and disassociate yourself from this nonsense,you will be respected all the more for it.

Questions for the trust.
Did you sign off on the Club Statement blaming the fans for the excrement the club is in now???
Did you have any input into the Statement????

Same here,  two season ticket holders, 40 plus years..
Never boycotted (except Chuck up trophy).
I'd thought I'd seen it all, but that's it from me and my father.
Cannot begin to respond to the board's statement, it frankly doesn't deserve one.
But if they genuinely think this is a few, fickle fans they are so so deluded.
As for building, you don't start with a wrecking ball.

Quoted from TAGG

Questions for the trust.
Did you sign off on the Club Statement blaming the fans for the excrement the club is in now???
Did you have any input into the Statement????

Why are the Trust reluctant to provide this basic information,you cannot use confidentiality as an excuse.

it seems to me that people just not turning up is the only answer, that way our fragile players won't be adversely affected by the crowd's negativity and JF will hopefully get the message via a deserted stadium that fans have had enough.

2 other possibilities (backed by publicity)

1) mass return of season tickets by those not planning to go any more
2) public pledge or petition by those season ticket holders who won't be renewing if things stay as they are

you've got to hit JF with ££££ - it's the only thing he listens to

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I just fear that this is there way of warming towards an administration situation on the back of they can no longer deal and cover the liability, I don't get them and furthermore I don't trust them

Herts have to agree, we’ll be in administration by the end of 2018. It is unlikely the Club will be able to generate much cash from season ticket sales this Summer. We are in transition of DEMISE, instead of shipping in more loan signings,  probably on decent wages it would have been cheaper to let Slade go.

I suppose we could organise a mass lets go and watch Cleethorpes Town/Grimsby Borough Saturday afternoon instead of going to Blundell Park - that might send a message to Fenty of how much cash he is missing out on

Quoted from horsforthmariner

I suppose we could organise a mass lets go and watch Cleethorpes Town/Grimsby Borough Saturday afternoon instead of going to Blundell Park - that might send a message to Fenty of how much cash he is missing out on

Each to there own.

I tried it and it was awful, Just didnt feel anything for what was going on in front of my eyes. That is not meant to be a slight on the clubs or the local players it just wasnt my team I guess

Quoted from Cloudy

Each to there own.

I tried it and it was awful, Just didnt feel anything for what was going on in front of my eyes. That is not meant to be a slight on the clubs or the local players it just wasnt my team I guess

Yeah i get that, I'm just getting desperate. It's clear that Slade and Fenty are destroying this club.

Quoted from TAGG

Questions for the trust.
Did you sign off on the Club Statement blaming the fans for the excrement the club is in now???
Did you have any input into the Statement????

My Trust membership expires at the end of this month, and I will (currently) not be renewing.

They have absolutely zero influence in the way the club is run and there has been nothing but silence from them during this shambles that is unfolding.

It's all hot air and guff that i have heard many times before, only this time i won't blindly keep going thinking it will get better, because it never does. They have used up all my good will and that's another supporter of approaching 50 years that will not be buying a season ticket. The other three i attend with probably won't be either. I didn't want Slade back but yet again, gave the club the benefit of the doubt and bought a ST. Quickly realised it was a mistake and the one good game i have seen so far this season cost me £340. Not once have i booed or shouted at the players/management, despite the awful fare on offer at BP, so you can fook right off.

It just shows how little they know about the fans, that they thought bringing back Slade was a good idea. Selling Jones at the 11th hour was just putting the boot in once too often.

With that statement the board has effectively signed the club's death warrant.

They've put themselves in a no-win situation.

Stick with Slade and we could go down. Even if we stay up, season ticket sales next season will be hit massively.

No one is happy with these results, but more importantly no one is happy with the football. There was discontent among the fans long before this awful run began.

The reasons for sacking Bignot become more ludicrous with every passing day. He was simply not judged on the same criteria as Slade is being judged.

There's clear preferential treatment and that comes from a personal approach, not a club approach. John Fenty has once again let his personal views dictate things.

Even if Slade sorts this mess out, it's only a mess he created in the first place so he won't get elevated in the eyes of the fans. It was he and Fenty who mentioned a push for the play-offs when he was appointed, not us.

So we'll either go down and drift slowly into the abyss, or we'll stay up and attendances will plummet.

The only thing that will improve the situation is if Fenty, Slade or both go.

And the only person who has created this situation is John Fenty.

Don't blame the fans, John. Don't tell us what we should and shouldn't do. We're not responsible for this mess. You are.

You are financially out of pocket because of the mistakes you have made. All our assets - Bogle, Osborne, Jones - have gone. Attendances are falling. The stadium won't happen. You need to up your game to find this investment because right now you're doing irreversible damage to this club and this will be the thing you're remembered for.

Destroying the club I love; my dad loves; my grandad loved; my great grandad loved.

I really hope that troubles you at night. Because it should.

Re Trust, please don't shoot the messenger.

I too hope they will advise whether or not they were party to that statement. If they were then there needs to be some serious soul searching. If they weren't there also needs to be some serious soul searching about why they were not involved. I feel for the Trust, I really do, but the whole guilt by association thing that will inevitably develop with a continued presence on the baord could seriously undermine them - unless the folk sharing their angst on here are not truly representative of the club's fans as a whole, and I don't believe that for one moment.

"......Clubs respond too quickly to the demand to change managers......."

Ask Everton and Swansea fans if they agree!

It is all about getting the right manager for the Club.

Should we be losing Saturday with around 10ish minutes to go a mass walk out would be a message to thise watching from director's box

Latest statement from board will be General Slade will save the day with his reinforcements.

how did i know that it'd be the fans who got the blame.........

Ok....
well what did anyone expect really ?

We as a board have fcked up by backing Russell just recently but now we have had a change of heart and dont actually think Russell is capable but we cant afford to sack him, so for now he will remain in charge...

The board can only issue the statement it has in reality, how much you want to swallow it or pick it to pieces is down to each individual.

Again in the statement, the board have made it clear that they are open to offers of assistance, backing or takeover subject to subsequent due diligence being undertaken. Surely we all accept we would want that ?
This backs up what JF said at the forum ...basically he is fed up of it and wants out....fans protesting is all well and good but i honestly believe they want out anyway and would jump at a suitable offer.....not the first offer....but an offer from genuine investors, with the necessary skills and finances to secure the future of the club.

Personally i think any fervour would be better spent campaigning suitors to form a takeover party and doing pro-active works in that field than calling for people to go who already accept they want to go but wont just pass it into the hands of any chancers to do so.  

I will be there Saturday to watch my team, i wont be screaming for anyones head, i will support the players and i will groan at the players just as i do at any game of football and will be hoping for three points because my club needs them right now and a volatile atmosphere wont help achieve that.

That statement to me underlines the board want out....the quickest and easiest way to achieve that is to come up with a viable takeover plan IMO.

I think the statement was the best I’ve seen come out of Blundell Park for years. Well structured. Coherent. Good grammar. Such an improvement.

What they really mean is that we have made a right f***ing mess of this and we need someone to come into clean up our s**t

Comedy gold coming from the club, you couldn't make it up. I wish Nero was still alive, he could learn a thing or two off Fenty and his yes men. Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned, Fenty and his yes men are partying like they are at a rave.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/okLPx4N.gif[/img]

Statement of intent...... to P1ss off the town fans even more.

The simple truth is that Fenty had to give him a large 'undisclosed contract' to convince him to come back and that its gonna cost a fortune to pay him off.  Instead lets throw a few cheap loan signings in the mix and hope we crawl to a mid table finish then pray Slade gets his player recruitment better next season.

The fact still remains that he has stripped away the little talent we had left in the squad and replaced them with players like Kelly, Hooper, Cardwell and Dixon that cannot comnand a place in the 11 let alone the matchday squad.

Add to this that an PR relationship with fans and radio humberside has reached breaking point and gate attendances are edging to becoming unsustainable then the board should have thought that a change would be best to save us from potential disaster.

Appears not, they are praying for the miracle of an upturn in form and then they can say they were right not to make a 'knee jerk decision' or listen to us fans.

I really do hope we can survive this season and this wont stop me going to the games to support 'my club' but to say im unhappy is a huge understatement.

Utm

Quoted from moosey_club

Ok....
well what did anyone expect really ?

We as a board have fcked up by backing Russell just recently but now we have had a change of heart and dont actually think Russell is capable but we cant afford to sack him, so for now he will remain in charge...

The board can only issue the statement it has in reality, how much you want to swallow it or pick it to pieces is down to each individual.

Again in the statement, the board have made it clear that they are open to offers of assistance, backing or takeover subject to subsequent due diligence being undertaken. Surely we all accept we would want that ?
This backs up what JF said at the forum ...basically he is fed up of it and wants out....fans protesting is all well and good but i honestly believe they want out anyway and would jump at a suitable offer.....not the first offer....but an offer from genuine investors, with the necessary skills and finances to secure the future of the club.

Personally i think any fervour would be better spent campaigning suitors to form a takeover party and doing pro-active works in that field than calling for people to go who already accept they want to go but wont just pass it into the hands of any chancers to do so.  

I will be there Saturday to watch my team, i wont be screaming for anyones head, i will support the players and i will groan at the players just as i do at any game of football and will be hoping for three points because my club needs them right now and a volatile atmosphere wont help achieve that.

That statement to me underlines the board want out....the quickest and easiest way to achieve that is to come up with a viable takeover plan IMO.

I tend to agree.

Every effort should now be made to bring his terrible reign to an end. He won't get all his money back, quite rightly, and surely some interested parties might be able to compromise in negotiations? There must be some savvy business people with local connections who would be interested?

Lets hope it is the beginning of the end for Fenty, but in the meantime we stay in the league to rebuild from there.

Quoted from MarinerMart

Should we be losing Saturday with around 10ish minutes to go a mass walk out would be a message to those watching from director's box

Whether we agree with the decisions they're making, the actual statements they're putting out are at least a lot more professional than what we've had in the past. I don't think anyone could argue that.

For me, there are parts of it that didn't need to be in there and other parts that some fans will use as a stick to beat the club with rather than look objectively at what they're saying.

The decision to back the management team is obviously one that goes against majority supporter opinion. But you can at least see the logic in that they don't want us to become a "sacking" club. If we sacked Slade now we'd be on our 4th permanent manager in 15 months. No-one wants us to become known as a sacking club, it doesn't help future manager or player recruitment. I'm not saying this is a strong enough reason to keep RS as manager, but I recognise there's at least reasoning behind it and the board obviously have more faith in him turning results around than most fans do.

We will see how it pans out. Other managers have had success after Clubs have stuck with them - Bristol City doing well this year when last year many wanted their manager out. Who knows if that will happen here maybe next season. We've not seen signs of it yet. But whether we like it or not he's going to be here long enough for us to find out.

I'm still struggling with the fact Bignot was sacked after a game where we scored the same amount of goals in 90 minutes than we have in the past 10 games yet this joker still gets the board's backing

reading between the lines from the statement of that unbearable belittling weasel Marley,, slade isn't going anywere until next season atleast ,, the only language fenty speaks in is money and he will only take action when 1000 season tickets are sold next year and hits him in the pocket , I think it's been mentioned before do we need 2800 through the gates a week to make a profit . If so this season is already covered in st sales even if nobody turned up he's already got the cash in the bank ,
so even tho I agree with the protests etc it won't change anything until atleast the end of pre season were I believe he will panic and get rid of slade then hoping a knee jerk sacking and a replacement may boost st sales ,, I also wouldn't be surprised if he tries his best to flog the club in the summer as he will know what's coming

We need way more than 2800 to make a profit. Be very surprised if we are not losing money every week with the gates as they are.

From the statement I think Fenty and the board want a way out. They clearly decided not to trust RS to make any more permanent signings. Apart from Asante the Bignot squad has gone. We have a large number of loanees who will not be here next season and a few out of contract. Some players have left because they don't want to be here. Surely we cannot give money to RS in the summer to have another go. A clean sweep will be required and so fresh new ideas at all levels at the club.

After this statement (which pretty much says the board are open to offers) isn't it time for the Mariners Trust to step forward and see if local business people would join a collective interested in regime change?

I'm convinced the Trust could raise more than £30k a year if it had to. Especially if it had a cause. Add to that financial backing from local business owners and enough money could be raised to bridge the gap if 'football fortune' isn't achieved.

Surely this is the time to at least try something like this, rather than just doing nothing?

Quoted from Tommy

I'm not saying this is a strong enough reason to keep RS as manager, but I recognise there's at least reasoning behind it and the board obviously have more faith in him turning results around than most fans do.

I absolutely see where you are with this but the word reasoning stands out here...reasoning is subjective, so someone's reasoning may only be reasonable to that person or group. This groups reasoning has been particularly wonky at times, there are no hard and fast rules as such in sacking managers but there are precedents set and one recent one was Bignots sacking. The reasons were all given in a statement and Slade has clearly also been culpable of all of those errors outlined in that statement, and by a much huger margin. Do the board actually have genuine faith, or just hope?
Faith was shown last time, in Woods, in the end not even hope could help us.

What I'm saying is that this isn't reasoning as much as it is making a stand, saving face, in the face of having painted oneself completely and utterly into a corner.

Quoted from Gaffer58

At least we know the clubs PR department works.

Not really, there's a glaring typo in the statement...

"Despite pressure and direction to do otherwise, the Board are firmly of the opinion that, with time, Russell and Paul will turn the results around on the pitch and assemble a team capable of challenging for League Two next season."

The Hurst mention is a bit disingenuous IMO. Hurst did face some (imo daft) opposition at times but always had us up and around the play-offs, including falling at the last hurdle. Hurst did bring in some quality players: Almond, Bogle, Nolan, Henderson to name a few.

Now I understand that is subjective. However what really makes the statement disingenuous is stating the case for not being fickle and giving managers time to do a job (something I personally agree with), but somehow missing out any reference to Bignot. It's like a selective memory: to reference Hurst whilst overlooking a more recent manager means the argument is not really valid.

Hurst wasn't hounded out by the fans either, despite many not wanting him here, and even then most admitted, myself included, that he had earned the right to manage us in the league, and we were quite happy with what he was doing. He left because he got a better offer elsewhere and his parting shots were not fired at the fans when he said he was looking forward to working with honest people.

Admittedly, the club did stick by him when many wanted him gone and it turned out alright in the end. Whether he would have survived had we lost the play off semi to Braintree is another matter.

I think what the club fail to realise is that Slade was a very unpopular choice anyway, even without the abysmal run we are currently on. It's not just the results that are getting people riled up. He is never going to get much leeway with the fans, whatever he does.

Having said all that, it's now pointless to keep going over it all. The club have made their choice, the manager has signed the players he thinks will help us and all we can do now is see what happens for the rest of the season. We have the manager we have, we have the players we have, and it's all about getting some wins now. So to that end, i will be there Saturday hoping for a win and a performance, hoping the new and the old players get it together for our league status. I understand that some will stay away and that is their right, but the part of the statement i do agree with is that we should just go and support the team. Protests should be kept away from the players.

As I see it  keeping Slade will cost the club at least £300,000 in lost season ticket sales they cannot stand that,they will sack him at the end of the season.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

I think the statement was the best I’ve seen come out of Blundell Park for years. Well structured. Coherent. Good grammar. Such an improvement.

ie Donald Trump's speechwriters had nothing to do with it.

I know it's unfashionable, but I think that sacking Slade yesterday would have been a bad decision regardless of how much our terrible run of form over the past couple of months might have justified it. Getting rid of him on deadline day when I assume the moves for the outgoing and incoming players were mostly sorted out would have left us up shite creek without any sort of a paddle - even a rubbish one! For instance, I don't believe for one second that Jones didn't know anything about a potential move until 6pm - players, managers and clubs just tell brazen lies about transfers.

If we were going to sack Slade, the time would have been after Newport, which would have allowed a new manager to be selected and then perhaps bring in one or two of his own players as well as deciding whether or not to keep the ones who have been shipped out.

As this didn't happen back then, the window had passed so now we've just got to hope that the new arrivals can do enough to keep us out of the mire.

Longer-term, i.e. past the end of the season, I'd say that Slade's position is all but untenable barring an absolutely remarkable turnaround in fortunes on the pitch. I'm talking about a run of results good enough to get us close to the play-offs which I doubt is possible. Making up 15 points in 15 games when teams in the play-off places have 17 games to play? Nah, not going to happen. Even if we finish relatively comfortably clear of relegation (and I hope that we do!), there is too much ill-feeling towards Slade for him to remain at the club.

Fingers-crossed for GTFC to be Slade-free and still in the Football League come the start of next season. The way things have been going, we'll need some luck.

Apparently Slade was appointed 11 months ago -12th April 2017? - and in what way was that appointment not 'fickle & volatile'? - and in that 11 months (actually 9.5months), he has systematically got rid of all of Bignot's signings.

That suggests to me that they were given big money to come here as part of the Bignot revolution. The question that follows on from that is a simple one. Didn't the board sign those deals off & weren't they aware of the financial consequences?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Apparently Slade was appointed 11 months ago -12th April 2017? - and in what way was that appointment not 'fickle & volatile'? - and in that 11 months (actually 9.5months), he has systematically got rid of all of Bignot's signings.

That suggests to me that they were given big money to come here as part of the Bignot revolution. The question that follows on from that is a simple one. Didn't the board sign those deals off & weren't they aware of the financial consequences?

Bit like a cuckoo really.

I'm desperately searching for something positive at the moment but I can't see it.
In theory continuity is the answer and it is possible that Slade could turn it round, however the evidence points overwhelmingly to him failing. He's got rid of our best players in Osborne and Jones and so far the replacements have been poor.
There was a vocal minority who wanted Hurst out but that would have been stupid in my opinion. We were always there abouts, and he had an eye for a player. When he did make a mistake he got rid quick. It seems Slade doesn't have an eye for a player and we still have his mistakes, potentially causing trouble.
I respect the fact that JF is a town fan and I believe he's probably as unhappy as most of us at the moment. However, he's gambling with our football club and along with 90% of supporters I think he's got it wrong.
Falling gates will probably be the only thing that influences future decisions

This may go down like a lead balloon but I dont think Slade is the primary problem

Quoted from Cloudy

This may go down like a lead balloon but I dont think Slade is the primary problem

He isn't - cue red crosses from Sonik & Squarkus.

Quoted from Cloudy

Dont think they would consider moving towards Administration as the primary person to lose out would be JSF

Yeah your right mate I just wanted to vent after waking up to see everyone moving forward and us stuck in the dark ages.  

Quoted from MarinerMart

Should we be losing Saturday with around 10ish minutes to go a mass walk out would be a message to thise watching from director's box

I think that goes without saying.

Quoted from arryarryarry

I think that goes without saying.

Don't we normally start losing after around 10 mins?

"Alternatively, we invite any interested parties who feel that they have the wherewithal to take over the financial and operational running of the Club without the existing Directors to approach the Club to discuss the process.

Such approach may be by an individual, consortium or appropriate organisation.
The existing Directors’ loans and shareholding would not be a barrier to any interested parties subject to the usual due diligence taking place."

It's pretty clear from the above that the current board want out, and that JF is not looking to recover the loans he has put in. So the door is well and truly open for new owners to come in. That is positive because the current board have not been able to take the club forward.

I have some sympathy for JF. He is a fan at heart, and he stepped in after the ITV Digital fiasco and saved the club from going under. He has bankrolled the club to the tune if millions over the years, an amount which even to a wealthy guy like him, is a huge amount of money. It's not like he is a billionaire. It amounts to a very significant personal loss to him.

It's easy, with hindsight, to be critical of decisions which have failed. Didn't most of us welcome the appointment of Newell at the time? Both as a fan and as someone with a huge financial stake in the club, Fenty has taken decisions which he hoped would make the club successful. Ok, so it has largely failed to meet expectations, but at least we are in a better position than the likes of Hereford, Stockport, Chester, Wrexham, Darlington, and other previously well established clubs that have fallen out of the league.  

As we know, many football club owners are rather dodgy characters that often come close to destroying them while lining their own pockets. You can never say that about Fenty. He will walk away from the club millions poorer and with many years of personal abuse as memories. But at least there will still be a club.

The time has come for new owners. Let's hope it happens soon.

Quoted from RonMariner

"Alternatively, we invite any interested parties who feel that they have the wherewithal to take over the financial and operational running of the Club without the existing Directors to approach the Club to discuss the process.

Such approach may be by an individual, consortium or appropriate organisation.
The existing Directors’ loans and shareholding would not be a barrier to any interested parties subject to the usual due diligence taking place."

It's pretty clear from the above that the current board want out, and that JF is not looking to recover the loans he has put in. So the door is well and truly open for new owners to come in. That is positive because the current board have not been able to take the club forward.

I have some sympathy for JF. He is a fan at heart, and he stepped in after the ITV Digital fiasco and saved the club from going under. He has bankrolled the club to the tune if millions over the years, an amount which even to a wealthy guy like him, is a huge amount of money. It's not like he is a billionaire. It amounts to a very significant personal loss to him.

It's easy, with hindsight, to be critical of decisions which have failed. Didn't most of us welcome the appointment of Newell at the time? Both as a fan and as someone with a huge financial stake in the club, Fenty has taken decisions which he hoped would make the club successful. Ok, so it has largely failed to meet expectations, but at least we are in a better position than the likes of Hereford, Stockport, Chester, Wrexham, Darlington, and other previously well established clubs that have fallen out of the league.  

As we know, many football club owners are rather dodgy characters that often come close to destroying them while lining their own pockets. You can never say that about Fenty. He will walk away from the club millions poorer and with many years of personal abuse as memories. But at least there will still be a club.

The time has come for new owners. Let's hope it happens soon.

‘The existing loans would not be a barrier’, not quite the same as saying ‘all existing loans and covenants will will be removed without penalty to the new investors/owners’.  If he meant that the club will be freed of any obligation to repay then he would have said it.  Yet more desperate spin from a deeply insincere character.