Daily Mail on Cortese

[The Kraken]

Is Cortese our owner? When did that happen?

 

And is it really bizarre for fans to back somebody who rescued our club from potential liquidation, or at the very least probable turmoil under some other owners similar to those encountered by the Skates, rather than an ex-player?

 

What is bizarre is the perpective that some fans have in their priorities.I don't decry the contribution that MLT made to our club as a player, but compared to the contribution to the club made by Cortese, what exactly has MLT contributed to the club since his retirement? It is arguable that his contribution has been a negative one, which is more the shame considering that he professes to love the Saints so much.

 

You can argue MLT's contribution has been negative if you wish, Wes. I just wish it didn't have to be such a polarised either-or argument; that to stick up for your chairman means you have to denigrate a playing legend, or that supporting MLT et al means that you're somehow against the chairman. My "priority" is that we run the business on an even keel, succeed on the pitch, and try to maintain the principles of our history. We could do all that, but choose not to. I know not why.

[Roger]

Is Cortese our owner? When did that happen?

 

And is it really bizarre for fans to back somebody who rescued our club from potential liquidation, or at the very least probable turmoil under some other owners similar to those encountered by the Skates, rather than an ex-player?

 

What is bizarre is the perpective that some fans have in their priorities. I don't decry the contribution that MLT made to our club as a player, but compared to the contribution to the club made by Cortese, what exactly has MLT contributed to the club since his retirement? It is arguable that his contribution has been a negative one, which is more the shame considering that he professes to love the Saints so much.

 

I think as you didn't start supporting saints til around 97 Pete you don't realise how good le tiss was from 88-97! It sounds like he could be right in some of his observations. I doubt he would want to hurt the club in any way.

[Roger]

I think as you didn't start supporting saints til around 97 Pete you don't realise how good le tiss was from 88-97! It sounds like he could be right in some of his observations. I doubt he would want to hurt the club in any way.

 

Also it's clear he does love the club he even buys his season ticket next to northam. I don't like hearing you talk like that.

[Weston Saint]

Recently a few of us came into some very interesting information on team selection which was attributed. When checking the attribution it was found that the information was not only incorrect but had not been said at all!!

 

My point? Do not believe what you hear or is printed unless it is from the person themselves.

 

There is no evidence that anyone but Adkins and his coaches are picking the team and tactics. That may be influenced by the culture and plans for the club. It would be slight on the ability of the first team coaches and Manager for anyone to suggest otherwise.

 

Adkins will stand or fall by his decisions. The support he needs from Mr Cortese is securing players and contracts identified in positions required to strengthen the team and its performance. Mr Cortese is known to be a fair but hard task master. He may need to soften his negotiation approach to get the players we need. I say may because that is pure speculation on my part.

[Roger]

Recently a few of us came into some very interesting information on team selection which was attributed. When checking the attribution it was found that the information was not only incorrect but had not been said at all!!

 

My point? Do not believe what you hear or is printed unless it is from the person themselves.

 

There is no evidence that anyone but Adkins and his coaches are picking the team and tactics. That may be influenced by the culture and plans for the club. It would be slight on the ability of the first team coaches and Manager for anyone to suggest otherwise.

 

Adkins will stand or fall by his decisions. The support he needs from Mr Cortese is securing players and contracts identified in positions required to strengthen tge team and its performance. Mr Cortese is known to be a fair but hard task master. He may need to soften his negotiation approach to get the players we need. I say may because that is pure speculation on my part.

 

Think that's right.

[dubai_phil]

Am I only the only one wondering about last Tuesday?

 

Let's face it, put ourselves in Nige's shoes for a moment.

 

IF we accept the Turkish Model (Blackmore tweets/talked out of walking after Coventry game etc) then after Monday's game, being called in to see the boss, I for one would have approached that as.

 

Right - this is bullsh1t. It is not working. It is destroying my credibility as a person and a manager and I cannot take it and I am going to walk. I will not sign an NDA and you will not have to pay me compensation. Just don't expect me to keep my mouth shut.

 

BUT, I love this club and I know that I can sort it out. Give me a couple of weeks to do things MY way. (Hell it will take you that long to find a replacement anyway so what do you have to lose?)

 

IF I turn it around we both win and can make a better way to go forwards. IF I screw it up then you saved on getting a Caretaker in.

 

And we have a sudden change in build up with Nige's early interview and a training camp....

 

Think we will find the answer this afternoon at 3pm.

 

IF Nige is really not up to it OR if the Turkish model is close to the truth

[Wes Tender]

You can argue MLT's contribution has been negative if you wish, Wes. I just wish it didn't have to be such a polarised either-or argument; that to stick up for your chairman means you have to denigrate a playing legend, or that supporting MLT et al means that you're somehow against the chairman. My "priority" is that we run the business on an even keel, succeed on the pitch, and try to maintain the principles of our history. We could do all that, but choose not to. I know not why.

 

It wasn't me who said that it was bizarre that fans chose to back Cortese over MLT, was it? So who is polarising opinion in one direction or the other?

 

I've already stated that I don't decry the service that MLT offered to the club as a player. But to make comparisons between the two of them now that MLT has been retired for several years is what is strange.

[Weston Saint]

Am I only the only one wondering about last Tuesday?

 

Let's face it, put ourselves in Nige's shoes for a moment.

 

IF we accept the Turkish Model (Blackmore tweets/talked out of walking after Coventry game etc) then after Monday's game, being called in to see the boss, I for one would have approached that as.

 

Right - this is bullsh1t. It is not working. It is destroying my credibility as a person and a manager and I cannot take it and I am going to walk. I will not sign an NDA and you will not have to pay me compensation. Just don't expect me to keep my mouth shut.

 

BUT, I love this club and I know that I can sort it out. Give me a couple of weeks to do things MY way. (Hell it will take you that long to find a replacement anyway so what do you have to lose?)

 

IF I turn it around we both win and can make a better way to go forwards. IF I screw it up then you saved on getting a Caretaker in.

 

And we have a sudden change in build up with Nige's early interview and a training camp....

 

Think we will find the answer this afternoon at 3pm.

 

IF Nige is really not up to it OR if the Turkish model is close to the truth

What is wrong with

 

Well Mr Adkins, ten games and we are in trouble. We have not achieved what we set out to achieved. Let us review your performance. What steps are you going to take to improve results? Can you turn it round? What do you need from us to help you achieve your targets?

 

Nothing wrong with that if correct. Usual business performance reviews.

 

WE JUST DO NOT KNOW. Only Adkins or Cortese can tell us what went on.

 

Nothing wrong with speculation on an internet football forum but let us all recognise it is speculation not fact

 

I am suddenly looking forward to this afternoon

[Roger]

It wasn't me who said that it was bizarre that fans chose to back Cortese over MLT, was it? So who is polarising opinion in one direction or the other?

 

I've already stated that I don't decry the service that MLT offered to the club as a player. But to make comparisons between the two of them now that MLT has been retired for several years is what is strange.

 

No one is saying that. But u shouldn't just forget about people who have done a great service just because they have retired.

[shurlock]

Am I only the only one wondering about last Tuesday?

 

Let's face it, put ourselves in Nige's shoes for a moment.

 

IF we accept the Turkish Model (Blackmore tweets/talked out of walking after Coventry game etc) then after Monday's game, being called in to see the boss, I for one would have approached that as.

 

Right - this is bullsh1t. It is not working. It is destroying my credibility as a person and a manager and I cannot take it and I am going to walk. I will not sign an NDA and you will not have to pay me compensation. Just don't expect me to keep my mouth shut.

 

BUT, I love this club and I know that I can sort it out. Give me a couple of weeks to do things MY way. (Hell it will take you that long to find a replacement anyway so what do you have to lose?)

 

IF I turn it around we both win and can make a better way to go forwards. IF I screw it up then you saved on getting a Caretaker in.

 

And we have a sudden change in build up with Nige's early interview and a training camp....

 

Think we will find the answer this afternoon at 3pm.

 

IF Nige is really not up to it OR if the Turkish model is close to the truth

 

The PTS thread has gone to your head, phil

[dubai_phil]

What is wrong with

 

Well Mr Adkins, ten games and we are in trouble. We have not achieved what we set out to achieved. Let us review your performance. What steps are you going to take to improve results? Can you turn it round? What do you need from us to help you achieve your targets?

 

Nothing wrong with that if correct. Usual business performance reviews.

 

WE JUST DO NOT KNOW. Only Adkins or Cortese can tell us what went on.

 

Nothing wrong with speculation on an internet football forum but let us all recognise it is speculation not fact

 

I am suddenly looking forward to this afternoon

 

Completely. Nothing wrong with speculation. Wasn't professing an opinion and yours is equally good.

 

Mind you it's gonna screw up Turkish's theory IF Guly starts today

[Turkish]

Am I only the only one wondering about last Tuesday?

 

Let's face it, put ourselves in Nige's shoes for a moment.

 

IF we accept the Turkish Model (Blackmore tweets/talked out of walking after Coventry game etc) then after Monday's game, being called in to see the boss, I for one would have approached that as.

 

Right - this is bullsh1t. It is not working. It is destroying my credibility as a person and a manager and I cannot take it and I am going to walk. I will not sign an NDA and you will not have to pay me compensation. Just don't expect me to keep my mouth shut.

 

BUT, I love this club and I know that I can sort it out. Give me a couple of weeks to do things MY way. (Hell it will take you that long to find a replacement anyway so what do you have to lose?)

 

IF I turn it around we both win and can make a better way to go forwards. IF I screw it up then you saved on getting a Caretaker in.

 

And we have a sudden change in build up with Nige's early interview and a training camp....

 

Think we will find the answer this afternoon at 3pm.

 

IF Nige is really not up to it OR if the Turkish model is close to the truth

 

I can see this being the case.

[Dig Dig]

I can see this being the case.

 

You just really really want it all to be true. BIZARRE!

[Turkish]

Is Cortese our owner? When did that happen?

 

And is it really bizarre for fans to back somebody who rescued our club from potential liquidation, or at the very least probable turmoil under some other owners similar to those encountered by the Skates, rather than an ex-player?

 

What is bizarre is the perpective that some fans have in their priorities. I don't decry the contribution that MLT made to our club as a player, but compared to the contribution to the club made by Cortese, what exactly has MLT contributed to the club since his retirement? It is arguable that his contribution has been a negative one, which is more the shame considering that he professes to love the Saints so much.

 

Great post. Pull down the Ted Bates statue, whats he done for the club since he died? Ban Lawrie Mac, what's he done for the club since he retired?

[Wade Garrett]

Recently a few of us came into some very interesting information on team selection which was attributed. When checking the attribution it was found that the information was not only incorrect but had not been said at all!!

 

My point? Do not believe what you hear or is printed unless it is from the person themselves.

 

There is no evidence that anyone but Adkins and his coaches are picking the team and tactics. That may be influenced by the culture and plans for the club. It would be slight on the ability of the first team coaches and Manager for anyone to suggest otherwise.

 

Adkins will stand or fall by his decisions. The support he needs from Mr Cortese is securing players and contracts identified in positions required to strengthen the team and its performance. Mr Cortese is known to be a fair but hard task master. He may need to soften his negotiation approach to get the players we need. I say may because that is pure speculation on my part.

 

Too true. Adkins tells us every week that he is responsible for picking the team and how they play. The rest is just some media campaign against Cortese (who is far from perfect) by people with axes to grind.

[Wade Garrett]

Great post. Pull down the Ted Bates statue, whats he done for the club since he died? Ban Lawrie Mac, what's he done for the club since he retired?

 

Turkish, go out and have a few beers. Better fun than trolling on the interweb.

[Turkish]

You just really really want it all to be true. BIZARRE!

 

No. I really DON'T want it to be the case. I want a club where the chairman isn't a lunatic dictator who bans anyone who says nasty things or questions his decisions. Where fans are treated with respect not disdain, where there aren't constant rumours and speculation that the manger is being undermined. I also want to like Cortese but the more I hear about the more that is impossible to do.

[Turkish]

Too true. Adkins tells us every week that he is responsible for picking the team and how they play. The rest is just some media campaign against Cortese (who is far from perfect) by people with axes to grind.

 

So you don't think managers are every economical with the truth and everything they say is 100% FACT?

[Dig Dig]

No. I really DON'T want it to be the case. I want a club where the chairman isn't a lunatic dictator who bans anyone who says nasty things or questions his decisions. Where fans are treated with respect not disdain, where there aren't constant rumours and speculation that the manger is being undermined. I also want to like Cortese but the more I hear about the more that is impossible to do.

 

If you don't want constant speculation and rumour that Adkins is being undermined, maybe stop spreading speculation and rumour that Adkins is being undermined.

[miserableoldgit]

If you don't want constant speculation and rumour that Adkins is being undermined, maybe stop spreading speculation and rumour that Adkins is being undermined.

Nutshell

[Turkish]

If you don't want constant speculation and rumour that Adkins is being undermined, maybe stop spreading speculation and rumour that Adkins is being undermined.

 

Only repeating what's in the news and the public domain, I'm not the one starting the rumours.

[Wade Garrett]

So you don't think managers are every economical with the truth and everything they say is 100% FACT?

 

So you think Adkins is a liar?

 

Anyway, I'm going out now, couple of beers before the game. I suggest you do the same, Mr Troll.

[Turkish]

So you think Adkins is a liar?

 

Anyway, I'm going out now, couple of beers before the game. I suggest you do the same, Mr Troll.

 

I think Adkins does what he has to to keep the powers happy.hence the constant praise of the chairman 'working hard behind the scenes' during the summer. If he picks the team, the tactics,the formation, all the subs and transfers then he's incompetent and should be fired.

[Polaroid Saint]

I find it odd that people think SFC is Cortese's 'toy'. That really is a misreading of the man and his desire and ambition. NC has stated SFC is his 'child' and he sincerely wants the project to succeed - it will (he hopes) be his legacy, and his calling card for future, personal, success.

 

Both NC and Markus shared a vision to make a change, not only to SFC but also to the EPL and beyond. That vision is based on a no compromise reading of the new financial rules, the EPPP and the status of SFC as a potentially massive club- all within a five year plan. This kind of foresight and planning is pretty unusual in the modern game. NC correctly identified Nigel as the right man for the job.

 

They also correctly identified the deadwood at the club and have sought to address that as quickly as possible.

 

The only negatives, aside from the results and a couple of strange substitutions in key games, are that SFC did not bring in the defenders and GK we badly needed in the summer. Oh and that we are a year advanced of 'the plan' which may, perversely, put us a year behind in the long run.

[Dig Dig]

Only repeating what's in the news and the public domain, I'm not the one starting the rumours.

 

What, Paul Mersons article? Haven't seen much else other than what is written on here, mainly from you.

 

Adkins has had to work harder than most to get his opportunities and to get to the position he's in. Do you honestly think he would tarnish his reputation by playing a side picked for him my a swiss banker? Why on earth would he do that? He could walk away and tell the world tomorrow that he left because he was being undermind and he could walk into another good job.

 

IMO it all sounds like nonesense but there are alot of people around the club who seem to love peddling rumours to the point where they are presented as fact.

[Greenridge]

Blah blah blah

 

Any plans to answer my question? You do have an answer I take it?

[CB Fry]

Any plans to answer my question? You do have an answer I take it?

 

 

What do you plan to do with the answer you get?

[Greenridge]

What do you plan to do with the answer you get?

 

I'm sure he doesn't need his minder to speak for him but thanks for asking.

[CB Fry]

I'm sure he doesn't need his minder to speak for him but thanks for asking.

 

 

Any plans to answer my question? You do have an answer I take it?

[Greenridge]

Any plans to answer my question? You do have an answer I take it?

 

What will you do with the answer I provide? You do have an answer I take it?

 

In answer to your question (see it's easy to provide an answer) I'll probably post it all over the forum in a repetitive manner. That would make interesting reading for the folks. Everywhere I'll post it, everywhere.

[CB Fry]

What will you do with the answer I provide? You do have an answer I take it?

 

.

 

 

 

I will do nothing with your answer. This is a pointless forum for rumours, argument and speculation and is of no consequence whatsoever.

 

I'm glad you now understand that.

[alpine_saint]

Am I only the only one wondering about last Tuesday?

 

Let's face it, put ourselves in Nige's shoes for a moment.

 

IF we accept the Turkish Model (Blackmore tweets/talked out of walking after Coventry game etc) then after Monday's game, being called in to see the boss, I for one would have approached that as.

 

Right - this is bullsh1t. It is not working. It is destroying my credibility as a person and a manager and I cannot take it and I am going to walk. I will not sign an NDA and you will not have to pay me compensation. Just don't expect me to keep my mouth shut.

 

BUT, I love this club and I know that I can sort it out. Give me a couple of weeks to do things MY way. (Hell it will take you that long to find a replacement anyway so what do you have to lose?)

 

IF I turn it around we both win and can make a better way to go forwards. IF I screw it up then you saved on getting a Caretaker in.

 

And we have a sudden change in build up with Nige's early interview and a training camp....

 

Think we will find the answer this afternoon at 3pm.

 

IF Nige is really not up to it OR if the Turkish model is close to the truth

 

Reckon we have our answer.

[Weston Saint]

According to my information today at the game Cortese did not have a crisis meeting with Adkins last Tuesday. Adkins took a training session and he and Cortese exchanged a few words. I am told the meeting has been set for the end of the month with some of the board members to review our position. This has come indirectly to me from Les Reed. I have no reason to doubt it but like all second hand info it should be treated with the usual caution.

 

Reed also confirmed he has no input with regard to the first team.

[jam]

According to my information today at the game Cortese did not have a crisis meeting with Adkins last Tuesday. Adkins took a training session and he and Cortese exchanged a few words. I am told the meeting has been set for the end of the month with some of the board members to review our position. This has come indirectly to me from Les Reed. I have no reason to doubt it but like all second hand info it should be treated with the usual caution.

 

Reed also confirmed he has no input with regard to the first team.

 

Cheers for the info Weston. I always appreciate it when you share stuff.

 

I've got to say what you've been told does sound like the situation is being downplayed and doesn't really out the notion going round that Cortese and Adkins agreed to try things Adkins way and review it after a month. In some ways it kinda adds a bit of weight to it.

 

The suggestion that they 'exchanged a few words' is totally vague and could be used to euphemistically describe a a short informal meeting to a bit of an argument.

 

Re. Les Reed confirming that he has 'no input with regard to the first team'; contradicts other articles where he is attributed to claiming that he is responsible for "Coaching, Sports Medicine and Science, scouting and recruitment, kit and equipment and the Academy". Which of these statements is true?

 

As an interested outsider I'd be inclined to take what your contact has been told with a healthy pinch of scepticism. Unfortunately because it's you posting it some posters are already taking it as gospel.

[hypochondriac]

If Adkins has been solely responsible for our tactics, substitutions and setup for this season then you really have to question how suitable he is for the Premiership and also why we have seen such a radical departure from the last two seasons that have brought such success.

[Thedelldays]

If Adkins has been solely responsible for our tactics, substitutions and setup for this season then you really have to question how suitable he is for the Premiership and also why we have seen such a radical departure from the last two seasons that have brought such success.

and he has said time and time again that he is

[the stain]

What will you do with the answer I provide? You do have an answer I take it?

 

In answer to your question (see it's easy to provide an answer) I'll probably post it all over the forum in a repetitive manner. That would make interesting reading for the folks. Everywhere I'll post it, everywhere.

 

[Weston Saint]

Cheers for the info Weston. I always appreciate it when you share stuff.

 

I've got to say what you've been told does sound like the situation is being downplayed and doesn't really out the notion going round that Cortese and Adkins agreed to try things Adkins way and review it after a month. In some ways it kinda adds a bit of weight to it.

 

The suggestion that they 'exchanged a few words' is totally vague and could be used to euphemistically describe a a short informal meeting to a bit of an argument.

 

Re. Les Reed confirming that he has 'no input with regard to the first team'; contradicts other articles where he is attributed to claiming that he is responsible for "Coaching, Sports Medicine and Science, scouting and recruitment, kit and equipment and the Academy". Which of these statements is true?

 

As an interested outsider I'd be inclined to take what your contact has been told with a healthy pinch of scepticism. Unfortunately because it's you posting it some posters are already taking it as gospel.

In view of who told me and that he attributed it to a question put directly to Reed I am puting a fairly high weighting on it being correct.

[dubai_phil]

According to my information today at the game Cortese did not have a crisis meeting with Adkins last Tuesday. Adkins took a training session and he and Cortese exchanged a few words. I am told the meeting has been set for the end of the month with some of the board members to review our position. This has come indirectly to me from Les Reed. I have no reason to doubt it but like all second hand info it should be treated with the usual caution.

 

Reed also confirmed he has no input with regard to the first team.

 

Hmm you sure there WS?

 

Many articles and statements from the club saying he is on the (Recruitment Committee) which find players for the first team............

 

After all he seems to be in charge of the back office Football Side like Scouts etc, so he now says he & the scouts had nothing to do with finding Ramirez and that it was Nige's own work? In which case well done Nige, outstanding.

 

Think we know what you meant but it isn't quite as you said it. :-)

 

Just doing a FC on what you said.

 

BUT a throw away line like you gave out there could be warped by factions on here or of course the media

[Weston Saint]

If Adkins has been solely responsible for our tactics, substitutions and setup for this season then you really have to question how suitable he is for the Premiership and also why we have seen such a radical departure from the last two seasons that have brought such success.

It might have something to do with it being Premier League and a far cry from Div 1 and Championship football

 

Last season our defence was our weak area but we got away with it. This season we are up against class players and we are getting punished. Our midfield was no more effective than it is now.

 

There has been no radical departure in my opinion. We just need better players in some areas than we have now.

[Chez]

If he picks the team, the tactics,the formation, all the subs and transfers then he's incompetent and should be fired.

 

There is no if. He does all those things apart from the transfers, which is based on a committee, which he is part of.

[Weston Saint]

Hmm you sure there WS?

 

Many articles and statements from the club saying he is on the (Recruitment Committee) which find players for the first team............

 

After all he seems to be in charge of the back office Football Side like Scouts etc, so he now says he & the scouts had nothing to do with finding Ramirez and that it was Nige's own work? In which case well done Nige, outstanding.

 

Think we know what you meant but it isn't quite as you said it. :-)

 

Just doing a FC on what you said.

 

BUT a throw away line like you gave out there could be warped by factions on here or of course the media

Adkins says he wants a midfielder. Reed, Cortese and Adkins, by committee, decide who is available and Cortese negotiates.

 

Adkins decides when, where and the tactics.

 

Simple really.

 

I have read a lot, asked questions, asked people to investigate allegations and only post on here now when I am satisfied with the result.

 

I got sucked in too often during the Administration and before by picking up info and posting it, only to find when I asked the right people it was rubbish. More careful now.

[Chez]

Adkins says he wants a midfielder. Reed, Cortese and Adkins, by committee, decide who is available and Cortese negotiates.

 

Adkins decides when, where and the tactics.

 

Simple really.

you'll need to type this at least 150 times me thinks before it sinks in to some.

[Turkish]

Adkins says he wants a midfielder. Reed, Cortese and Adkins, by committee, decide who is available and Cortese negotiates.

 

Adkins decides when, where and the tactics.

 

Simple really.

 

I have read a lot, asked questions, asked people to investigate allegations and only post on here now when I am satisfied with the result.

 

I got sucked in too often during the Administration and before by picking up info and posting it, only to find when I asked the right people it was rubbish. More careful now.

 

Where is the evidence of this?

 

And if this is true what happened with the defenders? Adkins said he wanted a couple in July as a priority. Who is to blame for him getting one from the team with the worst defence in the Dutch league 7 weeks later?

[Turkish]

you'll need to type this at least 150 times me thinks before it sinks in to some.

 

So Chez. We take this post as FACT do we and dismiss all the others as bullsh*t?

[shurlock]

So Chez. We take this post as FACT do we and dismiss all the others as bullsh*t?

 

Cortese wasn't wearing a poppy. FACT

[jam]

In view of who told me and that he attributed it to a question put directly to Reed I am puting a fairly high weighting on it being correct.

 

Just to reiterate; I wasn't questioning your source, rather the information given to him or her. Especially as it contradicts what has been widely reported and an interview with Reed himself.

 

Two things re. recruitment stick out for me:

 

Firstly, in the summer Adkins said he wanted to bring in a goalkeeper, one or more defenders and (IIRC) a left back.

 

Secondly, in that article I linked to, Reed says he is responsible for the FDSC, which looks after scouting and recruitment.

 

We've eventually (after the season started) brought in a not match fit Boruc, and a single centre back, to effectively replace Jaidi.

 

So to me the question is: Was Adkins unable to recruit to fill the positions he wanted, or were the club as a whole unable or unwilling to back their manager's judgement?

[Halo Stickman]

Saints fans siding with the CEO against former players and manager; surely there can’t be a more strident example of the changing face of football? What next, posts on ‘Top 5 football related business decisions’ or ‘Favourite football chairman of the 80s’?

 

By all means, credit Cortese’s role in sorting our finances and successive promotions, but realise too the price we’re paying; a price that seems to include treating the likes of Le Tiss, Lawrie Mac and Franny Benali with petty vindictiveness.

 

Call me an outdated sentimentalist, but if a club like ours can’t honour former heroes with the respect they deserve then, in my opinion, football is in danger of becoming a soulless - and, quite frankly, pointless – institution.

[VectisSaint]

Re. Les Reed confirming that he has 'no input with regard to the first team'; contradicts other articles where he is attributed to claiming that he is responsible for "Coaching, Sports Medicine and Science, scouting and recruitment, kit and equipment and the Academy". Which of these statements is true?

These 2 comments are not necessarily contradictory though. Nowhere in the 2nd part does Reed say he has anything to do with 1st team tactics or selection, only an overarching responsibility for coaching, scouting and recruitment for all teams (1st, u21, u18, u16 Academy kids). Almost certainly he delegates the responsibility for each team/group to coaches, scouts and recruitment specifically for that team, in the case of the 1st team to Adkins.

[Weston Saint]

Just to reiterate; I wasn't questioning your source, rather the information given to him or her. Especially as it contradicts what has been widely reported and an interview with Reed himself.

 

Two things re. recruitment stick out for me:

 

Firstly, in the summer Adkins said he wanted to bring in a goalkeeper, one or more defenders and (IIRC) a left back.

 

Secondly, in that article I linked to, Reed says he is responsible for the FDSC, which looks after scouting and recruitment.

 

We've eventually (after the season started) brought in a not match fit Boruc, and a single centre back, to effectively replace Jaidi.

 

So to me the question is: Was Adkins unable to recruit to fill the positions he wanted, or were the club as a whole unable or unwilling to back their manager's judgement?

 

One answer would be that Adkins identified areas he needed to strenthen, the transfer committee identified the individuals (remember Adkins is on that committee) and Cortese is responsible for agreeing terms and conditions. It is possible all took place but Cortese could not agree terms that he felt were reasonable. Buttner appears a good example of this where it is suggested, by Buttner, that terms and conditions had been agreed but then, it is suggested, someone wanted a cut and this was unacceptable to Cortese. We just do not know!

 

For me, and I continue to support Adkins, the lack of quality in positions identified is not down to him. If Cortese feels Adkins is making the right decisions and tactics and that it is down to quality then Adkins will continue as Manager and the player situation will be addressed in January. As I have said before, I just hope Cortese holds his nerve.