Should Ankerson and Semmens resign?

[Daft Kerplunk]

So, whilst Jones is very possibly out of his depth at this level, at this point in time, why are we letting off the people at the top who have ultimately got us where we are today! 

[Harry_SFC]

I don't think Ankersen should resign. I think he should own up to his mistake by sacking Jones tonight. 

[Archers Road Stand]

Semmens should definitely resign. It'll give him the opportunity to spend more time with his family and release him of the burden of watching us home and away, all expenses paid....

[Suhari]

17 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

I don't think Ankersen should resign. I think he should own up to his mistake by sacking Jones tonight. 

This.

[Suhari]

17 minutes ago, Archers Road Stand said:

Semmens should definitely resign. It'll give him the opportunity to spend more time with his family and release him of the burden of watching us home and away, all expenses paid....

And this.

[Britannia]

Something to consider.

I had the impression during the Gao years that it was MS running everything.

I was satisfied at the time as there was no investment, any transfers had to be set against revenue the club generated themselves.  He seemed competent at keeping the business a going concern during a tough time, especially with no match day revenue so I’d thank him for that at least.

RA by contrast hasn’t been on the board for that long, so I think it’s probably a bit shortsighted to hound him out.  Especially with the level of investment this season.

Ultimately, there must now be some accountability. 
 

I hope that we hear explanations for decisions that were made at the Fans Forum and I look forward to that.

[aintforever]

Dragon needs to give all this lot the bullet. Completely clueless.

[Miltonaggro]

Hinge and Bracket have got one card left to play, and that’s to sack their experiment this evening and put someone in to give us some self respect. 

[hypochondriac]

1 hour ago, Harry_SFC said:

I don't think Ankersen should resign. I think he should own up to his mistake by sacking Jones tonight. 

Yep. People make mistakes. The mark of someone is when they recognise that and do something about it. 

[S-Clarke]

I know it's the fashionable thing to scream ''EVERYONE OUT'' when things are going bad, so it's worth looking at these sorts of roles a bit more objectively. 

I don't think Sport Republic have come in here with the wrong intentions, they have put their money where their mouth is and have tried. The problem with them has been how they've executed it and they have made some big mistakes, but it hasn't been for the want of trying. 

What I saw in the January transfer window was an acceptance that they got the balance wrong in the summer, they opened their cheque book and brought in some proven experience to try and help us (not their fault the manager doesn't play them). Now what I want to see, even though it's embarrassing and an admission of failure, is for them to admit they called it wrong with Jones and fix this before it gets even worse. That would be good leadership, admitting their mistake and going again - obviously they need to stop making these sorts of mistakes and the jury is well and truly out, but they can't let their ego call the shots in this situation as it's as toxic as I've ever known.

[kelkel31]

I don't think we have enough information on how much Ankersen and SR are truly running the club. I do believe that Semmens has been a significant part of our problems for a while. The reason the Ralph stayed far too long, the constant rubbish that we cant compete financially with the clubs at our level, the unbelievable moronic comments we should be grateful to be in the PL after being the 13th best performing club over the last 50 years.

My judgement is still out on the owners but if someone recommended forcing Semmens out of the club with the use of a baseball bat i would seriously consider it! 

 

[saintscottofthenortham]

Semmens, absolutely. Rasmus has actually possibly achieved something previously, and is joint owner, so no. Own up to making a few mistakes, and strive for better.

Stick Semmens on his f****** bike. Can't stand the prick.

[coalman]

I'm looking forward to Ankersen's next TED talk which I sincerely hope isn't going to be a protracted and earnest apology.

[Ted Bates Statue]

There were two co-directors of football at Brentford, and we ended up going with the one with all the style, and none of the substance.

Phil Giles seems to be doing just fine on his own (although his phd was in statistics, so it's best that we steered clear of him then)

Under those two at Brentford they were at least prepared to admit quickly when a mistake had been made - Marinus Dijkhuizen lasted nine games - so perhaps we can hope Ankersen learned from that experience.

[StrangelyBrown]

For me Ankerson should get a bit more time and Semmens should go. At their level they will make mistakes, but the important but is owning those mistakes and making changes to move forward from them. Semmens has failed too many times without seeming learning from his mistakes. The jury is out on Ankerson although a man with such a seemingly big ego is heading for disaster. 

[Ex Lion Tamer]

13 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Yep. People make mistakes. The mark of someone is when they recognise that and do something about it. 

This is my thought too. Remember when we stuck with Pellegrino because certain people were too proud to admit they were wrong

[miserableoldgit]

Hmmm.....not sure about Semmons. Sadly, I get taken in by him every time I hear him either on the radio or at Fans Forum. He is very good as re-assuring you that things are going in the right direction. Well quite clearly they aren't. With Ankerson, I think he does deserve some leeway. SR have spent an unprecedented (for us) amount of money....people have been moaning about lack of investment for years....without selling. They/He have made a monumental cock-up by appointing Jones. It depends now if he accepts this and acts quickly and decisively to rectify the issue. If he doesn't and allows the situation to drag on ( even if he sacks NJ and appoints Seles as interim until Summer it won't be enough) then he seriously needs to be looked at. Sadly even after they have spent what they have on transfers, I think that they are going to have to put their hands in their pockets again and throw some money at someone like Poch (even on a short term contract) to try to save the season.

[JamiSaint]

They've made the wrong big strategic decisions:

1) Keeping Ralph on after last season
2) Prioritising expenditure on inexperienced youth
3) Replacing Ralph with Jones

I'd also suggest not going all guns blazing for Ings was a big mistake, when it sounds like he was interested in returning, but can't know that for sure.

Ankersen is a world class leadership expert. I've read all his books, watched his TED Talks, he's a seriously impressive guy. I still maintain we are fortunate to have him involved in our club. But I think he needs to act sharp - Jones was obviously an outstanding manager in a very different context, but it was too big a risk to take given the situation we've found ourselves in at the bottom of the league. He's lost the fanbase, and maybe the players, and I think that could have been predicted - he's a spiky, proud man who has no nuance to his communication. That might work in the Championship with Luton, but doesn't cut it in the Premier League. I think it's quite simple - if he stays, we go down. If he goes, we maybe have a 30-40% chance of staying up if the right manager is found. But speed is the critical thing - it has to be now.

Essentially, Ankersen has taken too big a series of risks - prioritising the future over the present. In some ways it's consoling - outstanding leaders with great track records can make mistakes. The trouble is, I think these were all rather predictable mistakes. 

[saintant]

11 minutes ago, JamiSaint said:

They've made the wrong big strategic decisions:

1) Keeping Ralph on after last season
2) Prioritising expenditure on inexperienced youth
3) Replacing Ralph with Jones

I'd also suggest not going all guns blazing for Ings was a big mistake, when it sounds like he was interested in returning, but can't know that for sure.

Ankersen is a world class leadership expert. I've read all his books, watched his TED Talks, he's a seriously impressive guy. I still maintain we are fortunate to have him involved in our club. But I think he needs to act sharp - Jones was obviously an outstanding manager in a very different context, but it was too big a risk to take given the situation we've found ourselves in at the bottom of the league. He's lost the fanbase, and maybe the players, and I think that could have been predicted - he's a spiky, proud man who has no nuance to his communication. That might work in the Championship with Luton, but doesn't cut it in the Premier League. I think it's quite simple - if he stays, we go down. If he goes, we maybe have a 30-40% chance of staying up if the right manager is found. But speed is the critical thing - it has to be now.

Essentially, Ankersen has taken too big a series of risks - prioritising the future over the present. In some ways it's consoling - outstanding leaders with great track records can make mistakes. The trouble is, I think these were all rather predictable mistakes. 

The world is full of arrogant people like Ankersen who make money from books and talks that really consist of a load of fluffed up bullshit lacking in any real substance that people seem to buy into maybe because it's on trend.  I'm sure many of us have been on company training courses costing fortunes where a speaker spouts a load of nonsense which will never be taken on board. These type of people are charlatans and con artists making a living by pretending they have something serious to say and, the sad thing is, many people fall for the charade.  

[miserableoldgit]

42 minutes ago, saintant said:

The world is full of arrogant people like Ankersen who make money from books and talks that really consist of a load of fluffed up bullshit lacking in any real substance that people seem to buy into maybe because it's on trend.  I'm sure many of us have been on company training courses costing fortunes where a speaker spouts a load of nonsense which will never be taken on board. These type of people are charlatans and con artists making a living by pretending they have something serious to say and, the sad thing is, many people fall for the charade.  

Some years ago I worked for CALA Homes. They were going down this road, following and implementing ideas based on the writings of Tom Peters. It all felt a bit exciting because it was new and different,  but also a bit cultish at the time, but they spent a lot of money on it, even taking EVERYONE in the company away to a hotel for two days, including giving everyone a sweatshirt with a "Skunk Camp logo on it, to play games and hold workshops. Needless to say, when the guy at the top was replaced, it was all scrapped and it went back to being a normal housebuilding company.

[Smirking_Saint]

We’ve hired Wilcox so the thread is largely redundant tbh but Semmens should be packing his bags.. he adds absolutely nothing

[Smirking_Saint]

1 hour ago, JamiSaint said:

They've made the wrong big strategic decisions:

1) Keeping Ralph on after last season
2) Prioritising expenditure on inexperienced youth
3) Replacing Ralph with Jones

I'd also suggest not going all guns blazing for Ings was a big mistake, when it sounds like he was interested in returning, but can't know that for sure.

Ankersen is a world class leadership expert. I've read all his books, watched his TED Talks, he's a seriously impressive guy. I still maintain we are fortunate to have him involved in our club. But I think he needs to act sharp - Jones was obviously an outstanding manager in a very different context, but it was too big a risk to take given the situation we've found ourselves in at the bottom of the league. He's lost the fanbase, and maybe the players, and I think that could have been predicted - he's a spiky, proud man who has no nuance to his communication. That might work in the Championship with Luton, but doesn't cut it in the Premier League. I think it's quite simple - if he stays, we go down. If he goes, we maybe have a 30-40% chance of staying up if the right manager is found. But speed is the critical thing - it has to be now.

Essentially, Ankersen has taken too big a series of risks - prioritising the future over the present. In some ways it's consoling - outstanding leaders with great track records can make mistakes. The trouble is, I think these were all rather predictable mistakes. 

Ings wasn’t coming the minute he realised we weren’t offering him the astronomical wages he wanted… he then swanned off to WHU on 150k and remangled his cardboard knee

Can we stop hero worshipping this bloke now please he is only interested in feathering his own nest

[miserableoldgit]

2 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

We’ve hired Wilcox so the thread is largely redundant tbh but Semmens should be packing his bags.. he adds absolutely nothing

But he doesn't start here until the summer does he??

[Smirking_Saint]

Just now, miserableoldgit said:

But he doesn't start here until the summer does he??

I don’t think so, but Rasmus won’t resign, he isn’t terrible imo even if he is an arrogant arse (and I say this as somebody who has spent time in his presence)

Semmens was apparently reasonably responsible for keeping Ralph and then failing to back him effectively, this is added to his consistent failures and didgy soundbites since the Gao era

IMO Rasmus still has miles in the tank but has to cut ties with NJ and admit it was a fuck us

Semmens however should pack his bags and save himself from his exhausting away trips he hates so much

[Bad Wolf]

No. If you want someone removed from their position - You sack them. Why should they forfeit their payout?

[Master Bates]

Yes, they should resign Pochettino.

[Dman]

Ankerson is SR. It’s his idea (not his money, but basically his business). Without him, there is no SR, so pointless even suggesting me to resign. 
 

Semmens, yeah it probably is. 

[Bad Wolf]

Thought Semmens was leaving anyway?

[miserableoldgit]

25 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

I don’t think so, but Rasmus won’t resign, he isn’t terrible imo even if he is an arrogant arse (and I say this as somebody who has spent time in his presence)

Semmens was apparently reasonably responsible for keeping Ralph and then failing to back him effectively, this is added to his consistent failures and didgy soundbites since the Gao era

IMO Rasmus still has miles in the tank but has to cut ties with NJ and admit it was a fuck us

Semmens however should pack his bags and save himself from his exhausting away trips he hates so much

I agree....basically what I said earlier.

[Britannia]

I’ve never actually understood what Toby Steele’s job is.

It seems uncommon to have both a CEO and Managing Director, especially now there’s a higher level of management.

 

[Rivers]

10 hours ago, Britannia said:

I’ve never actually understood what Toby Steele’s job is.

Seemingly to wind up the Saints support, and to keep a steady flow of away fans blatantly strolling their way through the Home sections, thereby stirring up a sufficient reaction to justify his heavy handed reputation, and keep that phat corporate management salary pouring into the coffers.

As to the poll, I was unable to vote in it, as the option I would choose is not present.

I wouldn't get rid of Rasmus at this point, so long as he takes decisive action in culling Nathan Jones before the Forum, and takes ownership of his shocking error in judgement. I still think there is a lot of potential that Rasmus can bring to the table for us with some of his ideas. The crucial thing is that he can either temper his all in approach to statistcal analysis based decision making, and balance that with an understanding that stats alone rarely (if ever) give the full picture, or tell the complete story. Or/and, surround himself with some good experienced football people who can help advise him on all the other crucial aspects that go into whether someone is likely to be a good fit and make a success of themselves here.

Besides, it is his company after all, and although not the main moneyman, Rasmus is pretty much the driving force of the whole Sport Republic initiative. Kind of a difficult guy to get rid of, even if you wanted to.

As for Semmens, I used to really like him in the early days. He came into a setup that had become notorious for its lack of communication skills and obfuscation tecniques, and started to behave like a rational, practical and straight talking executive. He seemed refreshingly honest when dealing with public relations, and an overall likeable decent kind of chap. I actually felt some level of confidence in his proficiency to do his job. A safe pair of hands.

Up until that last fateful fans forum, that is. Something changed. He became short, snappy, and highly defensive in his reactions and responses. His friendly warmth and confident relaxed disposition from previous events had completely dissipated. He became dismissive, as if a simple frown and a wave of his superiority complex hand was all us great unwashed were entitled to expect from him. Patronising answers to anything deemed remotely offensive to his sensibilites became common place.

For me, Semmens has gone stale in his position, and has meekly precided over an abrupt decline, both on and off the pitch. He should pay the price, and fall on his sword.

Every fellow Saint I know, has lost all confidence in him.

 

 

Edited 6 February, 2023 by Rivers
Added a sentence.