Russell Martin

[StrangelyBrown]

  On 08/12/2024 at 12:14, pimpin4rizeal said:

If he’s not gone by tomorrow I suggest voting with your feet and wallets .. and boycott the game .. they wanna act like they can do what they want and ignore 90 percent of the fan base fine but we ain’t gotta turn up and sit through this shit 

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I honestly don't think it matters now. We're down. Too much of a mountain to climb.

The key thing for me is that the damage is minimised and we're ready to hit the ground running next season.

Martin needs to go, but I'd rather the next manager doesn't get tarnished with the clusterwotsit that is our relegation this year.

[Saint Keef]

My suspicion, based on his body language and his comments, is he's had enough. But he isn't going to walk. He'll wait to be sacked so he can pocket his substantial wedge. So SR, please do us as fans, the club itself, and him, a big favour. If it can't be done today, then tomorrow morning will be acceptable thank you. Further message of advice for SR - please can he be replaced with an actual football manager, one with proper tactical abilities, who can actually coach the players to their strengths, and who is less arrogant, less self-serving and less up his own arse than the current (soon to be former) incumbent, Rusty the Clown. 

[Challenger]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:09, StrangelyBrown said:

I honestly don't think it matters now. We're down. Too much of a mountain to climb.

The key thing for me is that the damage is minimised and we're ready to hit the ground running next season.

Martin needs to go, but I'd rather the next manager doesn't get tarnished with the clusterwotsit that is our relegation this year.

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That does make sense. We could just finish the season with no manager, wouldn't notice a drop off in tactics/training and team selections,substitutions and playing positions could carry on being decided by tombola .

[Holmes_and_Watson]

  On 08/12/2024 at 12:57, Lord Duckhunter said:

I think every single manager that walked through the door would have demanded a clause which triggered a new contract after promotion. Anyone that didn’t should probably consider getting a new agent. 
 

Length of contracts shouldn’t really matter at this early stage, there should be a break clause so we don’t have to pay the whole lot up. He could sign a 10 year contract but if they only have to pay 2 years in the event of sacking him, it’s basically a 2 year deal. You’d hope the contract had the same settlement length even if the actual amount would rise because of the pay increase. I can’t see the difference in salary breaking the bank, but you never know with these chumps. 

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Yup. Martin and agent would have rightly pushed to have an automatic extension clause on meeting key deliverables. Of which getting promoted was really it.

Whether he over or under achieved in getting there in our minds, it was achieved.

Any organisation worth it's competence would insert break clauses. SR look to be once again staring at an open stable door while the horses are out practicing defensive errors in the paddock.

On one hand, despite slumps last season, they've not anticipated it going so badly wrong.

On the other, they are relying on Mr Football who simply hasn't the knowledge or incentive in his own deliverables to steer the club.

Any breaks could be after a season, having made rumblings on how hard that it would be a struggle to stay up. Perhaps half a season at best, to give Martin a chance to have played everyone.

The alternative is to pay out 12 - 14million.

 

[Badger]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:09, StrangelyBrown said:

The key thing for me is that the damage is minimised and we're ready to hit the ground 

Martin needs to go, but I'd rather the next manager doesn't get tarnished with the clusterwotsit that is our relegation this year.

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I’ve said something similar on another thread, specifically about a younger manager, and whether being associated with our relegation would knock their confidence for next season. And the supporters perception of them. 
 

Ruben Selles appears to have thrown off the relegation experience with us, but needed to drop a couple of divisions first. 

[egg]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:09, StrangelyBrown said:

I honestly don't think it matters now. We're down. Too much of a mountain to climb.

The key thing for me is that the damage is minimised and we're ready to hit the ground running next season.

Martin needs to go, but I'd rather the next manager doesn't get tarnished with the clusterwotsit that is our relegation this year.

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I agree with that, and given that the game is up this season, I'd be happy with a caretaker until the right man is found. I'd also like to see no money wasted in the window - let the new bloke rebuild over the summer. 

[Whitey Grandad]

I'd like to know how this figure of £12m is reached. His contract runs until 2027. Yes, just let that thought sink in for a moment, which is another two and a half years. That makes an outlay of £4.8m a year.

Enzo Maresca for example gets £4.2m a year and Iraola at Bournemouth £1m. Does our figure include support staff?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:03, Miltonaggro said:

Think the clueless mainstream media are happy to see our club as a punchbag and whipping boys for the franchises - easy pickings and easy points, most Saints supporters aren't!

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I sometimes wonder if clubs would be quite happy to ditch "legacy" fans, if they could pack out the ground with dynamically priced tourists there to see "big" PL clubs, and spend money as part of a match day experience package.

[Whitey Grandad]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:39, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I sometimes wonder if clubs would be quite happy to ditch "legacy" fans, if they could pack out the ground with dynamically priced tourists there to see "big" PL clubs, and spend money as part of a match day experience package.

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There is something in that. It's why the top clubs don't like to fill their stadiums with season ticket holders.  They prefer a turnover of fresh meat at every game. 

[egg]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:38, Whitey Grandad said:

I'd like to know how this figure of £12m is reached. His contract runs until 2027. Yes, just let that thought sink in for a moment, which is another two and a half years. That makes an outlay of £4.8m a year.

Enzo Maresca for example gets £4.2m a year and Iraola at Bournemouth £1m. Does our figure include support staff?

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£70k @ week in for him and about £20k a week in total for his staff (they'll need paying up as well) gets us to that. Would be that stupid?

[Farmer Saint]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:38, Whitey Grandad said:

I'd like to know how this figure of £12m is reached. His contract runs until 2027. Yes, just let that thought sink in for a moment, which is another two and a half years. That makes an outlay of £4.8m a year.

Enzo Maresca for example gets £4.2m a year and Iraola at Bournemouth £1m. Does our figure include support staff?

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I think the £12m is including bringing in a new management team and coaches, not just sacking RM - that is too high for sure.

[Badger]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:56, Farmer Saint said:

I think the £12m is including bringing in a new management team and coaches, not just sacking RM - that is too high for sure.

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I thought the figure of £12m bandied around was for RM and his contingent. But the source of that is probably from on here ! 

[bangkoksaint]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:39, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I sometimes wonder if clubs would be quite happy to ditch "legacy" fans, if they could pack out the ground with dynamically priced tourists there to see "big" PL clubs, and spend money as part of a match day experience package.

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I think you’re bang on the money with this. I know Utd sell pretty much bog standard seats as part of a hospitality package where the actual food etc pre-match is at an off site venue and you’re then bussed in to OT. Apparently these go for around £400 each. When you watch games at OT on the TV quite a lot of these seats are empty at times depending on the game. Let’s not kid ourselves, we don’t mean much to the club -sadly. However for us the club means everything. When I look at my nearly 5 decades of supporting Saints it is pretty much the one constant in my life. Homes, partners, jobs, cars and friends etc come and go but I’ve always supported and followed Saints home and away.

[derry]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:59, Badger said:

I thought the figure of £12m bandied around was for RM and his contingent. But the source of that is probably from on here ! 

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I think that is a complete replacement figure, except I think it might well mean gardening leave until the contracts paid up at their end date. I can't see that being paid out as a termination lump sum.

[Badger]

  On 08/12/2024 at 14:39, derry said:

I think that is a complete replacement figure, except I think it might well mean gardening leave until the contracts paid up at their end date. I can't see that being paid out as a termination lump sum.

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Fair point, it’s the maximum outlay for them assuming they don’t take something else .
 

I suspect RM with one promotion to his name might be appealing to a few Championship teams. Whether he’d want to take it any time soon of course is another matter. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:41, Whitey Grandad said:

There is something in that. It's why the top clubs don't like to fill their stadiums with season ticket holders.  They prefer a turnover of fresh meat at every game. 

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Thats the way it’s heading. Dynamic pricing, add ons to bog standard tickets inflating the price, and a purge on ST holders who don’t attend or sell the ticket back to the club. The days of season ticket revenue getting clubs through the summer months has long gone. It’s going to be 19 “gigs”, within 10 years. 

[Pamplemousse]

  On 08/12/2024 at 14:58, Badger said:

Fair point, it’s the maximum outlay for them assuming they don’t take something else .
 

I suspect RM with one promotion to his name might be appealing to a few Championship teams. Whether he’d want to take it any time soon of course is another matter. 

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He'd easily get a job at one of the 'bigger' Chanpionship teams like Norwich, Watford or West Brom, someone of that ilk.

[Turkish]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:38, Whitey Grandad said:

I'd like to know how this figure of £12m is reached. His contract runs until 2027. Yes, just let that thought sink in for a moment, which is another two and a half years. That makes an outlay of £4.8m a year.

Enzo Maresca for example gets £4.2m a year and Iraola at Bournemouth £1m. Does our figure include support staff?

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I think it’s nonsense it cost Man United just over £10m to pay off a Ten Haag and his staff so no way is it going to cost us more to rid of Rusty and his gang 

[Doctoroncall]

  On 08/12/2024 at 15:21, Pamplemousse said:

He'd easily get a job at one of the 'bigger' Chanpionship teams like Norwich, Watford or West Brom, someone of that ilk.

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At the moment he’s still here so the options for the next opportunity will lower the longer he’s in this downward trend and the reaction to the various pressures. If by some miracle he turns us around, well that’s another story!

[Ken Tone]

  On 08/12/2024 at 15:31, Turkish said:

I think it’s nonsense it cost Man United just over £10m to pay off a Ten Haag and his staff so no way is it going to cost us more to rid of Rusty and his gang 

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In the Sunday Times today, Martin Samuel (admittedly a bit of a pillock) says it cost United £21.4 million to sack ten Hag and his staff......and that the cost would end up being by the fans in increased ticket prices.

[Badger]

  On 08/12/2024 at 16:01, Ken Tone said:

In the Sunday Times today, Martin Samuel (admittedly a bit of a pillock) says it cost United £21.4 million to sack ten Hag and his staff......and that the cost would end up being by the fans in increased ticket prices.

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Taken from Dan Roan feature  on BBC:

  Quote

Sacking him when they did - and replacing him with Ruben Amorim - cost United in excess of £21m in compensation payments to the Dutchman and his staff and Portuguese side Sporting. 

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[Dragon_man]

  On 08/12/2024 at 16:01, Ken Tone said:

In the Sunday Times today, Martin Samuel (admittedly a bit of a pillock) says it cost United £21.4 million to sack ten Hag and his staff......and that the cost would end up being by the fans in increased ticket prices.

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You wonder why clubs agree such contracts in the first place without clauses like 'if points gained falls below 9 in any rolling 10 game window, the compensation halves'. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

  On 08/12/2024 at 13:41, Whitey Grandad said:

There is something in that. It's why the top clubs don't like to fill their stadiums with season ticket holders.  They prefer a turnover of fresh meat at every game. 

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News next summer...

SR stunned as 20 000 season ticket holders announce they will not renew citing a better "customer experience" at Sholing FC.

"Once we agreed with SR that results didn't matter," said one former ST holder, "we realised that we were more interested in a fan community, decent beer and a good afternoon enjoying being at a match with our mates. Why pay 10 times as much?"

Taking time away from creating alt IDs on a football forum, a Saints spokesperson tried to apologise for treating fans as wallet carrying cattle.

However SR did concede that Sholing's new marquee did look nice, and asked if they would be interested in a possession based manager.

[Osvaldorama]

Has he FUCKING gone yet?!?

[Wade Garrett]

I think the £12m figure is a bit disingenuous.

Just give us the figure to get rid of the idiot and backroom team.  Then factor in salary increases only (if any) for the new lot.

Won’t come to £12m, assuming we’re not paying compensation for the new guy.

Edited 8 December, 2024 by Wade Garrett

[OttawaSaint]

He's not getting fired. We're down. SR are dumb enough to believe his weak excuses blaming injuries and refs. 

No sir-eee, nothing to do with tactics that have us give the ball away in the box, playing his shitty mates, or playing with 2 strikers hugging the sidelines.

Edited 8 December, 2024 by OttawaSaint

[Whitey Grandad]

  On 08/12/2024 at 15:09, Lord Duckhunter said:

Thats the way it’s heading. Dynamic pricing, add ons to bog standard tickets inflating the price, and a purge on ST holders who don’t attend or sell the ticket back to the club. The days of season ticket revenue getting clubs through the summer months has long gone. It’s going to be 19 “gigs”, within 10 years. 

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It's already started with the "luxury" seats in the central Kingsland. 

[Whitey Grandad]

  On 08/12/2024 at 16:44, Wade Garrett said:

I think the £12m figure is a bit disingenuous.

Just give us the figure to get rid of the idiot and backroom team.  Then factor in salary increases only (if any) for the new lot.

Won’t come to £12m, assuming we’re not paying compensation for the new guy.

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It will be much less than they've paid for individual players such as Sulemana, for example. 

[OttawaSaint]

  On 08/12/2024 at 17:08, Whitey Grandad said:

It will be much less than they've paid for individual players such as Sulemana, for example. 

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Not to mention the wages for all these duds. 

[Midfield_General]

  On 08/12/2024 at 17:07, Whitey Grandad said:

It's already started with the "luxury" seats in the central Kingsland. 

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And of course the legendary Knightwood Lounge*, where for just £300 you can step into a space where the sophisticated hues of emerald green and rich forest tones immediately transport you to a serene woodland. A beautiful pitch facing space, thoughtfully designed with wood elements and natural light, captures the essence of nature while maintaining an air of opulence. 

(* Brought to you by Costa) 

[hypochondriac]

  On 08/12/2024 at 15:09, Lord Duckhunter said:

Thats the way it’s heading. Dynamic pricing, add ons to bog standard tickets inflating the price, and a purge on ST holders who don’t attend or sell the ticket back to the club. The days of season ticket revenue getting clubs through the summer months has long gone. It’s going to be 19 “gigs”, within 10 years. 

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Yes for the big clubs. If they tried to introduce that at saints then the stadium would be half full apart from when we play the likes of United whe and it will be full of away supporters. 

[bangkoksaint]

  On 08/12/2024 at 17:28, hypochondriac said:

Yes for the big clubs. If they tried to introduce that at saints then the stadium would be half full apart from when we play the likes of United whe and it will be full of away supporters. 

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I’m not so sure TBF, more likely to be half empty 😉

[Wade Garrett]

  On 08/12/2024 at 15:09, Lord Duckhunter said:

Thats the way it’s heading. Dynamic pricing, add ons to bog standard tickets inflating the price, and a purge on ST holders who don’t attend or sell the ticket back to the club. The days of season ticket revenue getting clubs through the summer months has long gone. It’s going to be 19 “gigs”, within 10 years. 

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Hopefully there will be a football regulator soon who will put a spanner in the works of these fucking chancers.

[derry]

  On 08/12/2024 at 17:44, Wade Garrett said:

Hopefully there will be a football regulator soon who will put a spanner in the works of these fucking chancers.

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Unfortunately for the concept EUFA and FIFA won't allow it and if we go ahead anyway all our football teams will be suspended from the international club and nation championships.

[OttawaSaint]

  On 08/12/2024 at 17:27, Midfield_General said:

And of course the legendary Knightwood Lounge*, where for just £300 you can step into a space where the sophisticated hues of emerald green and rich forest tones immediately transport you to a serene woodland. A beautiful pitch facing space, thoughtfully designed with wood elements and natural light, captures the essence of nature while maintaining an air of opulence. 

(* Brought to you by Costa) 

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Jesus, bring back that feeling of excitement scurrying along to the ground in the cold, the smell of a burger stand and pipe smoke. Digging out 25p for a match program full of photos of the players and interesting articles. Getting through the turnstiles and onto the terrace, huddling together against the wind. 

Great times as a kid with my dad.

Edited 8 December, 2024 by OttawaSaint

[Badger]

  On 08/12/2024 at 17:57, OttawaSaint said:

Jesus, bring back that feeling of excitement scurrying along to the ground in the cold, the smell of a burger stand and pipe smoke. Digging out 25p for a match program full of photos of the players and interesting articles. Getting through the turnstiles and onto the terrace, huddling together against the wind. 

Great times as a kid with my dad.

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You’re obviously a youngster. I think it was 1/- when I first went to The Dell (late 60’s). 
 

But yes, simpler and happier days. 

[OttawaSaint]

  On 08/12/2024 at 18:05, Badger said:

You’re obviously a youngster. I think it was 1/- when I first went to The Dell (late 60’s). 
 

But yes, simpler and happier days. 

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Yep. 1980s.

[Mr X]

  On 08/12/2024 at 17:08, Whitey Grandad said:

It will be much less than they've paid for individual players such as Sulemana, for example. 

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And Ross Stewart who has barely played ten minutes for us 😂💰

[Whitey Grandad]

  On 08/12/2024 at 18:23, Mr X said:

And Ross Stewart who has barely played ten minutes for us 😂💰

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Is he any good at management?

[Farmer Saint]

  On 08/12/2024 at 14:39, derry said:

I think that is a complete replacement figure, except I think it might well mean gardening leave until the contracts paid up at their end date. I can't see that being paid out as a termination lump sum.

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Completely depends on the contracts, and what is agreed post-sacking.

[Wade Garrett]

  On 08/12/2024 at 17:53, derry said:

Unfortunately for the concept EUFA and FIFA won't allow it and if we go ahead anyway all our football teams will be suspended from the international club and nation championships.

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UEFA and FIFA, those corrupt organisations are trying to sell the game to the highest Arab bidder.

Football mafia.  

[lambtiss]

  On 03/12/2024 at 08:18, badgerx16 said:

Yes, but other than St Mary's, the radio station, and the world class catering, what did Rupert Lowe ever do for us ?

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He’s had plenty of time to get his coaching badges…..

[HarvSFC]

He still has a few defenders on Twitter, far more than on here, who you would believe support Martin over the club. Their argument is that he'll be good for us next season in the Championship... We've played two Championship clubs this season, conceded 5 and needed two Bree wonder goals to get through them. They weren't automatic promotion sides Leeds or Sheffield United either, they were 21st placed Cardiff and 15th placed Stoke. We're going to have a weaker squad next season...

Oh, and we finished 4th in a three horse race last season. 

Coming back up isn't a formality, look at Luton, who have stuck with Edwards and the same thing happened to us with Redknapp in 05-06.

 

[Mboto Gorge]

  On 08/12/2024 at 21:43, HarvSFC said:

He still has a few defenders on Twitter, far more than on here, who you would believe support Martin over the club. Their argument is that he'll be good for us next season in the Championship... We've played two Championship clubs this season, conceded 5 and needed two Bree wonder goals to get through them. They weren't automatic promotion sides Leeds or Sheffield United either, they were 21st placed Cardiff and 15th placed Stoke. We're going to have a weaker squad next season...

Oh, and we finished 4th in a three horse race last season. 

Coming back up isn't a formality, look at Luton, who have stuck with Edwards and the same thing happened to us with Redknapp in 05-06.

 

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Exactly. Martins goodwill with the fans is now non existent after the start to this season coupled with his blaming the fans for conceding goals. Surely under no circumstances does he stay into next season. 

[Saint_clark]

  On 08/12/2024 at 18:27, Whitey Grandad said:

Is he any good at management?

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He's on a 2 week management crash course. 

[aintforever]

  On 08/12/2024 at 21:43, HarvSFC said:

He still has a few defenders on Twitter, far more than on here, who you would believe support Martin over the club. Their argument is that he'll be good for us next season in the Championship... We've played two Championship clubs this season, conceded 5 and needed two Bree wonder goals to get through them. They weren't automatic promotion sides Leeds or Sheffield United either, they were 21st placed Cardiff and 15th placed Stoke. We're going to have a weaker squad next season...

Oh, and we finished 4th in a three horse race last season. 

Coming back up isn't a formality, look at Luton, who have stuck with Edwards and the same thing happened to us with Redknapp in 05-06.

 

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You can’t say Martin did shit last season in one breath, then say it’s hard to come straight back up in the other.

He needs to go but give credit where it’s due, he got us promoted at the first attempt which was a good achievement.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

  On 08/12/2024 at 22:21, Saint_clark said:

He's on a 2 week management crash course. 

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Better than the season long crash course we're on. 🙂

[CB Fry]

He's not on the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality. FFS.

[Mr X]

We have the same points as Sheffield united had after 15 games and I'm positive we will still have five points after the next game! He has to go today! 

[Daft Kerplunk]

  On 08/12/2024 at 23:04, aintforever said:

You can’t say Martin did shit last season in one breath, then say it’s hard to come straight back up in the other.

He needs to go but give credit where it’s due, he got us promoted at the first attempt which was a good achievement.

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Our record towards the need of the season last year wasn't great.  Obviously the play-offs went well but league-wise, once we got within touching distance of the top two, we dropped back.  Teams had worked out how to win, or at least not lose against us.  As others have written, we will lose most of our decent players when we go down so it won't be a given that we get promoted again under RM, or with the players we'll have left after this disastrous campaign.