THE SAM MORSHEAD COLUMN: Let's retain some perspective (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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THE SAM MORSHEAD COLUMN: Let's retain some perspective
6:00am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in Sport
Adver chief sports writer Sam Morshead
I’M sure the emotion of the situation is still very raw with most of you and therefore whatever I write is likely to inflame as much as it is to placate it.
However, off the back of last night’s news I think it’s important to retain my favourite buzz-word of the last few weeks. Perspective.
What we know is Paolo Di Canio has resigned his position as manager of Swindon Town because of what he calls the “broken promises” of the past few months. He is entitled to do that, and in terms of the status he has given this club in 21 whirlwind months it is a monumental loss to the town and the community.
The timing is odd. Knowing Di Canio I would have thought he would be the kind to go out in a blaze of glory, otherwise known as a scrappy 1-0 win at Tranmere on a cold Tuesday night, while he would have been aware that the sale of the club was close to completion - even if it had not been finalised by the time his 5pm deadline ticked by yesterday.
Those blaming the Football League for his departure and claiming their speed or lack thereof in the takeover process has caused Di Canio to abandon ship are encouraging complacency amongst the authorities.
Those blaming the incoming board for his departure are conveniently overlooking the fact that, when we went to print this morning, Jed McCrory & Co were not in control of the football club. Furthermore, it was only because the new owners held emergency meetings with Di Canio that he extended his self-inflicted stay of execution.
Those blaming the former board are choosing to forget how much Black put into the club from his own personal wealth - even if towards the end of his reign relationships began to become frostbitten.
Di Canio chose to leave because he wanted to, albeit reluctantly.
He was not forced out, despite the conspiracy theories that are flying around at such a remarkable pace.
It is of course a massive shame that one of the most successful managers in the club’s history has opted to take this path, and questions remain as to why exactly he has come to his conclusion, but surely reason needs to take control before our accusing finger is given such a rigorous workout.
Let’s hear every side and reach an educated verdict.
Comments(15)
Ollie Reed's Parky dance!
says...
7:06am Tue 19 Feb 13
Last step
says...
7:22am Tue 19 Feb 13
batch
says...
7:36am Tue 19 Feb 13
So all we get to see are media snippets of lack of communication from the outgoing board, PDC interviews and statements of how he was told his prize asset was being sold by the player himself, how promises were broken and lines of communication cut. Then the lack of information is justified under the reported blanket NDA - which doesn't always seem to apply to twitter, etc, etc, etc.
Yes its very much a case of wait and see before judging the potential new owners. Absolutely.
But you have to remember in the public domain that there is little evidence that this period has been anything other than one big **** up from start to finish, and it looks like it comes from all parties involved. Including PDC himself.
Is that reality? Time will tell.
But as long as there is an STFC we will be there, in it together. Whatever "it" ultimately turns out to be.
towiered
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7:40am Tue 19 Feb 13
TheDukeOfBanbury
says...
7:51am Tue 19 Feb 13
Mr Black. You came in with the 3 year plan, then you wanted out. Not only did you want out, you wanted out immediately and without any succession plan. A panic exit strategy.
Thanks for the car crash Mr Black.
smirg kcab
says...
7:53am Tue 19 Feb 13
He was drove out of this club..........FACT
Wonder who's going to pay the hospital fees now he's gone, perhaps we could sell ferry for a giveaway price.
Downwards and downwards.
Thanks for keeping us up to date now that he didn't train with the players last week.
Thought that would have been major headlines not the rubbish about Williams, which is still a big new headline today.
See you at tranny.
Shame jed will probably be at redditch
TheTownEnd
says...
8:04am Tue 19 Feb 13
Either PDC was looking for an excuse to quit cos he wanted out
- even though he is an eccentric genius and given to Latin over-reaction that we've all become accustomed, I am reluctant to believe this given what he has said to and about the fans and above all else I believe he is a man very much of his word and completely dedicated to the cause - take the events surrounding his parents' deaths last year as an example of his commitment to STFC
or
this outcome has been the desire of old owner and/or prospective new owner given that there is nobody with deep enough pockets to match or support PDC style of management and ambition - lets face it 85% of success is based on how much budget you have to pay players
or even more likely -
we are at risk of getting promoted - if we did that would mean next year having to fund 500K per month as oppposed to 250K per month that STFC is currently losing (due to double the costs of Championship level players) - take Brighton as an example of one of the best supported teams with their own brand new stadium who are still losing Millions each year
promotion is coming a year to early - we need more revenue streams and a bigger ground to support the costs of Championship team - PDC would not want to be held back by such considerations - he is just hungry for challenges higher and higher up the leagues
I'm sure in his heart he would have loved to take on those challenges at the helm of STFC
in short PDC was/is too good for us currently as we are not ready for him (yet)
- C'est la vie !
Oi Den!
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9:03am Tue 19 Feb 13
Pewsham Red
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9:13am Tue 19 Feb 13
When Patey did make the odd comment it was immediately refuted by di Canio, indicating that there was a lack of contact at best or one of them was lying, at worst.
We don't know the whole story and maybe never will and if the old board had given their side we may have been more sympathetic.
I would agree with most that it is the speed and timing of Blacks bail out that has caused the problem.
He spent loads of his own money and that should never be forgotten, but I kind of feel he has saved us from falling under a bus only to push us under the next one.
Pewsham Red
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9:23am Tue 19 Feb 13
They may be an administrative dinosaur but I think we'd all agree that due diligence should not be rushed, not just for he good of our club but the good of the game.
Oxon-Red
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11:10am Tue 19 Feb 13
Why do we feel the need to blame others every time something unfortunate happens.
It's happened, time to accept it, hear what the new people have to say and move on.
Fifteen games to go, we are not likely to get relegated but we could get promoted. Time to stop supporting the team ?
Let's get behind the lads, see what happens and let the new board worry about next season when we know where we will be playing.
COYMR
EastoeSTFC
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11:50am Tue 19 Feb 13
PDC is a great and passionate manager.
Ok, he has shown his wild side too, but the results speak for themselves.
I am truly sad and feel STFC have let a potential premier league manager for the club leave - due to mismanagement and a breach of promises and that has forced his hand.
paulcurtis1
says...
2:42pm Tue 19 Feb 13
We know very little and about the proposed new buyers of what they bring to the club.
It was Black who decide to buy the club and put his own money into it, what did he think, he was going to make money out of it.
plans change in all business and sometimes cut backs are needed but at least have the decency to communicate with your staff and managers.
swindonurock
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4:09pm Tue 19 Feb 13
He can use "broken promises" as an excuse if he likes, but he had also made a promise in the form of his contract he'd signed with STFC.
Seriously, he knew as well as anyone that the sale would/will go through, and that it was just a matter of time.
I think he wanted out and simply used the current situation as a convenient excuse.
That said, he did a great job with getting STFC into Championship contention, no question, but now time for someone else.
I just hope that the new owners have the resources to support a sustained effort in the seasons ahead. Personally, I'm doubtful about that, but we'll see.
As for a new manager, then Nigel Adkins ticks all the boxes, so long as he'd be prepared to downgrade to L1 for a while.
Last step says...
7:05am Tue 19 Feb 13
Why else would Patey not speak with Paolo and why else would a player he'd told the press was 'worth' 20 or 15 million be sold without a whisper?
The board have massively messed up here. Thanks for everything, but 'become frostbitten' has got to be the understatement of the year!