Makeup of The Board/Direction of TUFC

taunton_gull · Post by **taunton_gull** » 17 Nov 2013, 20:44

I'd like to start this thread by just pointing out I have nothing but respect, thanks and admiration for what those at the club have done since the conference days. If you look at the club then and now the investment that has been made is incredible, most notably Bristow's Bench which at last gave us a ground to be proud of.

The point I suppose I'm making really is whether those at the club are fit for purpose in some of the decisions which have been taken. I've felt in particular that although the intentions have always been good, there is a certain lack of nous which has been absent ever since Colin Lee left the club. I'm not for one minute suggesting he would be the man to have back after the damage he did, but I've felt over the past few years not having someone who knows the football industry inside out at this level has cost us. It can be evidenced by the fact that ever since Buckle (who CL appointed) it has been a downward spiral, albeit one decent season under Ling. It was mentioned a little while ago that there is something like 14 directors in total - has this necessarily been the best model? It strikes me that when it comes to strong leadership the club has been found wanting - we have had musical chairs where the position of chairman is concerned, in the end it has gone to the woman who has made the biggest investment but who admits herself isn't a role which comes easy to her. Some of her programme notes (particularly of late) have been completely nonsensical to the point where it feels like she wants to divert attention away from what is going on behind the scenes. Certainly based on the few interviews I've seen I wouldn't say she seems comfortable in the position. Instead her predecessor who took the decision to appoint ML then dumped it on Thea to break the news of the sacking to Ling because it seemed to me he didn't have the guts to do it himself. You then have others like Bill Phillips and co and all I can say is that he seems to come across as a rather arrogant individual, I've no idea what he adds to the grand scheme of things.

I can't knock the club for appointing Knill, at the time I didn't have a problem with him being given the job and at the start of the season thought we should be ok but surely the point is at boardroom level there has to be another level of expertise - hence why CL was brought in by the board to begin with as none of them had the experience of running a football club. You have to wonder if there was someone in that position after the debacle of last season whether a bit of time would have been taken to find the right person to take the club forward rather than giving it to the popular choice at the time without stopping to think whether there was a better alternative out there. I suppose overall after the events of the last couple of seasons I fear what lies ahead and can't say I completely trust those in charge to make the right decisions.

Bridportgull · Post by **Bridportgull** » 17 Nov 2013, 21:00

Good thread Taunton i have to say under Lee / Buckle we were more switched on and well marketed all be it in the conference and enjoying our club being successful we seem to lose our passion along the way

taunton_gull · Post by **taunton_gull** » 17 Nov 2013, 21:04

I understand where finances etc were concerned it was a completely different setup then, but it's the leadership which worries me more than ever now at a time when it needs to be at its strongest.

nickbrod · Post by **nickbrod** » 17 Nov 2013, 21:14

I agree with the comments started in this thread. Knill has had every chance to show his leadership.
Whilst I would like to think the directors will make a big decision this week I don't expect any news. A minimum of a point at Accrington is the least I ask. Surely Yeoman and Lathrope couldn't do any worse than those in the current eleven.

Bridportgull · Post by **Bridportgull** » 17 Nov 2013, 21:22

You are so right as I said Colin lee was a football man and still is but this current crop I am not sure

wodger of awabia · Post by **wodger of awabia** » 17 Nov 2013, 22:10

IMO the best solution would be to plead with Neil Warnock to take over for a few months & get us out of the sh#t, & then appoint our new manager. I wonder if a player manager might work with Warnock retained as a part time consultant.

taunton_gull · Post by **taunton_gull** » 17 Nov 2013, 22:15

I'd go with that, just don't know if he'd come here under these circumstances/finances. Certainly someone of his ilk with a younger coach working under him would be something I'd like to see.

hector · Post by **hector** » 17 Nov 2013, 22:28

People keep mentioning Warnock but if others are suggesting we cannot afford to even sack Knill, how on earth can we pay for Warnock plus I cannot imagine Warnock would come here.

Sturrock might be a more realistic option with a younger coach.

wodger of awabia · Post by **wodger of awabia** » 17 Nov 2013, 22:47

hector wrote:People keep mentioning Warnock but if others are suggesting we cannot afford to even sack Knill, how on earth can we pay for Warnock plus I cannot imagine Warnock would come here.

Sturrock might be a more realistic option with a younger coach.

Warnock, as I have mentioned before is known to have a "soft spot" for TQY ( & Argyle ). I believe he still owns a house down this way, & I would guess that he has made a great deal of money out of the game, certainly enough to not require big bucks from a small L2 club. I should think that he would have finished tending to his garden by now & would welcome coming out of retirement to help us out for a few months.
I hope this is right!

Post by **Dave** » 17 Nov 2013, 22:48

Colin Lee.. :slap: That's the thing about bungalow Bill, he was brought because he supposedly had previous experience/expertise in the running of a football club, interesting.

On another point, wish these names like Warnock/Sturrock were not banded about, Matt made a good point earlier on, and it is the case, there isn't the money to sack Knill, I get that. However it may come to the point there is no other choice, but the point is Warnock etc are not coming here, no chance.

I look at our squad, and have asked myself and others, why aren't getting results, is our team/squad not as good as we think it is, or does the problem lie elsewhere. For me and others the team is seriously under performing, a young coach, with energy, enthusiasm wanting to make a name for himself could be the answer, might be the only answer we can afford.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 17 Nov 2013, 22:51

Warnock does a lot of work on talksport now as a regular co-host and often talks about his walks around Calstock viaduct. He is enjoying his break so i doubt he could be bothered now, especially with us.

Post by **Dave** » 17 Nov 2013, 22:56

The thing is Warnock has an equally, if not bigger soft spot for Argyle. I work with and know a few garg season ticket holders, they were absolutely convinced he Warnock was going to come in and help them out of the crapper lasts season, but he did not, why? And why should things be different for us.

Post by **MidDevon** » 17 Nov 2013, 23:01

Warnock is pretty desperate to get to argyle and certainly not torquay who he considers too small a club.

It sickened me to hear him speak about how highly he regarded the south west peninsula league last season when with Leeds United....whilst at the same time allegedly charging both Bodmin Town and Tavistock Town a personal appearance fee for bringing his Leeds United team to play in friendlies. A fee which ran into thousands of pounds, so much so that both clubs had to charge £10 entrance to cover their costs.....a multi millionaire willing to screw small clubs

There is much much more to Warnock than people might imagine

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