Thank You for your efforts Alan

exiledgull · Post by **exiledgull** » 02 Jan 2014, 14:04

The news has come in, which I think we all thought was expected if not now but in the not too distant future.

However I want to thank him for his efforts in keeping us up last year when I think we were doomed, with 7 defeats in a row we were sliding quickly. I do believe that with 7 points out of 15 in the past 5 games has shown improvements, it is for the new manager to push on and keep us up.

Thank you Alan for your hard work and dedication, and unfortunately it just didn't work out here.

Onwards and Upwards. Up the Gulls!

Post by **Colorado Gull** » 02 Jan 2014, 14:22

Has to be said that he did a good job to keep us up last season, it just hasn't worked this season and the right decision has been made.

taunton_gull · Post by **taunton_gull** » 02 Jan 2014, 14:25

The right decision has been made, but I know Alan tried his best to make a success of it at TUFC and I thank him for his efforts.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » 02 Jan 2014, 14:30

Its worth remembering that AK didn't set out to mess things up at TUFC. Things haven't worked out for one way or another. The right decision has been made without a doubt, but thanks to AK for last season and the work that he has done - after all, the table might not look pretty but we have some talented individuals in the squad and we're not cut adrift yet.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 02 Jan 2014, 14:34

Thanks for last season and keeping us up, I can't thank you enough for that and I did so at the time but I cannot thank you for this season. It has been atrocious and there is little excuse.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 02 Jan 2014, 15:02

Anyway, these are all just empty words from people who don't really want to say thanks. They just feel duty bound as a nice person to say them. Maybe the immediate threads springing up left right and centre about Sturrock, who will come in etc tell you the real feeling about Knill. I am proud to say I feel no sympathy for him whatsoever for this season and cannot thank him because he hasn't done anything for me to thank him for. I just wish people would stop being repressed and say what they really feel about him instead of trying to portray a faÃ§ade of respect for the man which they know is a lie.

brooker · Post by **brooker** » 02 Jan 2014, 15:07

Disagree completely Andy, the guy wasn't right for our club, and finally, I think the right decision has been made. However, it was not as though he was trying to sabotage us, his career is now looking extremely shaky, and his family are in limbo.

We all know the risks of a career in football, as does Alan himself, but my thanks to the guy are genuine for keeping us up last year, and for trying his best to make it work this year.

Good luck Alan

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 02 Jan 2014, 16:15

Yes but why are we having sympathy for a bloke who wasn't up to the job. If he perhaps had bitten the bullet and admitted he was finding it all too difficult and offered to resign then I would have had far greater respect for him. As it was he was happy to take us down and still take the money. I have had jobs before that I have left, one because I didn't agree with working protocols and one in particular I lost the passion for and I came to the conclusion it wasn't fair on my colleagues or the organisation so even with a family and bills to pay I left. If that makes me stupid then that's your call but I call it decent and being true to myself and my friends and employers. What makes Knill different? What makes any of you questioning my decency any better?

If knill didn't offer his resignation and he is a 'decent' man then presumably that was because he actually BELIEVED in himself and the job he was doing here. If that is the case then it is more worrying that we should be offering sympathy. He failed spectacularly and still believed in himself despite months and months of dirge and problems. That is delusion of the highest order IMO.

So take the moral high ground if you wish but next time you question somebody's decency then perhaps look at yourselves first and ask have you ever undertaken a selfless act at the severe detriment of yourself and family or would you keep it real and carry on as if everything is ok? Have you ever put your b*llocks out for a charity, volunteered anywhere, bought a big issue or managed a football team into the ground and owned up like Kevin Keegan?

supergulls · Post by **supergulls** » 02 Jan 2014, 16:50

dannyrvtufc4life wrote:Has to be said that he did a good job to keep us up last season, it just hasn't worked this season and the right decision has been made.

To be honest I think it was luck more than judgement that kept us up last year, he's overall record at the club has been appaling.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 02 Jan 2014, 16:55

and the football too. Not just crap results but shocking football. Thanks for those Alan.

wodger of awabia · Post by **wodger of awabia** » 02 Jan 2014, 17:01

AustrianAndyGull wrote:Anyway, these are all just empty words from people who don't really want to say thanks. They just feel duty bound as a nice person to say them. Maybe the immediate threads springing up left right and centre about Sturrock, who will come in etc tell you the real feeling about Knill. I am proud to say I feel no sympathy for him whatsoever for this season and cannot thank him because he hasn't done anything for me to thank him for. I just wish people would stop being repressed and say what they really feel about him instead of trying to portray a faÃ§ade of respect for the man which they know is a lie.

Me too, brown nosed his way into Ling's job, destroyed Ling's mid table team & going away with a load of dosh in his pocket, suggests he uses some of it to train as a cab driver, as I can't see him getting another job in football management.

Oil Beef Hooked · Post by **Oil Beef Hooked** » 02 Jan 2014, 17:13

Sympathy aside, I too would like to express my thanks to Alan. Especially for keeping us up last season.

Whilst we all agree that this is the correct decision for the future of Torquay United, it's also the correct decision for AK. I wouldn't want to be him or his family when reading some of the stuff posted on this forum or in the media. Some of it has been disrespectful, hurtful and out of order. Today's decision must also be a welcome relief for Alan.

Taking away the emotion of what's happened this season, its never nice when someone loses their job as it generally affects more than just that person.

Good luck in the future Alan, whatever it holds.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 02 Jan 2014, 17:27

Yes but we aren't talking about someone without savings (presumably he has some as he has had decent jobs in the past) nor are we talking about someone on £6.50 an hour who has been made redundant from a factory packing chocolate. We are talking someone who has lost his job because HE has not done it properly. It's nobody else's fault. He has made himself lose his own job. On top of that he gets a pay off unlike the minimum wage worker with a family dependant on that wage for a roof and food.

Nobody should be sorry he's out of work apart from his family who I'm sure won't go hungry and cold for the foreseeable. I find it all bit odd. Why would we say thanks for what he (hasn't) done, equally as bizarre.

Post by **Colorado Gull** » 02 Jan 2014, 17:52

supergulls wrote: To be honest I think it was luck more than judgement that kept us up last year, he's overall record at the club has been appaling.

Knill came to the club after we lost every single game in February. I'm not saying it was perfect, but it was better and meant that we are playing football league football this season, he deserves credit for keeping us up. Having said that, this season he has been a clueless idiot and deserved the sack.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 02 Jan 2014, 17:54

dannyrvtufc4life wrote:
Knill came to the club after we lost every single game in February. I'm not saying it was perfect, but it was better and meant that we are playing football league football this season, he deserves credit for keeping us up. Having said that, this season he has been a clueless idiot and deserved the sack.

A thoroughly reasonable, fair and sensible post Danny and I fully agree with all of it.

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