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Post by suttonap on May 13, 2019 10:45:21 GMT
I might be shot down for this but I thought I would make my first post a controversial one There is no doubt Paul D will rightfully be remembered in our hall of fame as the best manager and who achieved the most to date at the club. But I have to say, I'm disappointed at how he has left. He made the effort for 11 years, then with a few games left he suddenly can't? only to then take on a roll at a new club a couple months later? It's hardly the departure we would have all expected. And I think it has put quite a downer on the club to be honest. I think that just as the wheels started to come off, perhaps less money in the bank, as well as the frustration of the 3G pitch preventing promotion chances. And he thought, time to jump before things got tougher. I would have liked to see him see the season out and do a walk around the pitch at the end. Does not sit well with me. While I have my season ticket for next season and intend on getting behind the team. I predict a religion scrap. We saw the signs this season of relegation form. Unless Matt Gray proves to be a very good manager I think its going to be very tough.
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Post by sallycat on May 13, 2019 10:55:30 GMT
You will be shot down, because Dos made it quite clear he "suddenly can't" do the travelling any more because of health/family problems - yes those things certainly can be sudden and unpredictable - and that he couldn't bring himself to stay away from football completely so he would be looking for a job at a club closer to his Hampshire home. Such as Havant. He could hardly have been more clear and honest about that, in my opinion. He even said in an interview that he regretted not being able to say goodbye to fans properly AND that he would try to arrange a time to do it.
If you don't like it that's your opinion and you're entitled to it, but I'm not sure what more you expected from someone who spent 11 years working for us for free
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Post by cheshire on May 13, 2019 11:06:26 GMT
I'm more concerned about the prospect of a "religion scrap". Didn't realise there was any sectarianism in the area.
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Post by sallycat on May 13, 2019 11:32:35 GMT
Well football is like a religion for many of us...
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Post by Andy K on May 13, 2019 12:24:29 GMT
Not sure if it's "The Unpopular Truth" but whilst it's an opinion, it's certainly one I've seen echoed by a number of people on social media. In terms of what awaits us next season, as fans there's naff all we can do but wait now until next season's squad takes shape.
The 2019 calendar year saw us win 5 games, draw 4 and lose the remainder of the 21 (20 in the league plus that trip to Spennymoor) and prior to that with our little 4 wins out of 5 over xmas, we failed to win the previous 9, so I do also get the significant drop in form (heading towards the stated relegation form).
We can argue all day about the reasons behind his departure, but I totally get the fact that on his last day at GGL he came in and spoke to the players yet the majority of fans had no clue until an announcement at 5.30pm in the bar. I can see that a few noses were put out of joint because to some fans there was no closure, no chance to say goodbye (and in all honesty maybe we won't get one) and no chance for the fans to show their appreciation to possibly the greatest manager we've ever had. It probably didn't help them either that Dos joined Havant a few days later saying almost the same things that he said when he came to us in 2008 ("I want to put the smiles back on the faces of the fans" etc). But whether we like it or not, we're not in a position to demand or tell the man what he can or can't do, and he was a free agent to do whatever he liked. It may leave a bad taste for some, but sadly that's life and actually nothing to do with us. Every season we don't get a chance to say goodbye to our favourite players either.
Life is fluid, and nothing stays the same forever. I can see there is genuine worry among fans about the future. Not with Matt Gray but without Dos because we know what he's brought to the club. But if Matt Gray does well and actually we find ourselves in a brilliant position, this thread may just end up being a footnote of a thought at the time rather than any sort of lingering resentment.
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trev
1st team skipper
In Matt We Trust
Posts: 2,477
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Post by trev on May 13, 2019 13:22:49 GMT
I have no doubt that Dos found the decision to leave us an incredibly difficult one, personally and professionally. He put his heart, soul and money into this club. It must have been a real emotional wrench to say goodbye after all these years and I cant blame the man for leaving quietly. Given the circumstances, to expect him to have departed with full pomp and ceremony and fanfare is a tad selfish in my view.
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Post by brisfitboy on May 13, 2019 13:45:01 GMT
As in a passing people grieve and some are angry but they carry on and whilst remembering the past also look to the future. Thus to an extent it is with football, and it is to the supporters that determine the eventual success to a club by various means along with results on the pitch.
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tonyd
1st team Player
Posts: 1,493
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Post by tonyd on May 13, 2019 13:59:14 GMT
Seeing the season out would just have reduced the time the Board had for finding a replacement and for the new manager to carry out his team building before the new season started. Dos stayed until it was clear we weren't going to make the play-offs. If he'd taken the 3G pitch, the covered terrace, the new changing rooms etc with him, I'd be pissed off, but I think they're still there.
You can pop down to Havant and wave goodbye to him there, if you feel it necessary.
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Post by Jared on May 13, 2019 14:38:22 GMT
I'm more concerned about the prospect of a "religion scrap". Didn't realise there was any sectarianism in the area. You’re all a bunch of filthy heathens
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Post by mca on May 13, 2019 14:41:10 GMT
I'm more concerned about the prospect of a "religion scrap". Didn't realise there was any sectarianism in the area. havnt you seen the band before the Chelsea v Rangers game?
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markf
Top Performer
Posts: 3,182
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Post by markf on May 13, 2019 15:07:55 GMT
Isn't the opening post on this thread a tad late? It's been over three weeks since the announcement and it has taken that long for the poster to air such grievances. A fair while to let such resentment fester.
Dos has moved on and so has SUFC; end of.
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Post by baboonfish on May 13, 2019 15:47:46 GMT
I do see where the OP is coming from and the nature of the departure did come across a little strange. However, Dos has more than earned the right to put himself first.
I honestly believe he intended to come back after the hiatus, and that the realisation about the travelling made up his mind, but also I believe there were some other factors at play that aren't and may never be known. My guess is that it was the travelling and personal issues coupled with the stark realisation that he's taken the club as far as he can, with the football league unlikely to accept artificial pitches any time soon. If so then that's entirely fair enough, and I'm sure given the chance to do it again he would have ended things slightly differently.
Unfortunately the turn of events has left a slightly sour taste in some supporters mouths, including myself and some season ticket holding friends. Does that diminish his achievements or degrade the legendary status in which he forever be held? No, I don't think so and ultimately it's just a disappointing final chapter in a wonderful tale, and any avid readers will well know that final chapters are more often than not exactly that.
As for next season, our collective fears are not surprising. We go into the new season with a brand new manager, no real idea of the make up if our squad and off the back of a dismal run during the seasons last third. This with a playing budget which will surely be slightly smaller than last season in a league which is likely to be even more competitive. There's no doubt we are in for a tough season but at least expectations are tempered, as all but the most rabid optimists will be hoping for another comfortable mid table finish.
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Post by centipede on May 13, 2019 16:24:51 GMT
My respect for the job he did has not changed. On and off the field he done a fantastic job for us. I just do not really believe the story he gave is the whole truth, and think the way he left was not a very good parting, leaving the club in a very negative mood.
While he has done so much for us, this does not make him beyond criticism.
Like I say, relegation scrap or not, im behind the team. And i guess we can only speculate about his departure. But something does not sit right with me about it all. I would not be suprised if somewhere along the line maybe there was a fall out which was brushed away as to not ruin the 11 year legacy, but yes that is just speculation..
But it is a fair point that its early to predict things without seeing our squad. But my feeling is for an unexperienced manager to rebuild a side in the highest non-league football tier, is a big challenge, especially when our end of season form clearly showed issues up front and at the back.
That said, it's the fans job as well as the chairman and new manager to inject some energy back into the club and carry us forward. If we can stay in the league while building a new side then its job done IMO.
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kpinwp
1st team Player
Posts: 1,154
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Post by kpinwp on May 13, 2019 17:22:05 GMT
I've never tried to work out anything exact about this but my impression has always been that the majority of football managerial posts, for a variety of reasons, do not have entirely tidy endings.
It just doesn't seem to be in the nature of the work.
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markf
Top Performer
Posts: 3,182
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Post by markf on May 13, 2019 17:45:30 GMT
Not sure how often this has been pointed out but Dos didn't take a penny from the club by way of payment, indeed, through sponsorship he actually helped finance a number of projects on and off the field.
So, why anyone thinks he owes the club (fans included) anything is beyond me.
If any of the posters on here that are questioning the manner of his departure care to watch the main i/v he gave to h&w or listen to the non league podcast i/v they may get the answers they're searching for.
For me it's done and we move on.
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