I agree with robbo, i think everybody involved at witton knows what is needed and gary is known to most,I think a couple of wins will promote the best feel good factor we could ask.
Looking forward to a new beggining, starting sat. By the way how many are travelling to Ossett on the train?
Stu
Me, Robbo and Drew at the moment…
And Tim, neil, and Becca too by the sounds of things.
If Eli can drop the flag at mine we’ll take it on the train.
Just seen the announcement that Gary has been named your new gaffer - This is a great appointment in my eyes and the majority of supporters at Colwyn Bay were disgusted with the treatment shown to him in the summer.
Having taken over a side that was struggling in the lower reaches of the league and guiding us to the play-offs in under half a season was some achievement, however because of board room un rest and other goings on we lost the best manager we have had in recent times.
Gary is a proper bloke who knows his football, and will certainly have enough contacts to help guide you to safety this season. And while, he won’t chat and get involved at the bar (Other than to check the other football results) I would ask one question, would you rather a successfull team or someone to talk to?
Good Luck to Gary and also the club, I for one will be watching out for your results and wishing you climb away from trouble to show what a mistake we made in decisions at CBFC.
Good Luck
Well thank you CBFC.
As I said before Gary is a quiet person but does know his football.
" If Eli can drop the flag off at mine, we’ll take it on the train"
Am I not fit to take the flag now then Robbo ?
Of course you are you moaning old git, but if we’re there earlier we can have it hung up in Osset all afternoon!!
We’ll be there before u Robbo ! Delays on the railways this Sat !
Well at least drop the pies off then!!
Lets get a couple of things into perspective.
Gary Finlay’s one season in charge resulted in 8th place - nowhere near the play offs, and he left when we were in the 2nd Qualifying round of the FA Cup.(Not the 4th Qualifying round).
The total lack of discipline shown by his team and his absolute lack of any success since leaving Witton. Not to mention the debacle that was Bamber Bridge - threatening supporters isn’t the way this football club operates.
Let’s hope that time has changed him.
I fear a little too much positive spin is being put on the appointment, which I have to say was far too hasty, and obviously a ‘done deal’ before Nigel’s sacking.
Surely it would have been better to put Pritch n Thornley in temporary charge and see who came forward for the job - On the basis that Tony Greenwood - the most succesful North West non-league manager is out of work(amongst others!)
Only time will tell but being realistic after 9 games on the spin without a point, the law of averages suggests that anyone can get a better points return in the coming games!
Andy Chad wrote:
[quote]Lets get a couple of things into perspective.
Gary Finlay’s one season in charge resulted in 8th place - nowhere near the play offs, and he left when we were in the 2nd Qualifying round of the FA Cup.(Not the 4th Qualifying round).
The total lack of discipline shown by his team and his absolute lack of any success since leaving Witton. Not to mention the debacle that was Bamber Bridge - threatening supporters isn’t the way this football club operates.
Let’s hope that time has changed him.
I fear a little too much positive spin is being put on the appointment, which I have to say was far too hasty, and obviously a ‘done deal’ before Nigel’s sacking.
Surely it would have been better to put Pritch n Thornley in temporary charge and see who came forward for the job - On the basis that Tony Greenwood - the most succesful North West non-league manager is out of work(amongst others!)
Only time will tell but being realistic after 9 games on the spin without a point, the law of averages suggests that anyone can get a better points return in the coming games![/quote]
At last!! I’m glad somebody said it…
The point I will make is this. I started watching Witton around the beginning (ish) of JV’s reign when we were mid table and GF’s name was one which was always mentioned with contempt around Witton, and with considerable vitriol, even from the likes of GE. I heard several disgraceful stories from his first spell in charge! The guy is bad news. And he’s never achieved anything. It seems strange to me how everyone used to revel in his failures on the forum when he was elsewhere and as soon as he comes back he’s heralded as the messiah!
Totally agree Chad Jnr and Greenie. If I was chairman I wouldn’t have Gary Finley anywhere near the club. When looking back at some of the incidents that accured during his reign you can only feel disgusted and ashamed to be a Wittoner, the mass brawl after the Bishop Auckland game springs to mind!
It is amazing to me that someone like Tony Greenwood couldn’t have been tempted to come even if it was on a temporary basis and if money really was an issue then even someone like Benny Phillips would of been a better bet.
But all we can do in the mean time is get behind the team and hope that Gary is a changed man! I will try to remain positive and do hope that he proves me wrong, keeps us up and is a fantastic ambassador and servant to the club.
Agreed with many of the points above but as devils advocate-
Just cast your mind back however, hardly anyone wanted Vince as he had had no experience, many didnt want Deeley, again very little experience at this level, Davidson cos you shouldnt go back, Bishop as he had no experience, Gleghorn as he had no experience, Benny as he is a “good number 2”.
Whoever was picked would have been unpopular with many. what will be popular is if we stay up.
I agree with comments re the discipline however - this must be monitored, least we forget we were hauled before the FA under Benny as well.
Time will tell.
While I can understand some comments (and its easy for me to write/say looking from the outside) I think looking back at peoples reigns/tenures isn’t ideal. The board have appointed someone who they feel will best serve the club, and my opinion for what its worth is that Gary will succeed in your club and will get the players to succeed, whether it is your current squad or a revised one. I don’t know what has happened in the past, but with some instances I have read on here, perhaps they should be left in the past and then he can be judged on the present - and again, for what its worth, we had no trouble at CBFC with him other than the fact he fell out with a key member of the board which has resulted in our ambitious club languising near to the relegation scrap we definatly wouldn’t of been in had we still had Gary. Our loss should be your gain and once again, all the best to Gary and all connected with the club.
Allegedly - Was’t it Vince( reserve team manager at the time ) who engineered Finleys departure. We should have realised then what was to come later. As u will see from my earlier posts I have reservations about this appointment and the way it was conducted but then nothing surprises me anymore in football.
Greenie wrote:
[quote]Andy Chad wrote:
[quote]Lets get a couple of things into perspective.
Gary Finlay’s one season in charge resulted in 8th place - nowhere near the play offs, and he left when we were in the 2nd Qualifying round of the FA Cup.(Not the 4th Qualifying round).
The total lack of discipline shown by his team and his absolute lack of any success since leaving Witton. Not to mention the debacle that was Bamber Bridge - threatening supporters isn’t the way this football club operates.
Let’s hope that time has changed him.
I fear a little too much positive spin is being put on the appointment, which I have to say was far too hasty, and obviously a ‘done deal’ before Nigel’s sacking.
Surely it would have been better to put Pritch n Thornley in temporary charge and see who came forward for the job - On the basis that Tony Greenwood - the most succesful North West non-league manager is out of work(amongst others!)
Only time will tell but being realistic after 9 games on the spin without a point, the law of averages suggests that anyone can get a better points return in the coming games![/quote]
At last!! I’m glad somebody said it…
The point I will make is this. I started watching Witton around the beginning (ish) of JV’s reign when we were mid table and GF’s name was one which was always mentioned with contempt around Witton, and with considerable vitriol, even from the likes of GE. I heard several disgraceful stories from his first spell in charge! The guy is bad news. And he’s never achieved anything. It seems strange to me how everyone used to revel in his failures on the forum when he was elsewhere and as soon as he comes back he’s heralded as the messiah![/quote]
Unusual for me to be quiet for a week, but… I agree 100% with Chad, Greenie and Nick.
I have three problems with what has been carried out, the timing, the process and the decision.
We owed it to Nigel to work together rather than to make him the scapegoat, irrespective of whether ultimately that meant putting someone else in his position. Had this have been the considered decision then I would have hoped the appointment would have been ‘progress’, as that is the objective on and off the pitch.
Short post over, but now you know where I stand!
does anyone else want to put the boot in?.
lets just support the boards decision,
I’m not gonna stand up and pretend to be Gary Finley’s biggest fan - i’m clearly not. I think our Club became something very different under the management of Jim Vince, we all rallied round in a way that hadn’t been seen since we were trying to save the Club from extinction. The feel-good factor and positive vibes made it a great place to be, and the results on the pitch echoed that (it was certainly a 2 way thing, our support helped the team achieve what they did, and the team’s performances brought the fans closer together). I’d love to go back to where we were 12 months ago, but it just isn’t possible.
The truth is that we just have to forget everything that has gone on over the last few seasons and face the fact that it is only goal-difference keeping us from being bottom of the league. If Gary Finley saves us from relegation then i couldn’t care less whether he speaks to me in the bar after the game or not. My honest opinion is that this time last week we were going down, and i don’t want that to happen.
We can only judge any progress at the end of the season now. the fact is that Gary Finley left a mid-table Witton side who had lost only twice in 14 games. He left a good solid skeleton of a team, which with the Crewe lads almost won the league twice.
I don’t particularly like some of his methods, i don’t ideally want to see players fighting on the pitch or in the tunnel - but if that’s what it takes to keep us up then i’ll accept it.
I’m not convinced we could of attracted the likes of Tony Greenwood etc, i think that he will be looking to take over at a Club aiming for promotion rather than just staying up. Harry Redknapp wasn’t every Spurs fan’s 1st choice, but i’m sure they aren’t arguing with his appointment right now.
Basically, regardless of whether we thougth Nige was the right man for the job my opinion was that whilst he was in the dug-out then he deserved the support of EVERY Witton fan. Now that Gary Finley is in charge i feel the same. We HAVE to support him if we want to stay up.
Let’s reserve judgement until at least the New Year. i just want us to stay up…
every now and again you come up with an exellent post robbo, and that is one of them.
lets just get out there and support WITTON ALBION FOOTBALL CLUB.
I agree Toneee, good post Robbo.
Now that Gary has been given the position and he is manager of our football we have to support him, anything else would be pointless, only with help, assistance, trust and support can we expect him to do the best possible job.
It is equally important that we achieve stability as this is the foundation of any success. We have to give Gary time and not make our minds up by January 10th which is Matlock at home. The significance being that this will be his 10th game in charge (which is the point where people started to call for Nigel’s sacking at FC United away).
The only point I would argue with Robbo is the statement of “this time last week we were going down”, no team has ever been relegated in October (otherwise Vics would be playing in the Cheshire League)!
I wish Gary and Lee well as we need them to make a good job of their positions and would not suggest for a moment that we do anything other than support them. Hopefully our expectations have now changed with regards to what is important this season and that unlike the first 10 games we are not benchmarking our performances and position on last season.