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New manager by May 16 – County chairman
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| PLEDGE: County chairman Chris Blight |
NEWPORT County chairman Chris Blight has pledged to appoint a new manager by Friday, May 16.
The Exiles chief has written an open letter to supporters, players and backroom staff in order to respond to the Argus story that revealed several members of the current playing squad are in negotiations with other clubs.
The Exiles chairman has also revealed:
l It was an incredibly difficult decision to sack former boss Peter Beadle.
l That the club have already received 30 applications to succeed Beadle, before advertising in the Non-League Paper yesterday.
l The board have had informal discussions with members of the first- team squad.
l The board have new players committed to pre-season training with the club.
l Comments in the Argus have hurt' Blight and the other directors.
The chairman's statement, sent to supporters on Saturday, underlines a determination to be swift in making a managerial appointment and giving an ambitious new manager' a budget to match'.
Blight explained: "Please understand that we desperately wanted Peter and this squad to succeed and be playing in the Conference next year, we feel the club is now ready.
"The difficult position we are now faced with over these few weeks was unavoidable. We obviously couldn't approach or discuss the manager's position with ANYONE before the end of the season, particularly as we were hoping that in season 08/09 Peter would be our manager in the tier above us.
"We have nobody lined up' as people have intimated, and it was imperative that the club stayed professional and confidential through the last week of the season. The hunt for a new manager started on Monday morning and has created the current scenario.
"We are as uncomfortable with that scenario' as you are. However, the plain fact is that we will need a period of ten to 14 days minimum to conduct a professional exercise to attract candidates, arrange interviews and arrive at agreement on a decision to employ a new manager that will take this club to the Conference and hopefully beyond.
"Comments in the Argus and other mediums obviously hurt myself and other directors because we know the effort and resources we put into this season.
"It was for this reason I wanted to put pen to paper' and help you understand the logistics of the current situation and the fact that we have NOT put the club in jeopardy, and although we want continuity through the playing staff, it is impossible to promise or commit new contracts or deals with players when we are only a matter of days from appointing a new manager.
"That manager will carry his own views and we need him to not only be part of that process but to be in control of it.
"You have witnessed our ambitions this season and in particular over the last few months. The playing staff are aware of the financial commitment the board wanted to make to try and motivate the players for promotion. That ambition will carry on next season, and beyond. We will appoint an ambitious manager with a budget to match.
"Once again we would ask you to be patient and understand our predicament. We are not naive enough to think our playing squad is not attractive to many other managers and are already aware that certain players have been approached or even made decisions for next season.
"Advertisements were placed in the Non-League Paper this weekend, which was the earliest date we could advertise. First interviews will be held next week, second interviews the following week and hopefully an appointment made by Friday 16th May.
"We propose to arrange a meeting immediately after that appointment to introduce players and staff, and afterwards volunteers and academy personnel. We need to be thorough and professional about the process and make sure we investigate every applicant correctly.
"To date we have already had around THIRTY applications of various ages and levels of experience. (We obviously will not interview everybody!)
"The club is in great shape, a strong board of directors, a fantastic (and growing) fan base, incredible team of volunteers, an academy that punches above its weight and a stadium capable of hosting football and crowds comfortably at the next level.
"We are ready, and with the correct appointment can build on the work and achievements of the last two years and really create a buzz around the city."
- The Argus understands that five first-team players are in negotiations with other clubs and could all depart Spytty Park this week. None of the players is over the age of 30.
11:34am Monday 5th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Phil Tanner, Berkshire on 12:12pm Mon 5 May 08
Playing with words yet again.
"The Argus understands that five first-team players are in negotiations with other clubs and could all depart Spytty Park this week"
Of course they COULD all leave this week. It's just a statement of the contractual position.
Playing with words yet again.
"The Argus understands that five first-team players are in negotiations with other clubs and could all depart Spytty Park this week"
Of course they COULD all leave this week. It's just a statement of the contractual position.
Posted by: Steve Dunn on 12:20pm Mon 5 May 08
you are over reacting Phil. There's nothing wrong with this statement at all.
you are over reacting Phil. There's nothing wrong with this statement at all.
Posted by: paulwanderer, chepstow on 12:33pm Mon 5 May 08
It's time to sit back and just wait and see what developes over the next 10 days or so...The board are getting alot of stick.I don't see that they have done alot wrong here.
It's time to sit back and just wait and see what developes over the next 10 days or so...The board are getting alot of stick.I don't see that they have done alot wrong here.
Posted by: Phil Tanner, Berkshire on 12:47pm Mon 5 May 08
There's nothing "wrong" with it, that's the whole point. But it's there to try and undermine the board's position to a slight degree by conjuring up a scenario where by the time the new manager is appointed, the best players have upped sticks and gone.
The full picture is that it's perfectly routine for out-of-contract players anywhere to sound out their options. They'd be mad not to.
The point about five players under 30 plays on two points expressed by supporters - too many of the old squad were over 30, and maybe only five or six worth re-signing.
There's nothing "wrong" with it, that's the whole point. But it's there to try and undermine the board's position to a slight degree by conjuring up a scenario where by the time the new manager is appointed, the best players have upped sticks and gone.
The full picture is that it's perfectly routine for out-of-contract players anywhere to sound out their options. They'd be mad not to.
The point about five players under 30 plays on two points expressed by supporters - too many of the old squad were over 30, and maybe only five or six worth re-signing.
Posted by: D Taylor, Newport on 1:21pm Mon 5 May 08
Yes the Argus comment about players leaving is designed to create anxiety and put pressure on the board. But it won't work.
Yes the Argus comment about players leaving is designed to create anxiety and put pressure on the board. But it won't work.
Posted by: Steve Dunn on 1:56pm Mon 5 May 08
designed 2 create anxiety. we are a semi-professional side by our own chairmans words "wallowing in the blue square south" for goodness sake.
designed 2 create anxiety. we are a semi-professional side by our own chairmans words "wallowing in the blue square south" for goodness sake.
Posted by: paulwanderer, chepstow on 2:26pm Mon 5 May 08
Does anybody know?..were the club planning on going full time pro next season had they been promoted?
Does anybody know?..were the club planning on going full time pro next season had they been promoted?
Posted by: D Taylor, Newport on 3:11pm Mon 5 May 08
At the share-holders AGM it was said that a budget was in place for BSP football for next season and that this included full-time wages for players. How many full-time players there would have been was not stated.
At the share-holders AGM it was said that a budget was in place for BSP football for next season and that this included full-time wages for players. How many full-time players there would have been was not stated.
Posted by: paulwanderer, chepstow on 3:45pm Mon 5 May 08
[quote][bold]D Taylor[/bold] wrote:
At the share-holders AGM it was said that a budget was in place for BSP football for next season and that this included full-time wages for players. How many full-time players there would have been was not stated. [/quote] Thanks...Sounds like a gradual switch over was planned, which would make sense. I don't think the club is financially sound enough to have a full time squad. There's already alot of pressure on for next season...money needs to be generated by getting the fans through the gate. We all know that gates can dip greatly when the team is not challenging. The first home gate of the new season will be around 1100(unless afc wimbledon are the visitors),but after that its down to the players and manager as to which way things go.
D Taylor wrote:
At the share-holders AGM it was said that a budget was in place for BSP football for next season and that this included full-time wages for players. How many full-time players there would have been was not stated.
Thanks...Sounds like a gradual switch over was planned, which would make sense. I don't think the club is financially sound enough to have a full time squad. There's already alot of pressure on for next season...money needs to be generated by getting the fans through the gate. We all know that gates can dip greatly when the team is not challenging. The first home gate of the new season will be around 1100(unless afc wimbledon are the visitors),but after that its down to the players and manager as to which way things go.
Posted by: Steve Dunn on 5:32pm Mon 5 May 08
eveb afc wimbledon are years ahead of us, what is going on here?
eveb afc wimbledon are years ahead of us, what is going on here?
Posted by: paulwanderer, chepstow on 6:53pm Mon 5 May 08
I watched an evening match between Aldershot and Hemel hempstead in the shots first or second season back...there were probably 2,500 at the game, the atmosphere was like a football league match.County's future doesn't lie at Spytty Pk.2 Eastbourne fans behind the goal recently said, they had better views from back home.
I watched an evening match between Aldershot and Hemel hempstead in the shots first or second season back...there were probably 2,500 at the game, the atmosphere was like a football league match.County's future doesn't lie at Spytty Pk.2 Eastbourne fans behind the goal recently said, they had better views from back home.
Posted by: Gwenty, bed on 6:57pm Mon 5 May 08
[quote][bold]Steve Dunn[/bold] wrote:
eveb afc wimbledon are years ahead of us, what is going on here?[/quote] us?? your having a laugh...
Steve Dunn wrote:
eveb afc wimbledon are years ahead of us, what is going on here?
us?? your having a laugh...
Posted by: exiled on 8:53am Tue 6 May 08
Look on the bright side, there's no interest in the European Championships this summer so all this speculation and change will keep us going until the start of the new season. Roll on August.
PS anyone know the availablity of BarAmber memberships for next season ?
Look on the bright side, there's no interest in the European Championships this summer so all this speculation and change will keep us going until the start of the new season. Roll on August.
PS anyone know the availablity of BarAmber memberships for next season ?
Posted by: bigben, newport on 10:33am Tue 6 May 08
Is that Grant Mitchel from Eastenders pictured above (the chairman) perhaps Phil could be the manager or failing that Peggy?
Is that Grant Mitchel from Eastenders pictured above (the chairman) perhaps Phil could be the manager or failing that Peggy?
Posted by: Marky, Newport on 6:50pm Tue 6 May 08
The worst-kept secret in Newport has been confirmed, Sam O'Sullivan has gone to Merthyr. The Argus will probably announce this "exclusive" in Friday's paper. Good luck Sam. Looking forward to the friendly up there in July.
The worst-kept secret in Newport has been confirmed, Sam O'Sullivan has gone to Merthyr. The Argus will probably announce this "exclusive" in Friday's paper. Good luck Sam. Looking forward to the friendly up there in July.
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