Dick knight / tony bloom

[Brovion]

Don't panic. Dick, Tony Bloom and all the board are aware of the feeling of the supporters about Russell. The Dennis Wise rumour is a total non-starter, which has no substance whatsoever.

That's obviously good news - so why is Dick so coy when asked who will be manager next season? Given that the board have 'form' for going behind the current manager's back and finding someone else I'm sure you can understand why people are concerned.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Soooooooooo...... Bloom might want to take control, become chairman. He knows the only thing standing in his way is the fans inherent support for Dick Knight as the 'saviour' of our club. So, he needs to knock Knight's standing by, say, forcing out the extremely popular manager that kept us up and replacing with an extremely unpopular former premiership midfielder?

Interesting theory with all kinds of connotations..........

Let's try a slightly different version of this ...

1. Bloom might want to put more money into the playing side, but he doesn't have confidence in a "lower league manager" to get the best out of the higher quality players that he will have to work with. It's one thing to motivate the Wilkins babes to save themselves from relegation. It's quite another thing to lead a squad that will survive in the Championship once we get there.

2. Dick Knight wants to keep the fans happy by hanging on to Russell Slade. He also knows that there's still a hell of a lot of difficult work to be done to bring the Falmer project to fruition and has no confidence in Bloom to lead the Club through all that.

 

[Pondicherry]

Does anyone know how Tony Bloom makes his money these days? I don't know that much about him except that I thought he was playing a lot less poker these days (and he was never winning enough to bakroll a football club) and that he sold Premierbet before it went bust. Wiki says he invests in property as well. If true - that must have taken a bit of a dive recently.

Also - are they any public records available that would indicate amounts being "loaned" to the club - do the accounts indicate this?

 

[Twinkle Toes]

I sincerely hope that Tony Bloom realises the strength of feeling in the stands (regarding Russell Slade being given a contract). If he (TB) is adamant about bringing somebody else in, he can forget about relying on the likes of myself shelling out for a season ticket for next season. It's a shame he doesn't get his arse over to more Albion games, cos then he'd have actually witnessed how a QUALITY manager has saved the club from football oblivion this year. Sort it out, FFS - & NOW!

 

[Brovion]

Let's try a slightly different version of this ...

1. Bloom might want to put more money into the playing side, but he doesn't have confidence in a "lower league manager" to get the best out of the higher quality players that he will have to work with. It's one thing to motivate the Wilkins babes to save themselves from relegation. It's quite another thing to lead a squad that will survive in the Championship once we get there.

2. Dick Knight wants to keep the fans happy by hanging on to Russell Slade. He also knows that there's still a hell of a lot of difficult work to be done to bring the Falmer project to fruition and has no confidence in Bloom to lead the Club through all that.

That is exactly what I think the situation is. Although (with a nod to dwayne) I have no evidence for this.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Let's try a slightly different version of this ...

1. Bloom might want to put more money into the playing side, but he doesn't have confidence in a "lower league manager" to get the best out of the higher quality players that he will have to work with. It's one thing to motivate the Wilkins babes to save themselves from relegation. It's quite another thing to lead a squad that will survive in the Championship once we get there.

2. Dick Knight wants to keep the fans happy by hanging on to Russell Slade. He also knows that there's still a hell of a lot of difficult work to be done to bring the Falmer project to fruition and has no confidence in Bloom to lead the Club through all that.

Yeah, maybe, but its not conniving enough Whenever I picture Tony Bloom he's stroking a white cat

 

[Knotty]

Has anybody got any facts on this or is it all uninformed guesswork giving some the chance to be controversial?

I want Slade to stay because he's earned a contract, but remember Steve Gritt - saved us in 96-97, couldn't do anything in 97-98.

I hate Dennis Wise and would not like to see him as our manager but I'd still renew my ST because I support the Albion, not the manager. But to all those who say they would stop going if he were manager, what would you do if, with him in charge, we were 10 points clear at the top of the table at Christmas?

Just playing devil's advocate for the moment!

 

[Spiros]

The name Bloom fills me with dread in regard to the Albion as I still don't understand how Ray Bloom stood by as a director and watched the club being dismantled and as far as I'm aware did nothing about it. Now he;s back on the board and it seems another Bloom, possibly wants to use the club as his plaything. I accept I'm biased and maybe wrong, just a gut feeling but unfortunately he who pays the piper...

You're not alone. Bloom was indeed the director that stood by and watched Stanley and Archer carve things up, so I share your concerns. What price Bloom junior 'lending' his money to the club while he's winning but then wanting it back when perhaps his luck changes?

 

[Bish Bosh]

Let's try a slightly different version of this ...

1. Bloom might want to put more money into the playing side, but he doesn't have confidence in a "lower league manager" to get the best out of the higher quality players that he will have to work with. It's one thing to motivate the Wilkins babes to save themselves from relegation. It's quite another thing to lead a squad that will survive in the Championship once we get there.

2. Dick Knight wants to keep the fans happy by hanging on to Russell Slade. He also knows that there's still a hell of a lot of difficult work to be done to bring the Falmer project to fruition and has no confidence in Bloom to lead the Club through all that.

Point 1 maybe points to the crunch that many people have seen coming. If we are now finally, and genuinely,going forward to Falmer which implies a real push for sustained Championship level football, how many of the current staff can take us there?

I hope that Russell Slade will be one because he has united the fans in such a short space of time. There will be hard decisions involving players though. Look at the higher division clubs...full of mercenaries who can do the job and not many 'heart on the sleeve' local lads.

 

[Knotty]

You're not alone. Bloom was indeed the director that stood by and watched Stanley and Archer carve things up, so I share your concerns. What price Bloom junior 'lending' his money to the club while he's winning but then wanting it back when perhaps his luck changes?

It would depend on the terms on the loan agreements. If he is entitled to have his loans returned at a certain time and he chooses to do so, there's nothing wrong in that.

Not good for us but it's the risk any company takes with a loan. Where would the club have been without the loans? I suspect that many clubs are in the same boat.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Let's try a slightly different version of this ...

1. Bloom might want to put more money into the playing side, but he doesn't have confidence in a "lower league manager" to get the best out of the higher quality players that he will have to work with. It's one thing to motivate the Wilkins babes to save themselves from relegation. It's quite another thing to lead a squad that will survive in the Championship once we get there.

2. Dick Knight wants to keep the fans happy by hanging on to Russell Slade. He also knows that there's still a hell of a lot of difficult work to be done to bring the Falmer project to fruition and has no confidence in Bloom to lead the Club through all that.

Is'nt this how we ended up with the Micky Adams meltdown, lots of 'quality' loans players in favour of Harts & Frasers. Its difficult to spend your way out of this league, money helps but so does a consistent team and manger. Have the board really got the money to sponge away again on news players and managers.

 

[clapham_gull]

Oh I'm sorry, Sir Alex Ferguson has never managed a football team. He just likes to throw away money buying horses as a hobby. His life went shit creek all because he owns horses he enters in to races, its nothing to do with because he's a Scot and manages Manchester United.

Completely missed the point there didn't you ?

 

[Jim D]

Let's try a slightly different version of this ...

1. Bloom might want to put more money into the playing side, but he doesn't have confidence in a "lower league manager" to get the best out of the higher quality players that he will have to work with. It's one thing to motivate the Wilkins babes to save themselves from relegation. It's quite another thing to lead a squad that will survive in the Championship once we get there.

2. Dick Knight wants to keep the fans happy by hanging on to Russell Slade. He also knows that there's still a hell of a lot of difficult work to be done to bring the Falmer project to fruition and has no confidence in Bloom to lead the Club through all that.

I agree that this is probably the way things are in the Boardroom. This could go two ways...

1. We release Slade and appoint a 'higher league manager' (Wise or someone else).
- Immediate outrage from the fans - expect loss of ST sales and direct protests to Knight and the Board.
- If results are good this will die down and fans will return (eventually).
- If results are not good then expect things to get worse.
- Extreme pressure to sack new manager and thus incur even more wage debt.

2. We appoint Slade
- Bloom may demand something in exchange - maybe DK moves 'upstairs' and Ray B takes over?
- ST sales remain fairly constant - may even improve on the 'Slade bubble'.
- If results don't start well then pressure to sack Slade after 2 or 3 months (and replace with 'higher league manager')

In both cases the outcome will depend on the first dozen or so games next season. If we start off well then whatever manager is in charge will get the support of the fans (and those that will 'never forgive nor forget' will be back too if we're in the top 3 and winning regularly).

The really big difference (and, I think, the clincher) is the impact on season ticket sales. We might lose £500K revenue in June/July if fans choose not to renew. So, unless Bloom is prepared to bankroll us for this loss, I can't see how we can risk this by upsetting the fans.

 

[sir albion]

It wouldn't surprise me the slightest if the blooms did barge in on this situation,i mean dick has been awful this season and cost the club a fortune in errors.

Apart from that im sure its all drivel as insider said

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Well, the Argus says Slade will sign in the next 24 hours...

 

[Drumstick]

Let's try a slightly different version of this ...

1. Bloom might want to put more money into the playing side, but he doesn't have confidence in a "lower league manager" to get the best out of the higher quality players that he will have to work with. It's one thing to motivate the Wilkins babes to save themselves from relegation. It's quite another thing to lead a squad that will survive in the Championship once we get there.

2. Dick Knight wants to keep the fans happy by hanging on to Russell Slade. He also knows that there's still a hell of a lot of difficult work to be done to bring the Falmer project to fruition and has no confidence in Bloom to lead the Club through all that.

That's what I'd figured. MAYBE Blooms stick DK upstairs in some role, then spunk cash on new players and a new manager in push for promotion. or DK stay in control and we sign up RS and keep the finances on an even keel whilst putting in some investment.

I'm sure we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Agent_Torpor]

Seems as if the Knight v Bloom altercation is really happening. We have heard it from so many sources now that we have to take it seriously.

What puzzles me is why anyone would think that Dennis Wise is the right manager for the Albion. Still he who holds the purse strings calls the tune. Looks as if we had better get prepared for the unthinkable.

Dennis Wise fully hoodwinked both Ken Bates and Mike Ashley - so there's no surprise that he's doing it to Tony Bloom.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

FFS, Same old broken record... Shut it, Popeye!

Seriously, would you rather have Wilkins back now? Really? D'you think he could have achieved what Slade has managed? Did DW ever achieve such a rapport, to absolute acclaim and admiration from the fans?

We'll never know why Wilkins left the club - nor should any of us feel we have some entitlement to know. Company disciplinary matters are confidential, and rightly so. Wilkins was clearly a pretty good coach, but maybe that was it. It's notable that, after all this time, no other club has chosen to take a punt on him as a manager.

I have not said i want Wilkins back at all after all i am very much a "if you perform you keep the shirt" sort of guy Wilkins performed - And so far Russell has so keep the guy.

I think Wilkins would have had us scrambling for a top three and definitely a play-off place Russell has done a fantastic job however he was in a no lose scenario.

Who said Wilkins has had the trust to go back into league management after the way he was treated and it is always going to be difficult now as i can't see Knight giving him a glowing reference and it's not as if he is a well known to fans of other teams so he probably only has the chance of league 2 management at best thanks to Knight he basically shafted the guy.

 

[dougdeep]

Russell has done a fantastic job however he was in a no lose scenario.

A new contender for daftest post of the day.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

A new contender for daftest post of the day.

Why is that smart arse.