I asked Dick Knight a few questions last night.....

[attila]

Last night was one of our regular Falmer campaign meetings. Soon there will be news of the campaign to ensure Ruth Kelly makes the right decision, as with done with her predecessor. But that's not the subject of this posting.

Like all of you I was absolutely bloody disgusted with the team's performance on Sunday: the lack of direction and seemingly even effort in some quarters and the general aura of hopelessness, so shocking after such a recent appointment. I read this board thoroughly to check the points people were asking (the obvious ones really!) and decided to question DK in forthright fashion at the end of the meeting.

He answered all my questions without hesitation.

MONEY/NEW PLAYERS
There IS money for new players available, has been for some time
(he's made that clear, to be fair, I don't know why so many people think there isn't) Everyone, including Wilkins, is desperately aware of the need to bring experienced players to the club. DW is obviously on a learning curve in the transfer market,having spent his post-playing career coaching what we have rather than looking for what we need, but the board and manager are committed to bringing in new faces as soon as possible to stop the rot (DK and DW are off on a scouting mission tonight and have players identified) They obviously have to be better than what we have already. - that's the point. Selling Withdean in Division 3 to the kind of experienced players we need is not the easiest task in the world - but given DK's track record in managerial appointments I wouldn't write him off!!

I asked about Williams. Apparently he 'put himself about' in the reserve games he was watched in and came highly recommended.
Well, he'd better start 'putting himself about' at Glanford Park next Saturday, that's all I can say....

Senior players not pulling their weight? Well and truly noted.

DK is as aware as anyone else of the gravity of the situation. DW has to be given time (I absolutely agree with that) but DK is not going to let things slide.

INVESTORS

Dick confirmed what I already knew. When Falmer is given the green light there will doubtless be wealthy people coming out of the woodwork ready to jump on the bandwagon. At the moment nobody is prepared to throw money at something which remains uncertain.
That has been obvious for years to me, to most of you, and I'm sure it is to my old wind up merchant mate 'Bernard Manning' Harty as well, so I don't know why he keeps banging on about it.

I hope that is of service to everyone. I will stress again that I buy a season ticket like everyone else and those on this board who are my friends will confirm that I am temparamentally incapable of being an 'acolyte' of anything: I am just a huge fan of the Albion like everyone else and I am as pissed off as everyone else is with the way things right now. I still have absolute faith in DK to deliver Falmer and to do everything he can to give us the best team possible in the meantime.
But things are definitely turning pear shaped on the pitch at the moment - and it needs to be SORTED OUT!!

See some of you Thursday. It's going to be fun! A lot more fun than playing the music at Withdean is right now.....though I'm still trying, in the nine minutes between Gully's Girls disco and Sussex By the Sea...WE WANT FALMER!

A

 

[Barrel of Fun]

This is what I have thought for a long time re: transfer money, helping DW in the transfer market and the investors.

Yet, there are many people willing to scapegoat DK, due to our relegation and poor form.

We must get behind the team! Now is not the time to abandon Withdean stadium!!

Come on!!

Sing......"We are staying up....."

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Good Man.

 

[Da Man Clay]

Cheers Atilla. Im still sceptical about the transfer money, Its gonna be a case of believe it when we see it for a lot of people.

 

[magoo]

I think any rational, sensible Albion fan is pretty much aware of all of the above but thanks for confirming it.

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

Thanks Atilla!!!

 

[desprateseagull]

re investors, surely the club would want some letter of intent so that they ante up, as soon as Falmer gets the final nod?

anyone could say they have £££ available, and get publicity from an empty promise..

as tom cruise said.. 'show me the money!'

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

Well said John.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Senior players not pulling their weight? Well and truly noted.

That was what disturbed me most. I've missed some recent games, but saw the performance against Blackpool.

I was at the meeting and can confirm Attila's account.

 

[Giraffe]

Did you ask him why we bought no one in the transfer window given we had the money to do so and at that stage were sitting comfortably in the top half of the table, so attracting players may have been easier?

 

[goldstone]

Thank you, Attila.

Good to know that DK is with us on this.

We have to get behind the team and get behind Dean.

We all know that most of the players on the pitch on Sunday can play better ... a lot better.

FDM is a far better goalie than his display on Sunday would illustrate.
ElAbd can play much better ... we've seen it ... but keep him away from central defence.
Cox actually can take a decent corner. I know that you would not think so from watching him in Sunday, but we know he can.
Hammond can perform way above Sunday's standard. He did so a few games back.
Chippie has been a rock in midfield. Right now it's maybe time to rest him.
Williams I have doubts about. Maybe we need a closer and longer look at players before we bring them on loan.
Mayo did OK in the midfield role after a rather anonymous first 20 mins.
Butters can still do a job for us.
Lynch will be a real asset.
Revell is a real find.
Santos is a lot better than many people think.
Jakey should maybe be starting. If not he's good on the bench.
Frutos is a complete waste of space at present.
Rents has the making of an excellent full back. a great crosser of the ball.

So not all gloom and doom.

What DW needs to do is decide on our best eleven and stick with them for a few games. And if we can get a midfielder or striker on loan so much the better.

Get behind the team and the manager. They need our support right now to get us through this mini crisis.

 

[Bozza]

Thanks John.

I'd be interested to hear Dick's thoughts about the current low attendances and undoubted impact upon cash flows at the Albion. I can't believe for a second it was thought that crowds would get this low and there'd be so few 'pay on the day' punters coming to Withdean.

And that just has to have an impact on the playing budget, doesn't it?

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Of course Bozza - and people are not being reasonably when they say "I'm not going to Withdean" and "Where is the money for players" in almost the same breath.

 

[attila]

On the transfer window question, I think it's common knowledge that Dick was desperately trying to sign that big Orient forward (Ibehre - the one player they had who looked any good, to be fair) but his agent
behaved like an idiot. Dick is not fond of agents. I agree. They're shits in the music biz as well!!!

One more point. CKR is at the last chance saloon (if anyone can sort his head out I guess it's Warnock)

...and if Warnock does sort it, and CKR manages to fulfil his potential,
there is a 'substantial sell on clause'.

 

[Titanic]

One more point. CKR is at the last chance saloon (if anyone can sort his head out I guess it's Warnock)

...and if Warnock does sort it, and CKR manages to fulfil his potential,
there is a 'substantial sell on clause'.

Sounds like a good deal all round then. Nice one DK.

 

[tedebear]

Thanks Attila - that gives me some hope. I guess its a case of having to talk players into coming to play with us then!!

 

[vulture]

I fear for wilkins

 

[Lammy]

"DW is obviously on a learning curve in the transfer market,having spent his post-playing career coaching what we have rather than looking for what we need..."

great!

Looks like it's Dick doing to scouting again...

 

[Albion Dan]

Cheers, good to get an insight.

The thing about the transfer money is that there may be some available, but is it enough compared to the vast sums we have sold for and saved on wages? It really shouldnt be that hard or expensive to attract experienced Div 1 standard players down here, and when he says they have got to be better than what weve got, well that must qualify 80% of players in this division!

 

[Mackenzie]

Good to hear about the sell on clause.