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

[Jim in the West]

I think one of the problems is that the club in a way gives us TOO MUCH info. We have "Insider", which means we get answers to most questions we put straight from the horses mouth(s) within hours (or at most a few days). We have reasonably regular fans forums, we get regular feedback from the likes of attilla and others reasonably close to the club (NOT acolytes ).

Generally the more info one is given, the more opportunity to ask ever more detailed questions.

 

[Man of Harveys]

are you including me in that "their"?

No, for crying out loud - I didn't even think about using the word "their" (oddly enough) but if anything, I guess it was a subconscious attempt to try and depersonalise things...

 

[tedebear]

Who are you directing this to exactly?

Sorry Bozza lunch intervened...

It wasn't directed at anyone precicsely - just those who seem to think its our right to be told the clubs most intimate details. I was simply trying to say that we're lucky we get the information in the first place, if you get my drift?

 

[Basil Fawlty]

Thank you Atilla.

 

[3gulls]

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

Thank you for that post. It was very interesting.

Can you say if the lack of investors without Falmer being approved is related to the fact that Knight possibly wont give up enough to reflect the risk, as he hopes to "cash-in" if approval is given?

 

[The Large One]

'Cash-in'? I assume you mean 'sell his shares and retire'.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

with the thanks and goodwill of thousands of Albion fans.

 

[Mr Banana]

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

Can you say if the lack of investors without Falmer being approved is related to the fact that Knight possibly wont give up enough to reflect the risk, as he hopes to "cash-in" if approval is given?

If Uncle Dick was to charge a minimum wage rate for every hour he's spent dragging the Albion towards stability and look to recoup the money he's invested and attracted to the club, how much do you reckon the club would still owe him after the "cash-in" he'll make once the community stadium is built?

 

[FalmerforAll!**]

Cheers Atilla

 

[Barnham Seagull]

Thanks for asking the questions Attila.

But the proof will be in the pudding as it were.

Basicly he thought he could do this season on the cheap and be comftable in mid-table, lets hope they can turn it around.

 

[Giraffe]

I still don't understand why Dick won't go on the SCR phone in though. If he won't perhaps Martin Perry? I really can't see the harm in that. Supporters are disgruntled, witness Saturday, surely a clear explanation of the situation will help that not worsen the situation?

And I still maintain that Harty is playing a balanced role on SCR. How can anyone question that he is Albion through and through any more or less than Attila?

 

[The Oldman]

I still don't understand why Dick won't go on the SCR phone in though. If he won't perhaps Martin Perry? I really can't see the harm in that. Supporters are disgruntled, witness Saturday, surely a clear explanation of the situation will help that not worsen the situation?

And I still maintain that Harty is playing a balanced role on SCR. How can anyone question that he is Albion through and through any more or less than Attila?

Martin Perry was on 2 weeks ago before the match

 

[Dave the OAP]

Martin Perry was on 2 weeks ago before the match

Yes, Yes he was.

And i seem to reacall he making a derogatory comment about baker which Harty added the comment "allegedly" to

 

[London Irish]

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)

DW has to be given time (I absolutely agree with that) but DK is not going to let things slide.

Thanks to Attila for his informative post, particulary the news that we are gearing up for the final push to persuade Ruth Kelly.

The two really interesting points for me are the above by Attila.

I agree that it is obvious we have some money in reserves for transfers, we had the £150k for Kandol as we know from Barnet they rejected that, we had the money for Dichio's transfer, whatever figure that was.

But what is not clear is two things: firstly, just what wages we are offering the likes of journeymen players like Kandol and Ibehre. I believe Ibehre would have told his agent to shove it if we were offering him a significant pay rise. Clearly, I reckon, we weren't, so he was perfectly willing to accept agents' advice to stay put in Orient Reserves

Now, we may have been right both with Kandol and Ibehre not to pay over the odds. The problem, of course, with being so guarded and circumspect about not being caught out overpaying is - no players.

I genuinely think the board, and to a certain extent Mark McGhee too, have been suffering post-Federico Turienzo shellshock in their transfer dealings over the past year.

That they got so much abuse and so much criticism for fans for this obvious mistake with the Argie that it has led the board to be paralysed with fear in spending what little money we have, for fear of making a similar one.

It has led to two things:
a) an over-concentration on proven, higher league players like Dichio and Shipperley, who, despite what some say on here, I think will end up at League 1 level sooner or later
b) an unwillingness to take financial risks on lower league journeymen like Ibehre and Kandol

I believe this is why we have not spent our money, what little we have. It is a symptom of a major problem developing at the Albion, the growing breakdown of trust between more and more Albion fans and the board. Albion fans either don't believe the board has money or want to spend what they have; the board don't believe the fans will back them in taking financial risks on players that might not come off. The result is stalemate and stagnation, alas

It's a vicious circle that only the board can break out of with some inspired work in the transfer market. But that is easier said than done. You dig up a Zamora probably once every 30 years. You probably only develop even a player of Virgo's ability and bankability once every 5-10 years. You only manage to find bargains like Darren Currie once every few seasons or so. Yet the expectation of many fans is that we find such players far quicker than that. Who would be Dick Knight with this responsibility on his shoulders?

On Attila's point that DK "will not let things slide".

How can this be intepreted in any other way than that poor Dean Wilkins only has a set number of games left to show an improvement? I feel for Deano as, apart from the Cheltenham game near Xmas, the fixture list is not looking that points-friendly for a young team in transition like the Albion. I think Wilkins already looks to be on a hiding to nothing.

He deserves all the support every Albion fan can muster for the incredibly difficult situation he has been placed in.

 

[Dave the OAP]

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

I think Wilkins already looks to be on a hiding to nothing.

He deserves all the support every Albion fan can muster for the incredibly difficult situation he has been placed in.

Agree 100%

 

[empire]

And how, exactly, do you know that? How do you know what the "majority" feel? Have you asked everyone?

Because I'll happily tell you that I don't feel my views being echoed by Ian Hart in anyway when he lays into Dick Knight for the umpteenth time and, judging by what some others were saying on here, others feel the same way.

i was told that the majority of fans wanted mm out,but i didnt know one,as for ian hart,top bloke in imo

 

[portslade seagull]

Can't believe the money has been available all that time and we have'nt managed to spend some....
How many times pre-season has he stated this fact and then not spent a bean but reduce the playing squad..
sorry i believe it when i see it......

 

[Giraffe]

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

I feel for Deano as, apart from the Cheltenham game near Xmas, the fixture list is not looking that points-friendly for a young team in transition like the Albion. I think Wilkins already looks to be on a hiding to nothing.

He deserves all the support every Albion fan can muster for the incredibly difficult situation he has been placed in.

I agree. Deano deserves total support, I just hope DK gives it to him.

 

[Giraffe]

Martin Perry was on 2 weeks ago before the match

Apologies, I didn't hear that. What did he say, or was it restricted to Falmer?

 

[BALDISBEAUTIFUL]

Well said, makes a change to read something positive. Enjoyed the chat last Wednesday at the Romans. Hope to see you Thursday night and if your there Glanford Park.