John Dennis v Our Current Board

Of course JD presided over the greatest time in our history. We got to the Promised Land during his reign and he transformed Oakwell and launched our academy. We also made our first Wembley appearance and got to see the likes of Hignett, Redfearn, de Zeeuw and Ward. Wow, makes me sad just thinking of those greats...

During John's era we also had some tough times. Relegation from the Premier League was tough, as was the subsequent drop to the third tier, not forgetting administration. And Nigel Spackman.

But in the ups and downs, JD was always there. He wasn't flawless but he was in the firing line, speaking with intelligence and dignity in the good times and bad. His statements showed class and thought, even when he was criticised on a far greater level than the present board endures.

The current regime goes silent when things are bad. We never hear from Cryne in the media, which is fine. He isn't a public person. But the men he has appointed to represent BFC on his behalf disappear in times of trial. They go completely missing. Mansford is quick to do interviews when he's trying to sell season tickets or we've captured some superstar loanee thanks to his amazing contacts book. But then he is silent when we lose games and the said loanee has turned out useless. I don't recall our chairman Maurice Watkins ever giving media interviews apart from when he first joined the club. I won't even mention Biscuit Barry...

I remember JD getting protests against him and facing violent outbursts from fans regularly at games - far more than the odd 'tweet' and social media gripe the current regime seems to take all too personally.

JD wasn't perfect but I'd do anything for a man of his calibre to be running our club now. At least we'd have some proper leadership...

 

John Dennis loves this club and gave us the best times we've ever had. I would love to see him back involved in the club in some capacity.

 

Here here

 

Me too.

 

Try convincing the people/ businesses who lost out financially under his reign. Would fans have been so keen for him to splash the cash had they known the details of his financing?

 

At the time of the admin I wasn't best pleased but the club was shafted by the bank. History has since changed my opinion of John and I would have him back tomorrow.

 

Straight up question.

Would administration have happened if the itv digital saga not happened?

 

He made mistakes, no doubt about it. But ultimately ITV Digital screwed us up.

Despite his errors, JD is a BFC legend in my eyes. Always will be.

 

Good post Matthew. I don't know whether John Dennis is a good man or a bad one. All I'll say is that during most of the JD era there was more of a sense of belonging about the club - a more homelier atmosphere. The club as now organised doesn't feel like it belongs to us. I think that Ben M tries very hard and gets some unfair stick on here, but I can't help but feel that there is a 'plastic' type of fan engagement which ticks all the management-speak boxes. It still hasn't been explained what exactly Maurice Watkins brings. Barry is 'honorary' - end of. And as for Mr Cryne - he feels a bit like the Wizard of Oz before you get to see behind the curtain.

But beyond all that, since the untimely sacking of Andy Ritchie - who surely deserved more time for what he achieved - the football/entertainment has been slowly but consistently diminishing. At the end of the day, no matter what Mr Cryne puts in, we pay for the whole shooting match, and without the supporters there is no club. There needs to be some hard thinking done at Oakwell before we move forward.

 

Best post I have read for a long time. I personally abused JD to his face after Viv Anderson left, I was young and daft. However he stood up to me and gave me a reasoned argument as to why the man who was left behind (Danny Wilson) would do a good job for us. As the original poster said John Dennis never went missing through thick and thin. Yes he made mistakes but who hasn't ? I generally feel a board of directors comprising local businessman such as JD is better for the club. Times change though and we are where we are but I feel for the clubs future and it hurts.

 

Well Said Mario!

 

Straight up answer, I don't know, also the Big Thing sponsorship collapse didn't help.
Did JD continue to use services at the club that he knew the club would be unlikely to pay for? He must've known Admin was just around the corner.

 

Agree with Mario, would like Dennis back but whilst Cryne is owner he wouldn't.

 

I think at the team of admin our debt was something like £2.25m. Laughable that the bank wouldn't bail us out when you consider what kind of debt clubs operate in today...

 

Fair do.

Not sure myself.

It just seems that apart from the bank the main thing it was blamed on itv.

So as far as I can see if that money arrived all would have been ok and budgeted for....

 

What some people on here ought to bare in mind is that JD didn't do it with his own money. He sold shareholders down the drain abs his own businesses went bust also under his leadership. He, lime Wilson was lucky in that things came together.

As they do for most teams who now rise from the championship to the premier.

It is very difficult now for 'non established 'clubs to gain a foothold up there. There are many problems with this.

But I hold JD responsible for this club going downhill to where we are now. Some folk on here need to take their blinkers off ...

 

As I understand it, admin was due to a combination of the collapse of ITV Digital and relegation. We could have survived either alone, but together, it crippled us.

 

You hold JD responsible for what's happening now?

Wow

 

You think our promotion to the Premier League was 'lucky'?