Ben Mansford, just a few things..

We are 'The Reds'. We are not the 'Red and Whites'.

Michael Kightly has never been a 'top' Premier League player.

You have not involved the fans in this new crest idea. You've merely asked us to pick the least **** of four **** designs. Be Proud Be Barnsley or summat. Yet designed in Leeds, by a Leeds firm.

It seems to me, from listening to that statement that you haven't a clue regards the next manager, and are allowing Micky a run of games and hoping he gets a few results so that you can then appoint him. Apparently, "he's earned" a crack at it. Not sure what it is you mean there. Do you mean 'since' the Brighton result? Or do you mean during your time as CEO as a whole? As in, you've seen him working and thought "if we have to sack Flitcroft, Micky is earning a crack at it". I don't get that.

If you think (you, and Maurice, Patrick, t'other bloke) that Mellon is the right man, then in my opinion you should appoint him. Back your self.


Last season, after Keith lost the plot, Flitcroft took over and masterminded our great escape. It was a remarkable turnaround, I'll always cherish that period, although it wasn't always as good as some like to think it was, we took a few heavy beatings, lost to Wednesday, but we managed to stay up in extraordinary fashion. I am now of the opinion that a key part in that survival was a lot of those players realising that if Flicker got/kept the job, they'd be given a deal, and regular football and so fought for that. A new manager entirely walks in, and many of them would have been fearing for their footballing futures.

I don't want that to happen again. So are you (you see everything, we're just spectators on a weekend) sure Micky isn't similarly close to a lot of these players? The fact that Hassell hasn't been picked all season in a defence that sheds goals like I shed turds is frankly a joke. To keep selecting a failure in that same defence and practically giving him some kind of Beckham-esque role to boot, well, that's ridiculous. I understand loyalty, and managers having their favourites, but under the last two managers it's gone a lot further than that. I don't want 'my' favourites picked purely because they're 'my' favourites. I only want what's best for our team/club. And for fairness. Equal opportunities.
I'm aware that faith/loyalty can be a good thing. But everything seemed a little bit too pally pally for me, the last couple of years. Yes, it's great for taking the piss out of, we've had some great threads related to it on here. But come on. It's football, not Butlins.
Historically, the best managers knew where and when to draw the line. Clough, Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho etc. When they referred to one of their players, they referred to them using their Christian or surnames. Alex Ferguson never in interview spoke about how great a human being 'Sparky' was. Nor do I recall Wenger banging on about how galvanized 'Merse' was.
So far, I get the impression that Micky is very different to Flicker in that regard. In fact, I was really impressed with his recent interviews. And, despite from what I can gather was a poor second 45 at Turf Moor, his two matches in charge have been relatively refreshing after the dirge inflicted upon us by Mr Motivator. Hell, we won an away game. 36 weeks had passed since the last one. So he's had an impact already.

I would accept Micky as manager tomorrow, if that was the decision made. It's not what I'd choose personally as of now, I want a manager of experience at this level, fresh eyes on this squad, and for him to be given the tools/time necessary to either keep us up, or bring us back up and kick on. Sick of this short term attitude that infests our club. But if Micky is your man, I'll be right behind him. But he either is your man, now, or he isn't. Flitcroft was never the boards man last season. Hignett was ready to be announced the Monday morning. But Flicker pulled a couple of results out, and the board went with him.

So he is your man now, or he isn't now. If it takes a win against Yeovil to convince you, then I'm afraid he probably isn't the manager you want.


The above are merely my opinions. And for all I know, you've no intention of giving it to Micky, and are in deep negotiations with Holloway. Who knows, for sure? Not us. But your statement suggests that isn't the case and thus I'll take your word for it.


Thanks for keeping us informed. I'd like to say I'll be at Oakwell on Saturday but I don't finish work until 2pm and I live in Bradford, so yes. Bit tricky. But it's Xmas, and I need all the shifts/money I can get. I'll endeavour to be home for kick off though and shall tune in to Matt and Adam and hopefully listen to them describe a victory for the 'Reds'. Although Ismael Miller may be a problem, what with him being a top Premier League player....


And, relax.

 

Sadly much of that sums up my feelings.

Listened to the audioboo and had that sinking feeling of apathy and disillusionment.

I was stunned that the "crest" got a mention in the same breath as the manager in the interview. The BBS seems to be shaping communications strategy and I'm not sure that's the right thing either. And as for "totting up and drilling down"... a simple query into the database sitting behind the web front end should tell you the totals in seconds. I'm not gutted, but neither am I impressed.

As for the managerial situation, we'll see in time, but it feels like the strategy is give Mellon time and hope he has a fair wind and the results come close to matching what they ultimately want their decision to be.

 

You are exactly the sort of fan we need on the supports trust thing, sadly your not a **** sucking arse licker so you'll never be aloud in

 

Apathy is a killer. Xmas or not, there was a time where I would never have missed a home game and chose to work instead.

But I'm 31 now, with a partner, home, bills to pay, other priorities and other hobbies etc.

I'm not as gullible regarding BFC as I once was.

 

You're right about arse licking. If I'd licked the arses I probably should have over the years, I probably wouldn't be working weekends in a warehouse.

I'd suck my **** if I could, mind.



As for the trust, I believe anybody can sign up/join. I've meant to attend a meeting a few times to do just that, but I've had precious little time over the last couple of years with the starting of a new relationship, leaving Barnsley, different jobs etc etc. Working nights for years was never a sociable positive either.

 

The thing thats pissing me off is there playing everything out of the management text book, new badge they've done a u turn but letting it die down a little looking for ways to put spin on the situation and make it look as though they're doing everything to please the punters,
this new manager ****** they've known for weeks Micky Mellon is the next manager, but the they also know a large number of our fans want to see some ambition in the next appointment not just the cheap option yet again, so they're delaying it as long as possible hoping that attacking passing football will soften the blow and praying for the right results so they can use it as leverage with the punters.

i can see all this i'm not a idiot, rather then been played for a fool i'd like to see some conviction in the decisions made by the board not mind games and bullshite its like have a football club run by politicians spin doctors,

its a Yorkshire club supported by straight talking Yorkshire people and we want some straight talking coming out of the club board room not underhanded snidey slimey ***** tricks

 

Whitey, I'm with you on this one.

If Mickey Mellon is the right man for BFC, then Mansford should show leadership courage and appoint him.

I hope we aren't just plodding from one game to the next and that, behind the scenes, Mansford is in extended contract talks with an experienced manager like Warnock, Holloway, Wilson, etc.

On the whole, an appointment of this nature, would re-galvanize a "tired and war weary" fan base.

Let's see........

 

Bang on. But I am convinced that is what is happening. It feels a bit horrible at the moment because it feels like we have a great opportunity to go in a different direction, one that I feel sure we need to go in sooner rather than later. With the right appointment I wouldn't even fear relegation because I would be looking for the bounce back and the long term stability thereafter.

But I get the impression in my water that we are going to waste the opportunity, go with the same old same old, and I just feel a bit, well, er..I don't know really. Like I am losing the will to care.

I really hope we are frantically talking to candidates behind the scenes, but I get the feeling that if we are, those talks are not going well because they would have turned up a name by now if they were. Which means we are heading down the Mellon path anyway. But in practise, I don't think we are talking to anyone. I think we are trying to eek out a couple of results so the fans get behind the appointment and think it was what they wanted all along.

 

I'm in the Supporters Trust and I can't even remember where the ground is.

 

Far too pally pally with the club, never saying anything that might offend the the hierarchy at the club, and trying to silence people with a bit of back bone who want to know whats going on and refuses to be bullshited, bunch of **** suckers pal

 

TomFun, I'm not so sure he will listen and reply. I've sent a couple of e-mails some weeks/months April previous. Way before the flicker sacking and nothing critical, just helpful........the silence has been deafening mate.

I'm not particularly positive about his new so-called management team and focus, my experiences are not supportive of a positive change, yet.

 

Agree with some of what Whitey has put, but I've seen a few people mention that we're using a Leeds-based marketing agency and therefore we're doing something wrong. Why exactly? We're using a marketing agency that has successfully worked with Huddersfield - the same Huddersfield that numerous fans have used as an example that we should emulate! I don't give give a toss where they're based, as long as they're good. A proven track record is one place I'd start.

Secondly, how else could the fans be involved in the process? If you make something by committee it's doomed to fail. I believe that giving choice is a reasonable way of getting the fans involved...and it's a massive leap forward from previous administrations. Might not be perfect, but not bad for 6 months into the job.

Finally - I agree that the new manager needs to have some continuity regarding the players. If we're doomed to go down, and the 'experienced' pros aren't doing it for us, I'd like to see Digby, Rose, Patterson, RNL, Clark etc all playing as many games as possible. That's one way of getting the fans on board.

 

Maybe you should join, I'm sure we could learn a lot from you.

 

I want the world....AND I WANT IT NOW!!!

 

No point because as soon as you ask the uncomfortable question, the supports trust leaders shoot you down and let them sit their and ignore the question their all for the club and not the supporters, if you want to know about new televisions salt and pepper stands and a scoreboard that's fine, as soon as people ask question about ambition direction and the lack of drive at board level their not questions for this time and all that bull *****. And if they do answer with bullshite god forbid anyone question the answers. Pointless group for of yes men