Kevin Blackwell To Leave Luton Town

http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10309~1212711,00.html

 

he's given a month's notice..............

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/7183317.stm

 

and this press statement....

<div class="layout"><div class="article"><div class="articleText"><div class="articleHeadlineAndBody" id="articleHeadlineAndBody"><h3 class="headline">PRESS STATEMENT </h3><div class="lastEditDate" id="lastEditDate">Posted on:Fri 11 Jan 2008</div><div class="articleBody" id="articleBody"><p align="justify">Statement issued by Kevin Blackwell, Manager; Sam Ellis, Assistant Manager and John Carver, Head Coach, of Luton Town Football Club on Friday January 11</p><p align="justify">We came to Luton Town Football Club last Spring with a clear mission. It revolved around ambition, adequate investment for growth and the very real promise of a new stadium.</p><p align="justify">Very quickly we found that Luton Town Football Club did not do what it said on the tin. We have had to generate cash - more than &pound;3 million from the sale of key players - rather than invest it. Our inheritance has ended up including law-suits and FA charges. The Club moved into Administration and we lost ten points. We have ended up managing a squad of players who do not know if they are going to be paid or have a future with the club.</p><div class="continueLink">With the support of our fans, our staff and a quite unbelievable response from our players, we have continued to manage under these conditions. We have lost one match out of the last thirteen, and last weekend astounded the football world with the quality and spirit of our display in holding Liverpool to a draw.</div><p align="justify">It is not our role or intention to blame anybody for the state we are in as a club - but we have to face reality for ourselves. It is now our belief that no possible future scenario for this club can match - in any way, shape or form - what we came here to do. We are therefore announcing that we are leaving Luton Town Football Club.</p><p align="justify">Ironically, we no longer have contracts that would require us to give notice - but we are acutely aware that to just down tools and walk out would simply add to the short term problems. We will therefore continue to work, under our current basic terms and conditions, for approximately one month - leaving the club after the home game against Bournemouth on February 9. This will enable to the following:</p><table cellpadding="0" width="75%" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">1</td><td></td><td>It will see us through the Transfer Window. The Administrator's job is to secure the long-term future of the club, and we will work with him to emerge with the strongest possible playing squad after necessary transfer activities.</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">2</td><td></td><td>January and February represent the heart of the season. We will continue to manage the playing side of the club, endeavouring to get the best possible results under the circumstances.</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">3</td><td></td><td>The Administrator is working on a new ownership structure for the club. This will give both parties some time to identify and recruit the right management for the future.</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="justify">It is not our intentions to comment further on these matters - either collectively or individually - until after February 9.</p><p align="justify">Finally, a word for our fans. Managers come and go. Administrators, Directors, Boards and players - they all come and go. A lot of fans can't or don't - and we would like to pay particular tribute to ours. It's been a long time since they have had any kind of sequence of good news. They deserve some success, and our hope is that it comes in the not too distant future. Their support for us during this period of adversity has been astonishing - and when we and the players applaud them at the end of the game, it is with the utmost sincerity.</p><p align="justify">Thank you</p><p align="justify">Kevin Blackwell
Sam Ellis
John Carver</p></div></div></div></div></div>

 

RE: and this press statement....

top bloke. impressed with that.