Dick Knight and MM

[Dave the OAP]

Now we all know MM has gone and its all water under the bridge, however comments that DK made last Saturday were bound to be picked up by the media.

basically, in an interview after the game on the Phone In, DK said ( and I paraphrase) that basically the reason why he sacked MM was that he had lost the respect of the players( ie the dressing room) ...he had an agreement with MM not to mention this , but as MM had made some deragatory comments then DK felt he had the right to say so.

NOW

The issue here goes back to the old days.

When this current regime came into beinmg, we were told at meetings at the Concorde etc etc that they were different...within reason understandably, the club would be transparent and the supporters ( the lifeblood of the club) would be kept informed and not lied to as previously.

When MM was sacked, DK came out and said that he had witnessed the crowd getting more and more agitated, leaving early and turning on the players and MM, and following the Crewe game, DK decided after much soul searching in Spain that MM had to go. We were told that the reason was that we were a community club and he had to listen to the supporters.

Now it turns out that actually MM had been ratted on to DK about the dressing room and in fact is was that reason that MM had to go.

As I say, its all water under the bridge, but I do wish the management of the club had been honest with the fans ( irrespective of behind closed doors agreements) and DK had not blamed the supporters for his sacking, but instead informed us that the players and staff at BHA had obviously lost faith in him.

I am sure it would have made no difference, but now, Andy naylor and the like have their teeth into this story and I am sure it will run and run.

I understand the Argus asked for a statement, which DK withdrew at the last moment.

 

[bhaexpress]

Now we all know MM has gone and its all water under the bridge, however comments that DK made last Saturday were bound to be picked up by the media.

basically, in an interview after the game on the Phone In, DK said ( and I paraphrase) that basically the reason why he sacked MM was that he had lost the respect of the players( ie the dressing room) ...he had an agreement with MM not to mention this , but as MM had made some deragatory comments then DK felt he had the right to say so.

NOW

The issue here goes back to the old days.

When this current regime came into beinmg, we were told at meetings at the Concorde etc etc that they were different...within reason understandably, the club would be transparent and the supporters ( the lifeblood of the club) would be kept informed and not lied to as previously.

When MM was sacked, DK came out and said that he had witnessed the crowd getting more and more agitated, leaving early and turning on the players and MM, and following the Crewe game, DK decided after much soul searching in Spain that MM had to go. We were told that the reason was that we were a community club and he had to listen to the supporters.

Now it turns out that actually MM had been ratted on to DK about the dressing room and in fact is was that reason that MM had to go.

As I say, its all water under the bridge, but I do wish the management of the club had been honest with the fans ( irrespective of behind closed doors agreements) and DK had not blamed the supporters for his sacking, but instead informed us that the players and staff at BHA had obviously lost faith in him.

I am sure it would have made no difference, but now, Andy naylor and the like have their teeth into this story and I am sure it will run and run.

I understand the Argus asked for a statement, which DK withdrew at the last moment.

Fair comment, you're not the only person who thinks that Dick Knight hasn't been totally honest with us.

 

[Wozza]

*shrugs* There's bound to be stuff that goes on which we don't hear about - or don't know the full story of.

 

[Dave the OAP]

I am not saying he has been dishonest, rather economical with the truth, however what I am more concerned about is that he used the "comminuty club line" to hang the sacking on us as fans.

 

[n1 gull]

I thought there was a law that bans anyone questioning DK. I think Dave should be banned from NSC immediately.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

It is a difficult time for all involved.

A lot of people were up in arms with the dealings through the press (Leon Knight) and it appears we didn't even hear half of it.

Perhaps DK was trying to soften the blow? It is important not to cause any further unrest when you are languishing near the bottom of League One and your manager has to be sacked. He has now given us the full story, I don't see the problem.

I think we are a lot more open than most clubs, but we do not need total transparency of all the proceedings!

 

[Martlet]

be fair - DK's running a business of not massive size, but one that a comparatively huge number of people are interested in on a daily basis.

There's always going to be some things that have to stay within the confines of the boardroom in any business.

When he said he'd be honest with us, to me this means the key areas that we couldn't take for granted with the previous regime....
not selling us down the river for personal gain
not lying about groundshare arrangements
not removing key articles in the club's constitution without telling anyone

Leaving some things related to key employee relationships confidential isn't "not being honest". To openly say that McGhee had lost the dressing room would have:
a) hindered his future prospects
b) made achieving an amicable financial settlement more difficult (and thus damaged the club's financial standing
c) made appointing a new manager in the future more difficult - all candidates would see DK as shafting McGhee, and they do stick together.

 

[Ernest]

Maybe Dean Wilkins got the job as absolutely no one else wanted it, what happened to the 4 or 5 top class applicants ?

Dick Knight wouldn't know the truth if it come up and hit him in the face.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Nothing unusual in anything there if you consider DK and MM's actual relationship in business terms.

The idea that the fans got MM the sack because we are a community club was laughable at the time and is even more laughable now but anyone with half a brain should have been able to read between the lines. The idea that someone who has made millions in business decided to sack an employee because a few people left a dire game early, or even worse, 'because NSC said so' is hilarious.

Similarly having made the decision there was bound to be some sort of non disclosure agreement - there is in very many companies especially when there's a chance that the employee leaving could go straight to a rival and spill all about previous employers.

In agreeing not to disclose the real reasons DK was actually trying to help MM get a new job sharp-ish. As soon as McGhee broke his end of the deal Knight was free to break his.

It really is as simple as that.

 

[bailey]

be fair - DK's running a business of not massive size, but one that a comparatively huge number of people are interested in on a daily basis.

There's always going to be some things that have to stay within the confines of the boardroom in any business.

When he said he'd be honest with us, to me this means the key areas that we couldn't take for granted with the previous regime....
not selling us down the river for personal gain
not lying about groundshare arrangements
not removing key articles in the club's constitution without telling anyone

Leaving some things related to key employee relationships confidential isn't "not being honest". To openly say that McGhee had lost the dressing room would have:
a) hindered his future prospects
b) made achieving an amicable financial settlement more difficult (and thus damaged the club's financial standing
c) made appointing a new manager in the future more difficult - all candidates would see DK as shafting McGhee, and they do stick together.

I understand what DTG's getting at but I agree with Martlet's points. For me it comes down to do I trust DK to act in the best interests of the club and us the supporters. Yes, I do.

 

[Franks Wild Years]

I am not saying he has been dishonest, rather economical with the truth, however what I am more concerned about is that he used the "comminuty club line" to hang the sacking on us as fans.

I always thought that the 'fans demanded it" line was a bit weak. Although we are suposed to be a community club it is still the board that runs the club and any sacking of a manager should happen as a result of the lack of confidence by the board and chairman.
We(NSC) may or may not be a thermometer of opinion but to think that we influence the boards decisions is a bit scary.
Having said that I still think that DK is one of the best things thats happened to this club.

 

[ROSM]

I'm sure someone will accuuse me of being an acolyte - but Dave you have answered your own question.

You are trying to portray that some misleading went on. However, in my recollection I don't believe it was said that the fans were THE reason, but rather that they were A significant reason. In the scenario you have painted, two parties had a agreement over a statement (DK said that MM accepted he had lost the fans but didn't accept he had lost the team) so a statement was issued that centred on a point they both agreed on. That is not a lie! The fact that additional reasons come forth also does not make it a lie.

You say 'within reason' well I'm sure that any severance agreement is likely to be that reason.

In any business the customers and other employees will never know the full reasons for a dismissal and that is the case here. I'm sure in your working life you will have seen this in lower profile companies than the Albion.

At the end of the day it is DKs opinion and he has stated it as his opinion and explained that MM didn't accept it. From the scenario given, i would say that one party breaking an agreement has freed the shackles on another and so he is now free to give his opinion (and the fact he gave it in context should not have been missed).

Also, let's not forget that MM accepted he had lost the fans so for the two main parties in this there is no dispute. Just amongst fans it seems!

 

[Man of Harveys]

I was never 100% sure of Uncle Buck's view that Naylor was happy to sing McGhee's song for him (although I've not been reading the Argus much recently, to be honest) but I thought today's back page - on the strength of which I bought the paper - was a real something out of nothing story which I see has already been gleefully picked up on by the resident SCR DK bashers for the thousandth time again. Oh dear.

 

[Seagullible]

bit of a non story if you ask me and bringing it up is just gonna cause more unrest when we really need to be pulling together. Dave, you seem to be learning a few bad habits off Mr Hart imho of playing devils advocate when you don't really need to

 

[Uncle Buck]

I was never 100% sure of Uncle Buck's view that Naylor was happy to sing McGhee's song for him (although I've not been reading the Argus much recently, to be honest) but I thought today's back page - on the strength of which I bought the paper - was a real something out of nothing story which I see has already been gleefully picked up on by the resident SCR DK bashers for the thousandth time again. Oh dear.

So I was right?

If so I need a lie down....

 

[Norman Baker suck my lozenge]

How does that lazy f***ing hack Nailgun keep His job?,this story was on the radio on Saturday,and now the halfwit breaks it as an "Arsegust exclusive"the following Friday,slow little man.

 

[Man of Harveys]

So I was right?

If so I need a lie down....

Hey, you're always right. Even when you're wrong.

 

[Tooting Gull]

I don't think this admission on Knight's behalf is particularly good news for all those who slagged off anyone willing to speculate on what might actually be going on.

The notion that McGhee had lost the dressing room was widely aired on here, and ridiculed by many (you know who you are) as well as Knight. It now proves to have been totally accurate, and the 'fans' stuff, and what McGhee looked like on the pitch after Bristol were at best misleading and at worst straight lies.

Of course in any business some things don't need airing in public, but many called it correctly on here and were howled down in the usual fashion.

If anything it proves there is a place for reasonably informed speculation, as you do not get all the facts from the board, even this one. In fact, they have a bit of a spin problem, and have had for a while now.

 

[Uncle Buck]

How does that lazy f***ing hack Nailgun keep His job?,this story was on the radio on Saturday,and now the halfwit breaks it as an "Arsegust exclusive"the following Friday,slow little man.

Got lost in a passage?

 

[Trigger]

Got lost in a passage?

A brown one?