Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 9 November 2009

9 November 2009

Mardy Diary writes:Do you remember when we used to be half decent? When we won promotion, and when we held our own against bigger and richer clubs in the second tier? I remember it. I also remember that even then, even when we were actually doing alright, there was still the occasional chant of 'sack the board'. I know it's a silly chant really - yes, you can't sack a board. But regardless of that, it was still a chant that showed disgruntlement with the board at GTFC. What suprises me is that Fenty seems to have avoided this wrath. I heard a grown man scream obscenities about Paul Groves' mother when we struggled in the second division (yes, the second division!). Yet there has been barely a murmur (at matches anyway) when it comes to Fenty. Why is he absolved from all blame in this sorry mess? Why is he seemingly above criticism - untouchable?

Ok - I'll take a step back here. Yes - I can hear your argument and I've read it on many a messageboard. Fenty's money has saved this club from bankruptcy, they say. It's a fair argument - and I'm not going to sit here and argue about Fenty's commitment both in his heart and his wallet. There is no denying it. But there is something that is a bit of a niggle in the back of my mind. There's that thought that these are just loans - of course they're loans - who'd be stupid enough to just throw money at the club. No, they're loans and they're secured against the club, and they appear to be interest free. That's all entirely sensible. But they're still loans, and can still be called in. If a new majority shareholder was to come in, I would be expecting Fenty to ask for repayment of his loans. Which is well within his rights, and there is no problem with that. Except that, that is what would actually happen. There is no escaping from it. And it's easy, isn't it, for me to sit here and carp? I've not put my money in to the club to keep it afloat. Well - if I wanted to be spiteful about this - I could argue that, yes, I have. In the form of season tickets, merchandise, shares etc etc. It doesn't match up to the money Fenty has put in - but the money I've put in is non-returnable (well, I don't think the shares will give much of a return). That is petty though, not worthy of argument.

Of course if Fenty did walk away who would step in and take over the club? There is no-one, you say. Well we don't know, or at least I don't know. What I do know is that when other clubs throughout the league find themselves struggling and up against the wall, they always seem to find a buyer (for better or for worse - it's always the risk). So I don't see how it would be any different for us. I don't know who is out there, who is potentially interested, who may step forward when the need arises. I don't know. I cannot say one way or the other whether there is anybody out there who could step in. We. Don't. Know. That is the only fact.

So am I suggesting that Fenty walks away? No, not at all. For all his big mistakes and minor gaffes he is clearly a fan of the club, and he clearly wants the club to succeed. This is very obvious. His heart is very much in the right place. However, you cannot deny the fact that under his stewardship the club has plummetted. Not stuttered. Plummetted. On and off the field. It is not working.

But, it's Fenty's money (sort of), so he calls the shots. Yes - but in a normal organisation, although the board have ultimate decision-making authority, they do not involve themselves in the day to day management of the organisation and its communications. The club has a Chief Executive - Ian Fleming - what does he do? What he should be doing is running and organising this club from top to bottom, making sure it works as an organisation, not just as a team. If he is doing this then he's doing a terrible job of it, if he isn't doing this then Fenty needs to take a back seat and allow this executive to manage. If he can. This club isn't desperate just for a first team manager, this club is desperate for decent management throughout the organisation. If there is no-one at the club capable of dragging it in to the new century, then someone should be found who can perform that role. And I don't mean building a new stadium with bloody conferencing bloody facilities. I mean just running the bloody club properly.

Mike Newell was right about one thing - there is a negativity that floods through the entire club, and that is the legacy of poor management from top to bottom. Low wage staff who have experienced job cuts and wage slashes while disinterested, over-paid footballers waltz around them are not going to go the extra mile for you. You need your staff with you - not just the players - everybody. There is a pandemic of misery throughout the club - you feel it in all contact with the club. It oozes from the walls. The club is limping along and no-one wants to give it a helping hand - why should they? It is a dying beast - bring in a vet or put it out of its misery.

I know this is all over the place - about as well thought out as a Fenty communication - but then there is nothing at stake from my bleatings. And this is how I feel right now. Saturday was enough. It was enough for everybody I expect. Woods talks of taking responsibility - well that must start at the top. The very top.