Essex Vale

Like TJH I am also shocked, to run up that amount of debt for the outcome we have delivered is not good. I must exam the accounts in much more detail to get my head round it all

Yes that is a fair point. However, in theory they were all good signings. Rocastle had a good pedigree and reputation, as did Edwards. Tudor had ripped us apart at Orient and Miller also had a good pedigree. None of them worked out agreed, but at the time they were signed we were all pretty content. Perhaps they did not work out so well because Martin was not the ideal manager to get the best out of them. We need to look at all of the Tinman's signings. Other signings for us that were not so bad, Dean Smith, Nathan Lowndes, Robin Hulbert. Mark MacGregor, Signings who were more than ok, Marc Richards, Leon Constantine, Akpo Sodje, Luke Rodgers, Danny Whittaker, Danny Sonner, Tony Dinning, Paul Harsley.. Any of those strikers or midfielders would walk into our team right now. All of that lot cost us in the order of £50,000 in total. To sum up someone's success at recruitment you need to look at the big picture not just one small period in the calendar. The great John Rudge signed some awful players, signings is a percentage game. Overall, Martin Foyle's record is decent. So with respect, I was around in 2007, and have been around watching Vale for over 60 years and my memory is pretty damn good.

For me Martin Foyle would be a good head of recruitment and to be Carol's football advisor in the Boardroom. Whoever is appointed needs to get on well with Darren Moore, be good at PR with supporters, offer good advice, but keep a low profile in team matters. The perfect template was John Rudge in his time with that other team in partnership with Tony Pulis. Rudgie is ideal where he is now so that role is not for him now. There may be others, but so far Tin is the man for me. Leon Legge has no experience beyond playing. Neil Warnock, great manager, but not an advisor. Nothing will happen until the season is over I feel.

I found that statement to be bland and sterile. It was full of high level good intent "we are all in this together" mentality. The author is a club employee, with input from the owners. I fear this is another attempt to stem the tide of supporter discontent that has misjudged the mood. The DOF has sacked two managers based on performance. However, his record is pretty dreadful but he seems to be above and beyond criticism. There are a number of specific issues I would like to raise with the owners and to receive answers. I would then wish to publish my own account of such a meeting. This will not happen we know. I remain supportive of the Shanahan family. I am not wholly disheartened about our impending relegation to Division 2, we've been there before many times. I am disheartened by the sterile corporate "<ovf censored>" that is presented to show that all is well. I am even more disappointed about the poor decision making of the DOF and the apparent shabby treatment of some players who served us well.

It is much simpler than that. Danny Cowley turned down Bradford City for family reasons. He has had his share of travelling up and down motorways for work. He is an Essex boy, his family are all from Essex and Colchester perfectly suits both he and his brother for family reasons. They can both live at home and drive in to work each day. Just like Connor Hall chose to do. Their training facility is top class much higher standard than many others at that level. The stadium, although derided by people who remember Layer Road fondly, has great views all round. The hospitality boxes are top class and the car parking, with park and ride, are really well situated just off the A12. I think the challenge appeals to him. Colchester really have potential, Phil Parkinson took them up to the Championship and I think the project also appeals to the Cowley brothers. I am sure Colchester had to pay a decent wedge but less that he could have earned elsewhere.

Of the three sackings today, Munoz and Hughes are no surprise at all. The only surprise to me is why either of them were appointed in the first place. Neil Harris is a surprise, I suspect there is a big difference of opinion behind the scenes between manager and owner. Ah well, Neil Warnock has plenty of options now.

Yes that could be a good fit for him

I think that the Scot Parker decision is not quite so outrageous as others think. If you read the statement made by Bournemouth's owners, they make it clear that they need their manager to help them progress in a sustainable way. Mr Parker, in the wake of the 9-0 defeat said on the BBC that his team are "under equipped" for the Premier League. My interpretation of the owner's statement is that they are not at all happy with Mr Parker publicly criticising his players and the owners (which his comments suggest he was doing). Managers need to realise that they cannot demand endless big money signings to feed their mistakes then keep asking for more. Bournemouth wish to be sustainable, quite right so. I think that Mr Neill at Sunderland was trying to force the hand of the owners to open the cheque book. He has found the right partner at Stoke, who happily throw huge sums of money at their distinctly average football team and feed the egos of their managers who splash out big transfer fees. The BBC did a good opinion piece of Mr Parker's sacking, I think they make so important points about what has gone on here.