An Open Letter from Carol

[Doha]

3 minutes ago, Bimbleabout said:

None of the points raised are actually about why supporters are fed up?

Because acknowledging those points and why fans are really worried pulls the rug out under the "DF is great" narrative.

I'm actually more worried now after reading this open letter than before. Class.

[Stamfordvale]

She's daring us to cross the Rubicon, this is now getting to a loyallty decision, some supporters or him, a dangerous hand to play methinks.

[mikey]

Totally ignores the likelihood that we are getting relegated after just 2 seasons from a very weak league and the football and entertainment are absolutely awful. 

 

[Wrex]

19 minutes ago, Brighton Valiant said:

Will this work in bringing the fans back together?

No.

 

But fair enough for Carol fronting up with a defence of her position, even if it is one that most fans disagree with.

Flitcroft can point to the achievements that Carol has detailed and although things have very much not gone to plan this season, I concede that it is not an easy job to run a football club, particularly one with limited resources. I can only hope that whatever division we are in next season ( I strongly suspect League Two) that a quality manager is given quality players to make us competitive for mid-table / promotion (delete as appropriate).

[valerule4ever]

Seems to be Carol’s vote of confidence in Flitcroft, as mentioned it tells us mostly what we already know and most aren’t disputing some of the off field things, it is the on field failures of the first team that aren’t mentioned in that letter including-

A) Poor Recruitment of permanent signings since promotion

B) Poor tactics/ style of play / philosophy and not having the players to fit our supposed style

C) Poor management appointment of Andy Crosby and then the timing of Andy Crosby sacking

D) Lack of communication from our DOF as to the reasons for some of the above

 

It strikes me at the moment there is a big difference as to what the owners/dof want as to what the supporters want and it strikes me that Carol is backing her own decision to appoint Flitcroft, time will tell if she is making the right call!

[Smallthorne clampet]

 All the good work will count for nothing because we have not invested in the first team . She talks about selling players , I suggest she buys some . Its too late now , whoever comes in will not have a chance of saving us from certain relegation .   

[Alan Baker]

3 minutes ago, Stamfordvale said:

She's daring us to cross the Rubicon, this is now getting to a loyallty decision, some supporters or him, a dangerous hand to play methinks.

Carol trying to equate DF to Smurf is ludicrous and deeply offensive. To Smurf.

We all love what Carol has done for us but blind loyalty to DF is TBH quite sad and this lecture is not likely to convince anyone about the joke that is our DOF

[Brian Johnson]

At least she knows, without any doubt, the heat is on Flickers

Roll on Saturday

[valiant_593]

Honestly that’s really pissed me off. Let’s just keep praising DF he’s done brilliant and there are 0 negatives from his tenure. Absolute horse <ovf censored>. Sorry Carol but this a becoming a <ovf censored> circus. 
 

I love how league 1 survival is bottom of the priorities. 

[Essex Boy]

An excellent letter from Carol & she has my support & the vast majority of fans. However, I would be extremely surprised if any new manager can keep us up with the current squad. So, what is she going to say when we are relegated & struggling in League 2.

[Alan Baker]

Here you go. This is an AI rewrite of part of lecture. Enjoy:

In a plot twist worthy of a daytime soap, Dave bid adieu to the family empire, choosing instead to pledge his allegiance to the grand realm of Port Vale. For three roller-coaster years, he's been the knight in shining armor, always ready to joust at fan forums, podcasts, or press interviews, armed with nothing but his wit and willingness to tackle any query thrown his way.

Enter me, the Chair with a flair for drama and a knack for not always getting it right (except when it comes to hiring Dave Flitcroft, that was a stroke of genius). Human, flawed, and perpetually striving to not mess things up for Port Vale, I've found in Dave a fellow traveler on the road to redemption and football glory. His move was the secret sauce to making my dreams for the club a reality, elevating our status in the footballing world faster than you can say "goal!" In short, Dave's not just a Director of Football; he's the wizard behind the curtain, transforming Port Vale into the envy of the league.

[valerule4ever]

Approx 1000-2000 stay away fans last night and probably 50% of those that did attend last night seem to have a different opinion re our DOF and what’s currently on offer

[Warren]

That's an excellent letter. I do get the arguments made. 

But there is an elephant in the room. With the midfield out there last night we look very likely to be relegated. With the formation we are playing utilising wing backs who are ineffective, we will get relegated. I'm unclear how a new manager can change that. 

But, I am prepared to accept it is over the top of me to blame Flitcroft personally. Even if we do go down, I think we could sort ourselves out and mount a promotion challenge. 

Anyway, I will come along on Saturday and hope we can improve. I thought Orient were super well coached last night. They had it all trained into the players. We seemed to have no patterns of play and therefore we kept either giving the ball away or hoofing it from Ripley. Crosby was clearly a mistake partly at the heart of this. But we need a walk on water manager to sort it out fast enough to stay up. 

[JoeB2]

Carol is a woman with good intentions, and to this point has been a net positive for PVFC. Communication is welcomed.

However, this simply confirms my fears. A one-sided defense of a man not doing a very good job, whilst quelling and patronising dissent from the masses - an implication that we're too thick to see the 'real' Flickers.:

Concerns that have been reinforced by this:

• Carol is far too close to Flickers - she isn't seeing what's happening as she's very good mates with him, and reliant on him for football decision-making
• There is a resentment from hierarchy to fanbase - criticism is being suppressed in a way that suggests we're not quite clever enough to see all the brilliant work 'Flickers' is doing. Silencing of fan views is not good. We'll criticise what we want, and a lot of fans (though not all) are thinking the same. Acknowledgement that January and the appointment of Crosby were really bad, to at least validate our concerns, is much better than saying 'you're just a bit too dim to understand this;'
• An equation of justified criticism with abuse - dangerous precedent to shut down any justifiable criticism.
• One-sided perspective - they're now focusing on thinking that Flickers is good, without actually analysing if he is. Working backwards logically. 

I think the fundamental issue I have is that justified, reasoned criticism  playing a part in Carol Shanahan becoming chairwoman of Port Vale - I remember her saying to me and other members of B&G that we must always hold her to account.

I have never, and will never, be personally abusive to her or Flitcroft. I will, however, as a fan of PVFC who wants what is best for PVFC, offer criticism if I feel it's warranted. 

[Fosse69]

7 minutes ago, Brighton Valiant said:

The success of a football club is ultimately determined by what happens on the pitch.  Everything else, not matter how admiral it is  is secondary.

But success depends how the club is funded and run.  Gate money and FA funding only takes you so far. It is the other money that makes the difference and how wisely it is spent.  Player sales can make a big difference in L1 either from the a First team or an Academy.  Currently it appears we do not have sufficient funds for adequate first team players.