An Open Letter from Carol

[NW9Valiant]

As a technical director helping around the club, Flitcroft has probably done himself OK. If there are off the field successes to be grateful for from him, then credit to him. But, as a DOF, which is his core responsibility over recruitment & our style of play, not so much. Though I will concede that we don't know the ins and out of budget, and whether within those restrictions and circumstances whether he's done well out of that. But that is by the by, because we've shown little pragmatism and opted for the cheap way out.

Carol seems to suggest that he has done a good job on all counts; which is surprising when there's the admittance that he is there because of 'values' and because the owners don't actually have much of a clue with running a club. That competency from the owners is fine, and to be expected, to need to rely on somebody with more of a football background how to deliver. No one person can do all the tricks of the trade. 

For me the key problem with Flickers is the recruitment and tactical approach, which we can lay at his door firmly considering this need for possession football, 3 at the back nonsense that we don't have much business trying to succeed in with one of the lowest budgets in the league. We need to be more pragmatic, and work to those goals, but we seem to be the definition of insanity at the moment. If Flitcroft can't see the wood for the trees then we should be bringing in somebody else. Carol has been in charge long enough to have made other connections in football and get more character references on suitors, and Flickers himself. 

There are mistakes in certain areas of investment for sure, but there's no admitting that. In fact, Carol says she has made mistakes but won't say what. I find that a bit strange. I'm very disappointed at the inference that Carol wants Vale to be the Crewe Alex of the area or something, satisfied with knowing our place as long as players are sold. Or if the thinking is we could emulate Brentford, we are going about it in an odd way, definitely the wrong direction.

I'm not attacking Carol at all by any means. But our approach is certainly wrong at the moment and we are in danger of going down. I just plead that which ever manager comes in, let them be pragmatic about our setup so we can stay in this division. We can worry about our styles of play, recruitment, club vision later. This is a results business. Sticking by principles and vision in the face of our current rut is only going to end one way, I'm afraid. And dwindling attendances pretty much show it.

It would be a good olive branch to reassess the footballing structure with a fresh pair of eyes in the summer, and that does mean no Flitcroft. Surely there are others out there with values and a vision how to realise our goals with a realistic frame of mind. If you have ambition to be 'Championship ready', you need to be ruthless. Being nice because 'it's the right thing to do' makes us stagnant at best, regressive at our worst. 

Really hoping the managerial appointment comes soon and not beholden to DF in any way whatsoever. Too much is at stake to carry on like we have been.

[Rory]

If Carol isn't looking to sell and get out of Port Vale I think she is absolutely puddled. Life is short, get out and enjoy the days you're blessed with on this earth instead of dealing with the nonsense.

[Vale1995]

3 minutes ago, darren1810 said:

Only just woke up and digested the letter.

Actually says very little other than boo hoo don't be so nasty to Dave.

Nothing about horrific transfer windows or lack of foresight that we could end up like this. Many foresaw it in October and November. 

The cup run bit of course is factually true. Bar Boro our highest ranked opponent were Fleetwood. Whilst all teams had to be beaten we didn't exactly do a Maidstone. Bit of a smokescreen that bit.

Not really sure what it's actually saying that's relevant as to why we are in this situation. So preventable. 

Its a load of crap mate. I actually found it a bit condescending . Basically was we didnt have to buy this club we saved it we do work in the community . Daves brilliant. Leave him alone

[smada]

Gold and Black till Flitcroft gets the sack????

[TJHValiant]

4 minutes ago, Warren said:

Integrity.

The letter has very little about it in regards to actual football. Which is very telling on where her priorities lie. She should have made it clear that the current shambles is unacceptable and nobody is beyond criticism. However it is clear that Flitcroft is and she doesn’t think 4th bottom in league 1 is too bad. 

[Vtid]

3 minutes ago, NW9Valiant said:

As a technical director helping around the club, Flitcroft has probably done himself OK. If there are off the field successes to be grateful for from him, then credit to him. But, as a DOF, which is his core responsibility over recruitment & our style of play, not so much. Though I will concede that we don't know the ins and out of budget, and whether within those restrictions and circumstances whether he's done well out of that. But that is by the by, because we've shown little pragmatism and opted for the cheap way out.

Carol seems to suggest that he has done a good job on all counts; which is surprising when there's the admittance that he is there because of 'values' and because the owners don't actually have much of a clue with running a club. That competency from the owners is fine, and to be expected, to need to rely on somebody with more of a football background how to deliver. No one person can do all the tricks of the trade. 

For me the key problem with Flickers is the recruitment and tactical approach, which we can lay at his door firmly considering this need for possession football, 3 at the back nonsense that we don't have much business trying to succeed in with one of the lowest budgets in the league. We need to be more pragmatic, and work to those goals, but we seem to be the definition of insanity at the moment. If Flitcroft can't see the wood for the trees then we should be bringing in somebody else. Carol has been in charge long enough to have made other connections in football and get more character references on suitors, and Flickers himself. 

There are mistakes in certain areas of investment for sure, but there's no admitting that. In fact, Carol says she has made mistakes but won't say what. I find that a bit strange. I'm very disappointed at the inference that Carol wants Vale to be the Crewe Alex of the area or something, satisfied with knowing our place as long as players are sold. Or if the thinking is we could emulate Brentford, we are going about it in an odd way, definitely the wrong direction.

I'm not attacking Carol at all by any means. But our approach is certainly wrong at the moment and we are in danger of going down. I just plead that which ever manager comes in, let them be pragmatic about our setup so we can stay in this division. We can worry about our styles of play, recruitment, club vision later. This is a results business. Sticking by principles and vision in the face of our current rut is only going to end one way, I'm afraid. And dwindling attendances pretty much show it.

It would be a good olive branch to reassess the footballing structure with a fresh pair of eyes in the summer, and that does mean no Flitcroft. Surely there are others out there with values and a vision how to realise our goals with a realistic frame of mind. If you have ambition to be 'Championship ready', you need to be ruthless. Being nice because 'it's the right thing to do' makes us stagnant at best, regressive at our worst. 

Really hoping the managerial appointment comes soon and not beholden to DF in any way whatsoever. Too much is at stake to carry on like we have been.

The worrying part being she admits she’s made mistakes but Flitcroft isn’t one of them! Scary to think what mistakes she has actually made 

[Vtid]

1 minute ago, smada said:

Gold and Black till Flitcroft gets the sack????

💯 needs to be! 

[pvfc1994]

This statement may come to bite her on the backside when we are playing in League Two next season (and the foreseeable future) with attendances of around 4000. It's a very one sided statement, taking absolutely no responsibility for the failings so far this season. Yes, there has been improvements behind the scenes and to the image of the club and the community, and no fan is denying that (we get bombarded with it enough) but there's also monumental failings on the first team side which are being swept under the carpet. She's alienating and so out of touch with the every day working class fan, treating us as if we are thick and it comes across as something of a bit of a vanity project for her now. All this hospitality stuff, the Robbie Suite, Championship ready facilities, etc, while the every day fans are having to use portaloos on a match day. Nobody is denying there's been improvements in some areas but that doesn't negate all the other negatives. The main gripe being the squad just isn't good enough to survive in this league and it's been put together by David Flitcroft. 

Vale fans pay decent money to watch a crap team put together by our DofF so they have every right to vent their frustration at David 'everything that touches a ball' Flitcroft. So to say basically shut up, sit down and Flitcroft is doing an amazing job for hitting some of the targets he's paid very handsomely to hit, while completely ignoring why fans are grumbling in the first place doesn't sit too well with me.

Why would any decent manager work under David Flitcroft? They won't. 

Where is the accountability? From anybody? They're brushing over some monumental failings. 

A) Not interviewing a single experienced manager for the role at the start of the season in the first place, when the vast majority of supporters could already see this coming. 

B) Not learning our lesson from last seasons January transfer window by signing a single striker capable of scoring goals. That's three seperare transfer windows we haven't and then having to resort to re-signing an injured striker we released a few months before.

Attendances are dropping at a rapid rate, and the atmosphere is shocking on a match day. There's a complete and total feeling of apathy engulfing the club. 

Can't wait to see Crawley and Harrogate play on our championship standard pitch though. 

[Vale1995]

I personally would of started the statement with something like. 
 

i can completely understand everyones anger about what is going on with the footballing side of things and it hasnt been acceptable we are going to do everything we can to put this right. 
 

instead we got a look at all the amazing things were doing thats got nothing to do with all your frustrations ill just completely ignore that.

[Vtid]

Get rid or sell up. Fukin fuming 😡 

[Vale1995]

Can we all put out a open reply to carols open letter 

[pvfc1994]

I also love how survival in League One was literally the last thing on the list. Openly willing to sacrifice our League One status and most likely a huge loss in potential revenue in season ticket sales etc for the sake of a bloke who hoodwinked his way into a job that was not even advertised.

[Emile]

No money from me until he is gone 

[Nippy Naylor]

1 hour ago, onestepatatime said:

I feel as though fans have been hauled infront of the Headmistress and given a lecture on who is in charge. Condescending to say the least. However it is now abundantly clear who Carol believes is in charge  and that's DF.  Up to fans now  to decide if she's correct. I fear for my Club now.

The statement is basically saying

can we stop criticizing Flitcroft

The guys failed with recruitment

across the board , us fans have every 

right to criticise the direction 

Our club seems to be sinking at the moment, Carol seems to be the only one who can't see that Flitcroft is a Fraud 

[Vtid]

2 minutes ago, Emile said:

No money from me until he is gone 

That’s the spirit 👊🏻