Carol Shanahan.

[ELDERBEZZA]

2 absolutely brilliant posts from Spunk Trumpet tonight, telling how it is .Well done ,as I rarely comment on here nowadays.Loyal long serving Vale fan with a lot of passion ,something lacking in that shower this afternoon.One of the worst teams that I've watched since 1958!!Take that one Carol!!

[janabbotts]

John Rudge is the President of Port Vale a man of immense integrity , someone you would always be pleased to associate with your club and serve it so well with great humility

[Guitar Ray]

37 minutes ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

I think this is a great post.

I would like to state that let’s not get this topic turned into a slagging off of Carol. It’s more of massive mistakes have been made and the club has become a circus. And now is the time to address it and make sure, under her leadership, we are never in this situation again.

If we lose on Tuesday we are down. Simple as that. 
Her negligence and stubbornness cannot ever happen again and she clearly needs help from good people. And not one or two but like TJH says, a group of people. A proper board. To make decisions. 
Not some dippy bloke over in the states who wants to put on a shirt when it suits him and she falls in love with him.

It’s time this club started acted professionally again from the very very top. Where it clearly hasn’t for a good 18 months.

And one last point. 
Feed the area. 
Be a good community club. 
Be nice. 
As fans we are all for that!

But….. When we are 22nd in league 1. Hadn’t won a game in god knows how long. And you’re posting a picture of Carol and David smiling because they’ve walked a mile and raised 559 quid, or whatever, for some charity, expect the backlash from the average fan who don’t see this as an IT business. They want heart, passion, commitment and quality on the pitch. 
All of which were lacking today. And the majority of the season. 
 

Ultimately Carol, Port Vale Football Club fans couldn’t care less about anything other than two things.

1. To have a team that represents us and gives their all week in week out.

2. A manager and owner who will have our back and tell us the way forward and how our club is going to progress.

As of the 13th of April 2024, we don’t have either. And we are a long long way from getting any of those 2 things in my opinion.

In fairness we are more professional, unfortunately that also costs more money.  We have various directors/officers/managers/heads of department/call them what you will, so in theory it isn’t just Carol making decisions it’s a group.

The bottom line is that on the football side our DoF wasn’t up to the job and our owner was too loyal, or as you call it stubborn.

The question is do we stay with the DoF model, so common nowadays, or is there another way to get some football business expertise involved?  Failing that it’s back to the owners to make all the footballing decisions.

Edited April 13 by Guitar Ray
Typo

[Spunk Trumpet]

Just now, Guitar Ray said:

In fairness we are more professional, unfortunately that also costs more money.  We have various directors/officers/managers/heads of department/call them what you will, so in theory it isn’t just Carol making decisions it’s a group.

The bottom line is that the on the football side our DoF wasn’t up to the job and our owner was too loyal, or as you call it stubborn.

The question is do we stay with the DoF model, so common nowadays, or is there another way to get some football business expertise involved?  Failing that it’s back to the owners to make all the footballing decisions.

If that’s the case then the people she has employed should all be up for the sack as they are not doing their jobs.

Does being more professional involve spunking 10 million quid in 5 years? I beg to differ on that one.

Port Vale Football Club cannot lose money like that unless there is another serious buyer coming in or it was a gamble to get to the championship.

League 2 awaits. 
Our structure is way beyond league 2 BUT like we’ve seen with Bradford, you can rot and rot and rot in that league. 
It’s a hard road back.

 

[Guitar Ray]

6 minutes ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

Held accountable. 
Put things right. 
Pretty much the same thing.

At the end of the season I would like to see the transparency back when she first took over and a clear message to supporters as to where we are going as a football club.

She got so many things right and she was adored and rightly so.

Shes now got so many things wrong and the buck stops with her and only she can sort this absolute shambles out. That she has ultimately caused.

You keep saying she’s got so many things wrong.  It’s nonsense.  She got the fundamental wrong, but that was down to one man whose job it was to manage anything that touched a football.  If player recruitment had been better we wouldn’t be having this discussion because the rest of it is either a result of that or relatively minor.

[Guitar Ray]

3 minutes ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

If that’s the case then the people she has employed should all be up for the sack as they are not doing their jobs.

Does being more professional involve spunking 10 million quid in 5 years? I beg to differ on that one.

Port Vale Football Club cannot lose money like that unless there is another serious buyer coming in or it was a gamble to get to the championship.

League 2 awaits. 
Our structure is way beyond league 2 BUT like we’ve seen with Bradford, you can rot and rot and rot in that league. 
It’s a hard road back.

 

They’re employed to do a job, so yes.  The fact remains though that it’s the first team that’s truly failed so let’s hold those guys accountable.  We’ve already done that.  Sacked several managers and finally the DoF.  The fact is that recruiting these people is a complete lottery.  One look at those clowns next to the incinerator will tell you all you need to know on that score.  Whoever comes in can be good or bad, flip a coin.  Ultimately though, whoever is in the respective roles, if we get the player recruitment and development right it’ll all fall into place.  That’s all Carol needs to focus on.  Sounds easy doesn’t it.

[Spunk Trumpet]

3 minutes ago, Guitar Ray said:

You keep saying she’s got so many things wrong.  It’s nonsense.  She got the fundamental wrong, but that was down to one man whose job it was to manage anything that touched a football.  If player recruitment had been better we wouldn’t be having this discussion because the rest of it is either a result of that or relatively minor.

I disagree.

First thing wrong was giving Flitcroft a window last August. Should never have happened.

Second thing wrong was giving Flitcroft this January. Should never have happened.

Third thing wrong was kicking the fans in the teeth with her “I know better than you” open letter and actually backing the man who she employed and we could all see was ruining the club!!

Fourth thing wrong. You don’t openly address the Valiant suite in stating we have phenomenal players because the wags told her!

Fifth thing wrong. And I’m going back a bit here, but her appointment of Andy Crosby. Yes. Flitcroft was in charge. But she came out and said she didn’t even interview anyone!! Madness!

Sixth thing wrong. Letting the regular stalwarts in the paddock, pee on their own feet all season.

Seventh thing wrong. Getting rid of good men in Speedie and Colin Garlick. The soul of this club. And look at the fruits of her Labour now!

I could go on.

And don’t get me wrong. There are many good things that she has done. But like anything in life, if you mess up, you need to be held accountable. And this is on her head.

Do I think she’s a crook? No. 
Do I think she means well? Yes. 
Do I think I’m these last 18 months she’s made catastrophic mistakes, became fame oriented and taken her eye off the ball? Absolutely.

Its not hatred. 
It isn’t another Smurthwaite. 
But <ovf censored> me has she messed up big time.

[Spunk Trumpet]

4 minutes ago, Guitar Ray said:

They’re employed to do a job, so yes.  The fact remains though that it’s the first team that’s truly failed so let’s hold those guys accountable.  We’ve already done that.  Sacked several managers and finally the DoF.  The fact is that recruiting these people is a complete lottery.  One look at those clowns next to the incinerator will tell you all you need to know on that score.  Whoever comes in can be good or bad, flip a coin.  Ultimately though, whoever is in the respective roles, if we get the player recruitment and development right it’ll all fall into place.  That’s all Carol needs to focus on.  Sounds easy doesn’t it.

The players are garbage. 
Worst I’ve seen in 40 years.

The DOF did that.

Four managers in her leadership.

Shes at the top of the tree of this football club. 
It’s her business. 
She takes the brunt of the blame.

She employed Flitcroft. 
She wouldn’t listen to fans. 
She then divided fans with her open letter. 
She is ultimately to blame when you get a judge and jury. 
 

Her decisions have put our club where we are now. Staring down the barrel. 
 

Im happy to be proved wrong. 
What I won’t accept is that “she saved the club”. That ship has sailed. Although should never be forgotten.

Hard questions need to be asked now though because our club on the pitch is in a shambolic state. We’re relying on 16 and 17 year olds for <ovf censored> sake! That’s madness in any league!

Her decisions. As the owner. Have been nothing short of catastrophic in an 18 month period.

She calls herself a Vale fan. That’s crap. 
The likes of me and you and others will always be here. 
If she were to sell up tomorrow she wouldn’t go another game.

Dont believe the front. 

[Guitar Ray]

1 minute ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

I disagree.

First thing wrong was giving Flitcroft a window last August. Should never have happened.

Second thing wrong was giving Flitcroft this January. Should never have happened.

Third thing wrong was kicking the fans in the teeth with her “I know better than you” open letter and actually backing the man who she employed and we could all see was ruining the club!!

Fourth thing wrong. You don’t openly address the Valiant suite in stating we have phenomenal players because the wags told her!

Fifth thing wrong. And I’m going back a bit here, but her appointment of Andy Crosby. Yes. Flitcroft was in charge. But she came out and said she didn’t even interview anyone!! Madness!

Sixth thing wrong. Letting the regular stalwarts in the paddock, pee on their own feet all season.

Seventh thing wrong. Getting rid of good men in Speedie and Colin Garlick. The soul of this club. And look at the fruits of her Labour now!

I could go on.

And don’t get me wrong. There are many good things that she has done. But like anything in life, if you mess up, you need to be held accountable. And this is on her head.

Do I think she’s a crook? No. 
Do I think she means well? Yes. 
Do I think I’m these last 18 months she’s made catastrophic mistakes, became fame oriented and taken her eye off the ball? Absolutely.

Its not hatred. 
It isn’t another Smurthwaite. 
But <ovf censored> me has she messed up big time.

Your first 6 points come back to Flitcroft and recruitment.  The letter, misguided as it was, would never have been written under better circumstances.

The toilets, not great that they aren’t fixed but the issue itself is just one of those unfortunate events that happen with any property which is showing its age and has been neglected.

Your “Good men” may not have been so good.  Who knows?  People come and go in all walks of life.  No disrespect to Speedie but you can hardly say the problems result from the state of the pitch.

[Spunk Trumpet]

1 minute ago, Guitar Ray said:

Your first 6 points come back to Flitcroft and recruitment.  The letter, misguided as it was, would never have been written under better circumstances.

The toilets, not great that they aren’t fixed but the issue itself is just one of those unfortunate events that happen with any property which is showing its age and has been neglected.

Your “Good men” may not have been so good.  Who knows?  People come and go in all walks of life.  No disrespect to Speedie but you can hardly say the problems result from the state of the pitch.

And with respect Ray, but who employed Flitcroft? And not only backed him but ultimately broke the fanbase with her love in with him?

Flitcroft is a piece of <ovf censored>. I’ve no time for the guy. He’s as smarmy as they come. But I’m sorry, it was Carol who not only employed him but ditched Colin, put him in charge of “all things football” and then very very reluctantly sacked him, as her pathetic son sat in the boxes shaking his head and smiling as 5000 fans sang “David Flitcroft get out of our club”

Its been an absolute shambles and we are finally getting what we deserve due to Carol Shanahans decisions in an 18 month period. 
 

You can try and convince me otherwise but she makes the decisions at the top of the tree.

She is the ultimate reason we are going down. 
 

Her business. 
Her football club. 
Her mess. 
Her relegation.

Come out Carol and own it. 

[Guitar Ray]

5 minutes ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

The players are garbage. 
Worst I’ve seen in 40 years.

The DOF did that.

Four managers in her leadership.

Shes at the top of the tree of this football club. 
It’s her business. 
She takes the brunt of the blame.

She employed Flitcroft. 
She wouldn’t listen to fans. 
She then divided fans with her open letter. 
She is ultimately to blame when you get a judge and jury. 
 

Her decisions have put our club where we are now. Staring down the barrel. 
 

Im happy to be proved wrong. 
What I won’t accept is that “she saved the club”. That ship has sailed. Although should never be forgotten.

Hard questions need to be asked now though because our club on the pitch is in a shambolic state. We’re relying on 16 and 17 year olds for <ovf censored> sake! That’s madness in any league!

Her decisions. As the owner. Have been nothing short of catastrophic in an 18 month period.

She calls herself a Vale fan. That’s crap. 
The likes of me and you and others will always be here. 
If she were to sell up tomorrow she wouldn’t go another game.

Dont believe the front. 

I wish I had a pound for every time someone told me this or that Vale team is the worst in x number of years.  I’d definitely have more than a couple of quid in the bank.

Funnily enough the fans usually see the manager out of his job, obviously based on results and performances.  Some clubs fans are more patient than others.  Exeter, our opponents today, were in dire straights but they stuck with Caldwell despite results earlier in the season and the grumblings among the fanbase.

We’re relying on kids because our recruitment hadn’t been good enough.  That’s on Flitcroft not Carol.  He’s an experienced ex-player, ex-manager who should have some idea when it comes to player recruitment.  Carol has never kicked a ball in anger, she’s trusted a guy to do a job.  He’s failed big time.  Her mistake was not recognising the cause of the situation we were in.

Rest assured, Carol is a fan.

[Houston Valiant]

3 minutes ago, Guitar Ray said:

I wish I had a pound for every time someone told me this or that Vale team is the worst in x number of years.  I’d definitely have more than a couple of quid in the bank.

Funnily enough the fans usually see the manager out of his job, obviously based on results and performances.  Some clubs fans are more patient than others.  Exeter, our opponents today, were in dire straights but they stuck with Caldwell despite results earlier in the season and the grumblings among the fanbase.

We’re relying on kids because our recruitment hadn’t been good enough.  That’s on Flitcroft not Carol.  He’s an experienced ex-player, ex-manager who should have some idea when it comes to player recruitment.  Carol has never kicked a ball in anger, she’s trusted a guy to do a job.  He’s failed big time.  Her mistake was not recognising the cause of the situation we were in.

Rest assured, Carol is a fan.

Didn’t she say that she’s a WBA fan? 

[Spunk Trumpet]

1 minute ago, Guitar Ray said:

I wish I had a pound for every time someone told me this or that Vale team is the worst in x number of years.  I’d definitely have more than a couple of quid in the bank.

Funnily enough the fans usually see the manager out of his job, obviously based on results and performances.  Some clubs fans are more patient than others.  Exeter, our opponents today, were in dire straights but they stuck with Caldwell despite results earlier in the season and the grumblings among the fanbase.

We’re relying on kids because our recruitment hadn’t been good enough.  That’s on Flitcroft not Carol.  He’s an experienced ex-player, ex-manager who should have some idea when it comes to player recruitment.  Carol has never kicked a ball in anger, she’s trusted a guy to do a job.  He’s failed big time.  Her mistake was not recognising the cause of the situation we were in.

Rest assured, Carol is a fan.

Her mistake was indeed recognising the cause of the situation we were in.

However. When fans are telling her that, months, maybe a year before, she really should have listened.

It will always be unforgiveable in my eyes, that not only did she give that clown 3 transfer windows but then came out with a love letter telling fans what a chap he was.

Totally unforgivable. 
And that’s my whole point. 
She should have sacked him a year earlier but even when his position was totally untenable, she <ovf censored> on her own supporters with that open letter. 
She basically said <ovf censored> you. He’s my man.

Her mess now.

It should never have come to this. 

[leedsvaliant]

I wish I had a pound for every time someone told me this or that Vale team is the worst in x number of years.  I’d definitely have more than a couple of quid in the bank.
Funnily enough the fans usually see the manager out of his job, obviously based on results and performances.  Some clubs fans are more patient than others.  Exeter, our opponents today, were in dire straights but they stuck with Caldwell despite results earlier in the season and the grumblings among the fanbase.
We’re relying on kids because our recruitment hadn’t been good enough.  That’s on Flitcroft not Carol.  He’s an experienced ex-player, ex-manager who should have some idea when it comes to player recruitment.  Carol has never kicked a ball in anger, she’s trusted a guy to do a job.  He’s failed big time.  Her mistake was not recognising the cause of the situation we were in.
Rest assured, Carol is a fan.

I think she is a fan but she's pretty new in relative terms. I sat on a table with her and her mate a few years ago when the company i worked for sponsored a game. She had only just started attending games and I think part of it was from a networking point. She's a nice lady and I genuinely believe that she has the best of intentions. But let's not pretend she's a lifelong supporter. I think she's trying to run the club like a corporate business. They're so different. I still don't think she gets that.

[Guitar Ray]

4 minutes ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

And with respect Ray, but who employed Flitcroft? And not only backed him but ultimately broke the fanbase with her love in with him?

Flitcroft is a piece of <ovf censored>. I’ve no time for the guy. He’s as smarmy as they come. But I’m sorry, it was Carol who not only employed him but ditched Colin, put him in charge of “all things football” and then very very reluctantly sacked him, as her pathetic son sat in the boxes shaking his head and smiling as 5000 fans sang “David Flitcroft get out of our club”

Its been an absolute shambles and we are finally getting what we deserve due to Carol Shanahans decisions in an 18 month period. 
 

You can try and convince me otherwise but she makes the decisions at the top of the tree.

She is the ultimate reason we are going down. 
 

Her business. 
Her football club. 
Her mess. 
Her relegation.

Come out Carol and own it. 

If I employ you you get the job because I think you meet the criteria but also I like you.  That’s how it usually works.  So then I put my trust in you to do the job and initially things go well, in our case we get promoted. It’s then quite hard to just turn around at the first sign of failure and sack that individual who’s delivered in the very recent past but is also someone you have now built up a good working relationship with.

The reasons for CG’s departure have never been made public.