Kidsgrove manager

I do agree we've had some great chairmans in the past,I would like to wish you best wishes for next season should you be moving on aswell

Thats just 2 players and from an under 18 team that Wardy has fought hard to keep to no avail - a reserve team finishing 7th in an average county league doesnt suggest they have the quality to step up. I hear people harping on about promoting youth players and yet the club decides to scrap the Youth team. So I feel thats a strange decision.

That doesn't sound too bad, we finished 13th in a very average evostik div one .

13th in an average evo stick league wth 10 clubs that i know of who finished above kidsgrove having far bigger playing budgets and in fact at least 2 clubs more than doubled that of Kidsgrove.
So with no Youth set up who feeds the reserves to feed the 1st team, which is what I presume supporters want.

Can we have an official statement from the club.
Who is in charge and by what authority?
Is a committee making these decisions and what is their outlook for the club?
Is correct that not only the reserves but also the junior teams are to be scrapped?
Has extra funding from outside sources been turned down?
So far the club has lost a manager, assistant, coach and groundsman who all took nothing out, and actually gave to the club.
The legacy left by Mick is in danger of being lost.
On the teams performance last season, it would be interesting to to compare the 2nd half of the season with the 1st half. I believe that we would have been in the play offs if not for a terrible 1st half in the league, which happened to coincide with exceptional cup runs!
Given the squads size and budget, i think it was another good season to build on and keeping the likes of the Taylors, Hodgey, Sam are crucial, along with resigning Urwin, however the events of the last couple of days suggest this may be difficult. If such servents to the club as Wardy can be treated with disrespect, then what hope for the rest.

Club comment please!

Maybe the players budjet has got alot to do with it,we know it's lower next season, even though we were the eigth best supported club I do feel any team should live within its means,yes we made alot of cash in the fa cup, but that was mostly used up in overbudjet of players wages, hence I believe it's all gone and we finished probably level.if I look back a few years to 2008 season I believe, we had matt rhead up front, now with Mansfield Town,mickey lennon, at nantwich, byron Moore now crewe, midfield mark Carrington now mk dons, Karl robinson now manager and very successful at mk dons, all in the same side, yet we finished eigth, on a large budjet, we must of made an extra 20,000 pound at least on the cup run this season, maybe some was used on players wages. So this next season if we were to have no cup run then I can only presume we would be over 20,000 in debt the season after and back to where we started before mick and dave saved the club. Wardy has bought some great players to this club over the past years, but maybe the board felt it needs someone who can bring in players on less to do a job .I think maybe it's sounds like how the decision was made that's upset a few, as a fan I see both sides, I don't think this decision was taken lightly.
Maybe daves dad right and statement should of been put on the board.

Can anybody tell me . . . I`m only a bird you see . . . but when generating sponsorship for a club was a sackable offence ? ?

Has this guy had the decency to even sit down with people who are willing to come and put some money Kidsgrove Athletics way or is this just a big sulk that he may rue one day ? ? ?

Just one comment on the issue - could people please distinguish between the board of directors (who have made the decisions) and the committee (who have not been asked to be involved, in any way, in the discussions or these decisions)?

Can anyone clarify to me 'who' the board of directors are? Are they different than the directors named at Companies House?

Bit more detail from both sides courtesy of The Sentinel:

Ward axed as Grove boss in shock move by new chairman

I really can't understand this decision yes we didn't finish where we all would've liked, but if your going sack the manager then it should of been done at Xmas when the league position reflected the performances but second half of season was play off performances & I think next season with the majority of the same team which if sentinel correct had agreed to stay would've had the team in or around the playoffs. Only time will tell if it's the correct decision by performances next season for me I think it's the wrong one but hope I'm proved wrong.

Just pitiful when people try their best to make the most of the team they have and also work to the chairmans plans - when they go that step further to try and help and keep everyone happy they are accused of undermining - sorry in my heart really am.

Yes change is always good but would have thought transitionally step by step not with an axe and a jack hammer on day one.

people have worked really hard to get the club to where it is over the last years - it just apears to me as if someones opened a door and thrown a grenade in !

Hope Mr Rowleys plans are really good and it does come about for Grove but I can`t see your Matt Haddrells and Tom Urwins signing to play for £20 and a bottle of pop per week meself ?


Good luck to ALL THE GUYS !

REAL SHAME

I think the Chairman needs to be careful what he wishes for................

There may well have been 3 applications for the job already, but are those applicants going to be able replace the likes of Hodgy, the Taylors, Hall, Charlton, Walker etc etc.

Without question other clubs ie Newcastle, Leek, Stafford and Nantwich are likely to have a pop at picking off these sort of players.

Lunacy.

This is true. IF the new chairman/manager come up with the goods and produce a successful season, we'll be all over this forum singing their praises and being pleased a very tough decision was taken.

We lost four games between December and April, which was play-off form had we produced it across the season. But the season before, we sat in the play-offs for most of the season and then blew it at the end. You have to look at the 42 games in total and both seasons too. The fact is we didn't perform across all those matches.

The chairman's position is a difficult one. It would be lovely if we could watch a successful Grove side, filled with local lads, playing passing football, all of whom came through the youth system, in a fantastic ground with a plush carpet of a pitch, but short of someone dropping millions in to the club you can't have that. He has to balance how best to use the resources available.

We'll see what happens. As I've said before, Mick, Pete, Bucko and others have done a lot of good for the club over the past few years and I hope we build on this rather than let it go.

According to the chairman, the last 4 years have been average! Does anyone else agree with this?
Highest ever league position in the football pyramid, best ever FA cup run, and a play off final, all achieved after almost going out of business. To describe that as average is an insult to everyone involved in the club for the last few years.
As for the budget issues, Wardy had secured extra funds to maintain the budget and allow the club to be competitive next season and had plans to develop the kids section etc. Now the club will have to pay a manager and groundsman.
I cant help thinking there is something else going on? Was the new chairman jealous or threatened by Wardy's popularity and vision for the future?
Within 24 hours of a succesful meeting involving chairman, management and players on Monday night, Wardy and Bucko were asked to leave the club!
I dont understand these decisions unless you have something better in mind.
The club wasnt broke and didnt need fixing.

I agree with every last word you say there Daves Dad !

I only found out last night from my son - like you`ve said - they all went the meeting everything was agreed and set to go when they left on Monday night.
Within 24 hrs its all change - as I said just because people chose to try and help out to generate funds -what on earth is so bad about that !

You have one shell shocked and bewildered team at the moment - and like Dabber said - my sons phone has nt been quiet since . .

Such a real shame in my opinion - could have been handled so much more differently

The sentinels view as always is politically correct - you have to know behind the scenes to realise just how upsetting and what an utter shock and surprise this has been to all concerned.

First off i would like to thank Pete for all that he has done for the club in the recent years i think the club has moved forward.

I might be missing something here but don't football managers come and go all the time, it's a results business and with the players we had/have over the last two seasons our results have not been good enough(in the league) so the chairman has done what most chairmen do and get rid of the management team (right or wrong)

Does anybody know what would have happend if Mr Rowley had not taken over from Mick, where would that have left the club (don't know if anbody else put there name forward to help)? i think we have got good players and would not like to see any knee jerk reactions from any of them after all it's still KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC FC

hopefully onward and upward

The way things are going kidsgrove will be back in the nwcfl mid table as used to be. I know what has gone on and cutting your nose off to spite your face comes to mind. I honestly dont know what players will come for the money on offer at kidsgrove Pete and Buck have been tryin since before the end of last season to safeguard the team they had esembled with extra revenue i really think the team would have been up there next season .The club not wanting a youth team is unreal they have some great players coming through and i know pete wanted to keep this going but old school mentalitys eh. I know certain players phones havent stopped ringing yet with offers. But what will be will be it isnt the first and certainly wont be the last time the club shoots itself in the foot.

Phil.

I think the problem here is the belief that the players were playing for Kidsgrove Athletic - yes, ultimately they were wearing the kit, but I'm willing to stake a substantial amount on the fact that the majority of them were there playing for Wardy and Bucko and the expenses provided.

Take away Wardy, Bucko and the budget and you will be able to count on the fingers of one hand how many players will stay........

Only my opinion, of course

After agree with Phil its a results game and it's judged on the end of the season,
From 19th Oct until 28 Nov our record was won 2 draw 1 lost 10 (ten),last 5 league games we won 1, new mills away, John Rowley taken the role of chairman when no else has come forward, rightly or wrongly he's made a bold decision.many thought the market Drayton away match on the above run would end in the departure of wardy. But I would like to say no one willever put in the effort and commitment of Pete for very little in return, blue in his blood no doubt, I hope he is successful in his new challenge and wish him all the best. I firmly believe the players we have are capable of gaining a playoff place, its will be sad especially the defence, which is the best for a long time break up, hope players like sam and ross stay, I'm sure clubs will come in for walker and griggs,will shots stay, he may get a regular start, definitely start Johnson and bull more next season.