Interesting reading I thought. While I wouldn't say I read everything Ron says and believe it - he does love a bluff - but I do believe he does also often speak from the heart where things like this are concerned. Whether he's right or wrong, I do think he believes this which gives us some insight into what he's thinking, what he sees and what he knows from inside.
Ron Martin said:
Supporters would argue they are really fed up. There is no doubt that must be true, I am equally “fed up”.
We are in this together but we can help each other to get out of it too.
Seems fair to me. It's royally **** right now, absolute non-league struggler levels of ****. But to get out of it, we need support from the terraces and the cashflow to continue - or we're in ever deeper ****.
Ron Martin said:
The negativity has been affecting the club long before Kevin Bond’s reign. Chris Powell stepped in because Phil Brown lost the dressing room, factions when players are needing to pull together is a recipe for disaster. It was this that caused Phil his job.
Again, difficult to argue if you look back over the last couple of seasons. It never was down to one person, one managerial failing, one departure, or one signing. For me, he's saying "this isn't down to Phil or Chris or Kevin. It's down to Phil AND Chris AND Kevin AND the bunch of shysters that are currently masquerading as League One footballers and taking the **** out of club and its supporters."
If that's what he's saying, he's bloody right.
Ron Martin said:
When Chris came in he released the arguably contentious individuals, some might say “characters”.
Another interesting observation. Any team I've been in (business, not football), the characters in the team are as fundamental to success/failure as the manager. You can set the direction but it's the characters that either take it on and lead by example or just show everyone else why they shouldn't bother. If you don't have your A-team with you, you are literally screwed and so is your team. Phil, Chris, Kevin and now Sol will ALL have known this as a basic of management, but yet they still couldn't turn it around. That means this runs DEEP. It means the rot had and has well set in. All that talk about three transfer windows was spot on.
Ron Martin said:
A football club needs characters on the pitch.
The other thing we've all been saying for some time is that if you let strong characters leave, you sure as hell need to bring some strong characters in. I'd wager there's not many who'd disagree that that's probably been our biggest failing. Whether that's a lack of heart in midfield or defence, it's lacking and it's why we look back at players like Timlin who served us excellently but yet weren't good enough to take us forward. Oh, to even think about moving FORWARD!!!
Ron Martin said:
There is no doubt during Chris’ time we were hugely unlucky with injuries, but maybe fitness played its part too.
Here's where he's not quite on point. There are no "maybe's". Fitness ABSOLUTELY played it's part and here the buck stops with Ron. It's Ron's job to manage the managers and make sure this stuff is TIGHT. And if the players weren't responding to tighter management, than this would've and should've been the red warning light Ron needed to help his management team take tough decisions.
Glad to see that he's taken big strides to rectify this with the current backroom team and conditioning pedigree, but it's way too late. This one is on Ron but hopefully he's learned a lesson from it. While other things went wrong, fitness issues just didn't happen under Phil Brown so why was that allowed to creep in and become accepted.
Ron Martin said:
Decisions on recruitment is always, certainly in the lower leagues, the responsibility of the manager and his staff. A chairman or CEO could not force a player on the manager, they must be his players. In recruiting players a chairman either backs the manager or sacks him.
I backed both Chris and Kevin.
Do I regret that? With some yes I do.
I supported Chris Powell and Kevin Bond with the best intentions but now we will make changes.
As CeCe Peniston would say.... FINALLY!
This last year, it just feels like Ron's been head in the clouds or somewhere else - particularly at the beginning of this season when Rome was burning and he was busily tanning himself up. Everyone deserves a holiday, but this is a Chairman of a League One football club we're talking about.
I'm buying into what Ron's said, but it's still too little, too late now it's game over for us in this League. Hopefully, his realisations are enough to stop us parachuting straight out of the Football League itself.
Ron Martin said:
Sol talks about the regime at the training ground having become “loose”. That does not happen overnight but creeps in over time and right now we can nip it in the bud.
Your club will not put up with sloppiness or uncaring players.
Yes, good. Spot on. Wish you'd picked it up 12 months ago.
Ron Martin said:
There are many in this squad who care passionately about winning, as the supporters do, and I do.
A group of individuals who, like me, will not accept failure.
Yes, good. Spot on. Wish you'd picked it up 12 months ago.
Ron Martin said:
Together we will do whatever it takes to get “The Blues” out of this mire.
We are already “on it”.
Too late again. But, I've made that point enough. Really great to hear the realisation and pennies dropping. Great to hear that Ron's noticed there are players in this squad who don't deserve to be here. Now Ron, get them out! Get them out NOW! Do NOT wait until January. Get the poison out of this club and let the footballing world know we will not see their likes again!
Ron Martin said:
Sol and I agree we probably need six new players in January to turn the tide and help those current players, who do care, to succeed too.
Sol is both widely respected and connected to recruit what we need.
In between does not mean for one minute we will not continue to give our all, on and off the pitch, and I am grateful for the fans continued support, brilliant as always despite the horrors.
Please stay with it for only together we can make a difference.
I cannot promise an immediate return to success but I might die trying!
Ron Martin said:
Finally off the pitch the council are doing their best also.
Seriously Ron, you were doing well, don't spoil it.