Stan

[JIMSDAD]

Really hope that you’ll fete a role at the club that allows you to oversee potential problems during Mr Browns second spell with us.
It was the lack of this that allowed him to get away with breaches of common discipline and allowing the building of cliques and factions in the dressing room that lead to his and the clubs downward slide.
Personally, I love the idea of Mr Brown being back, for his experience and encouragement, but I am truly dreading a return to mismanagement and failure to keep control of his “favourites”.

 

[blueblueblue]

I can't see this happening at all, he'd walk and I wouldn't blame him. Why would a manager with 20 odd years experience in management be shadowed by someone with zero experience.

It's a CEO we need.

 

[stan collymore]

Really hope that you’ll fete a role at the club that allows you to oversee potential problems during Mr Browns second spell with us.
It was the lack of this that allowed him to get away with breaches of common discipline and allowing the building of cliques and factions in the dressing room that lead to his and the clubs downward slide.
Personally, I love the idea of Mr Brown being back, for his experience and encouragement, but I am truly dreading a return to mismanagement and failure to keep control of his “favourites”.

Hi Jimsdad

My original conversation with The Chairman was to put ducks in a row and do things properly in line with how the modern football industry works rather than being left behind on and off the pitch.

My reasoning for transparency all along with you guys was simple. You can see a timeline of changes and events rather than guess.

So as I said to the supporter groups on zoom, early decisions on key staff, early back to pre season, early player scouting and recruitment were all clearly set out by me as matters of urgency, because the club have been left wanting in many ways in and off the pitch for a number of years.

So although I'm meeting the Chairman tomorrow where we may or may not agree anything regarding a role for me moving forward ( as I've said, it has to have teeth, not interested in cheerleading, I can do that anyway), the important penny drop moments for the Chairman and Phil seem to have at least lead to immediate action.

1. Players know now they have a tough 6 week pre season, back earlier than others, as I suggested should happen.

2. Manager signed up ( my preference is always to have a number of candidates for a job with a CEO/DoF leading an interview process, but Ron wanted Phil so that's his right before other roles have been filled) so that players know wjo they are working with.

3. Key roles to be interviewed and decided quickly. For similar reasons to a manager being signed up. Certainty.

4. Chairman allowing industry professionals to do their job when employed. We'll see if this comes to fruition. The Chairman knows my thoughts on how a proper football structure should work and unless it's allowed to work, the club will be paying the price for sometime to come.

So I'm happy that some of the early issues that I flagged up with the Chairman have been put into practice, fans now at least know the aim is to have a coherent plan to release, sign and line up a group in early July to be ready for the toughest season this club will have faced for a while, even with the two relegations.

For me, as reiterated clearly to supporters and Chairman, the easiest way for success and stability is to let the club structure of industry professionals work its course.

Then if any manager doesn't deliver or decides to go elsewhere, today, tomorrow or 10 years time, like the most successful clubs there are fewer bumps in the road, less damaging changes and more consistency.


Owner employs CEO to run the club.
DoF makes sure club has a comprehensive strategy
Any manager works within the strategy
That avoids excessive or unknown cost implications
That avoids mates, friends of any future manager to be employed by the club on anything other than merit.


My personal view ( i'm not employed by the club) is that a CEO should have been appointed first, a DoF second and then sitting down with Phil as incumbent with a wealth of experience and knowledge of the club putting him in the driving seat but to make sure Southend United at least explored other avenues.

That's not being disrespectful to Phil, someone I know, get on great with and respect. That's just common sense.

I believe the Chairman is meeting 2 potential CEO'S today and I'm meeting him tomorrow.

If I get any role ( which I set out on 2 zoom calls to general supporters and the Trust aside from Ron) it will Insist on doing things properly in every way, every day. Or the Chairman is free of course to go whichever path he wishes.

Talk is cheap. Gestures are cheap.

Action time. ?

 

[OrangeyBrown]

Owner employs CEO to run the club.
DoF makes sure club has a comprehensive strategy
Any manager works within the strategy
That avoids excessive or unknown cost implications
That avoids mates, friends of any future manager to be employed by the club on anything other than merit.


My personal view ( i'm not employed by the club) is that a CEO should have been appointed first, a DoF second and then sitting down with Phil as incumbent with a wealth of experience and knowledge of the club putting him in the driving seat but to make sure Southend United at least explored other avenues.

This part is bang on, that would be the ideal way for the club to be run. Great to see this level of insight, thanks Stan!

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

Does anyone else just get excited reading these posts? I've always loved the idea of being a proper football club

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Jimsdad, Your note about PB is your opinion, just as it could be argued that my opinion is that it was Chris Powell's handling of the 'Cliques' and 'fractions' and his failure to replace the players with others of similar quality that caused the downward slide.

The reality is its probably all of those things, however hopefully a CEO, DoF and Stan would stop all of that history repeating itself.

UTB

 

[londonblue]

Hi Jimsdad

My original conversation with The Chairman was to put ducks in a row and do things properly in line with how the modern football industry works rather than being left behind on and off the pitch.

My reasoning for transparency all along with you guys was simple. You can see a timeline of changes and events rather than guess.

So as I said to the supporter groups on zoom, early decisions on key staff, early back to pre season, early player scouting and recruitment were all clearly set out by me as matters of urgency, because the club have been left wanting in many ways in and off the pitch for a number of years.

So although I'm meeting the Chairman tomorrow where we may or may not agree anything regarding a role for me moving forward ( as I've said, it has to have teeth, not interested in cheerleading, I can do that anyway), the important penny drop moments for the Chairman and Phil seem to have at least lead to immediate action.

1. Players know now they have a tough 6 week pre season, back earlier than others, as I suggested should happen.

2. Manager signed up ( my preference is always to have a number of candidates for a job with a CEO/DoF leading an interview process, but Ron wanted Phil so that's his right before other roles have been filled) so that players know wjo they are working with.

3. Key roles to be interviewed and decided quickly. For similar reasons to a manager being signed up. Certainty.

4. Chairman allowing industry professionals to do their job when employed. We'll see if this comes to fruition. The Chairman knows my thoughts on how a proper football structure should work and unless it's allowed to work, the club will be paying the price for sometime to come.

So I'm happy that some of the early issues that I flagged up with the Chairman have been put into practice, fans now at least know the aim is to have a coherent plan to release, sign and line up a group in early July to be ready for the toughest season this club will have faced for a while, even with the two relegations.

For me, as reiterated clearly to supporters and Chairman, the easiest way for success and stability is to let the club structure of industry professionals work its course.

Then if any manager doesn't deliver or decides to go elsewhere, today, tomorrow or 10 years time, like the most successful clubs there are fewer bumps in the road, less damaging changes and more consistency.


Owner employs CEO to run the club.
DoF makes sure club has a comprehensive strategy
Any manager works within the strategy
That avoids excessive or unknown cost implications
That avoids mates, friends of any future manager to be employed by the club on anything other than merit.


My personal view ( i'm not employed by the club) is that a CEO should have been appointed first, a DoF second and then sitting down with Phil as incumbent with a wealth of experience and knowledge of the club putting him in the driving seat but to make sure Southend United at least explored other avenues.

That's not being disrespectful to Phil, someone I know, get on great with and respect. That's just common sense.

I believe the Chairman is meeting 2 potential CEO'S today and I'm meeting him tomorrow.

If I get any role ( which I set out on 2 zoom calls to general supporters and the Trust aside from Ron) it will Insist on doing things properly in every way, every day. Or the Chairman is free of course to go whichever path he wishes.

Talk is cheap. Gestures are cheap.

Action time. ?

From a playing perspective that is key, and is exactly what we've been missing for years. The issue seems to be the length of time it takes us to sign anyone. Every window we've heard, in this order:

1. There'll be loads of players available.
2. We're talking to some targets.
3. We're still talking to some targets.
4. We're not in a hurry, we have to make sure they're the right players.
5. (After the window has shut) It doesn't matter we can still sign loanees and unattached players.

Obviously I don't have a clue as to why we seem always to be left behind, but one reason (I suspect) is that Ron refuses to pay agents on behalf of players, and that is actually a stance I completely agree with. If the agent is working on behalf of a player then why should we pay his/her fees? If the agent is working as a head-hunter on our behalf then we should pay, but not otherwise.

I also suspect another reason is that SUFCs reputation is so low (which has been pretty much confirmed to me by an agent friend) that if a player has a contract offer from us he will stall until the last minute because he will wait and see what other offers come in. He will also be able to use our offer as a bargaining chip.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on how you would deal with these types of issues, but I'd also understand why you might not want to elaborate. After all, this is only speculation on my part.

 

[Medway Blue]

From a playing perspective that is key, and is exactly what we've been missing for years. The issue seems to be the length of time it takes us to sign anyone. Every window we've heard, in this order:

1. There'll be loads of players available.
2. We're talking to some targets.
3. We're still talking to some targets.
4. We're not in a hurry, we have to make sure they're the right players.
5. (After the window has shut) It doesn't matter we can still sign loanees and unattached players.

Obviously I don't have a clue as to why we seem always to be left behind, but one reason (I suspect) is that Ron refuses to pay agents on behalf of players, and that is actually a stance I completely agree with. If the agent is working on behalf of a player then why should we pay his/her fees? If the agent is working as a head-hunter on our behalf then we should pay, but not otherwise.

I also suspect another reason is that SUFCs reputation is so low (which has been pretty much confirmed to me by an agent friend) that if a player has a contract offer from us he will stall until the last minute because he will wait and see what other offers come in. He will also be able to use our offer as a bargaining chip.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on how you would deal with these types of issues, but I'd also understand why you might not want to elaborate. After all, this is only speculation on my part.

Don't know if you've managed to watch the recording of Stan's meeting with the Trust, but he went into quite a bit of detail on this. About 50 mins long, but a really interesting watch. He also pretty much confirmed that the Club's name is mud in the industry at the moment. He says he's spoken to an awful lot of people about us and done his research, so I'm sure he's got a good grasp of our current image.

@Napster posted on another thread about Jamie Douglas' (former Head of S&C) court battle with the club after he left and his awarding of £19k compensation. Our reputation with players, agents, backroom staff, other clubs, local non-league clubs, local businesses is in the gutter. That needs to be one of the first things tackled.

 

[palexander]

...Our reputation with players, agents, backroom staff, other clubs, local non-league clubs, local businesses is in the gutter. That needs to be one of the first things tackled.

Stan also suggested this is going to be the biggest task/most work...

 

[londonblue]

Don't know if you've managed to watch the recording of Stan's meeting with the Trust, but he went into quite a bit of detail on this. About 50 mins long, but a really interesting watch. He also pretty much confirmed that the Club's name is mud in the industry at the moment. He says he's spoken to an awful lot of people about us and done his research, so I'm sure he's got a good grasp of our current image.

@Napster posted on another thread about Jamie Douglas' (former Head of S&C) court battle with the club after he left and his awarding of £19k compensation. Our reputation with players, agents, backroom staff, other clubs, local non-league clubs, local businesses is in the gutter. That needs to be one of the first things tackled.

Thanks for that. I haven't seen it, I just haven't had time.

 

[londonblue]

Don't know if you've managed to watch the recording of Stan's meeting with the Trust, but he went into quite a bit of detail on this. About 50 mins long, but a really interesting watch. He also pretty much confirmed that the Club's name is mud in the industry at the moment. He says he's spoken to an awful lot of people about us and done his research, so I'm sure he's got a good grasp of our current image.

@Napster posted on another thread about Jamie Douglas' (former Head of S&C) court battle with the club after he left and his awarding of £19k compensation. Our reputation with players, agents, backroom staff, other clubs, local non-league clubs, local businesses is in the gutter. That needs to be one of the first things tackled.

And is exactly why Ron needs to take a back seat and appoint a CEO. He's the one that had ruined the club's reputation. Give everyone (at least on the playing side) someone new to deal with. However, that reputation will take a long time to build up again, especially around paying players on time. We can offer them as much as they want, but if they don't trust us to pay them on time it is irrelevant.

The only way to build that trust back up is to ensure we keep paying everyone on time.

 

[stan collymore]

If the Chairman

From a playing perspective that is key, and is exactly what we've been missing for years. The issue seems to be the length of time it takes us to sign anyone. Every window we've heard, in this order:

1. There'll be loads of players available.
2. We're talking to some targets.
3. We're still talking to some targets.
4. We're not in a hurry, we have to make sure they're the right players.
5. (After the window has shut) It doesn't matter we can still sign loanees and unattached players.

Obviously I don't have a clue as to why we seem always to be left behind, but one reason (I suspect) is that Ron refuses to pay agents on behalf of players, and that is actually a stance I completely agree with. If the agent is working on behalf of a player then why should we pay his/her fees? If the agent is working as a head-hunter on our behalf then we should pay, but not otherwise.

I also suspect another reason is that SUFCs reputation is so low (which has been pretty much confirmed to me by an agent friend) that if a player has a contract offer from us he will stall until the last minute because he will wait and see what other offers come in. He will also be able to use our offer as a bargaining chip.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on how you would deal with these types of issues, but I'd also understand why you might not want to elaborate. After all, this is only speculation on my part.

If the Chairman and I agree on a role tomorrow, I have lined up...

1. 6 recruitment specialists who've covered League 1 to National League for several years with great success, own and run the industry leading player profile software, have watched more gales at those levels than anyone in the country, have discharged roles from DoF to Academy to first team. None wanted any involvement without my assurance they weren't getting involved in a mess.

2. 15+ strikers wjo have been collated by these guys who all can perform at National League level and above. We need to get Phil as many options to fill the goals gap as possible.

3. Direct contact with several clubs with excellent reputations for developing young talent and loaning them out. All are interested, all would trust me to make sure their stars of the future are looked after.

4. Direct contact with out of contract players from mavericks to guaranteed 40 games a season. All would be put to Phil on day 1 for his and the football department perusal.

5. Constant communication with potential CEO in order to hit the ground running.

6. Communication with clubs across the pyramid to help Phil get a pre season match programme that would test and fill coffers.

Stan ?

 

[Smudger]

From a playing perspective that is key, and is exactly what we've been missing for years. The issue seems to be the length of time it takes us to sign anyone. Every window we've heard, in this order:

1. There'll be loads of players available.
2. We're talking to some targets.
3. We're still talking to some targets.
4. We're not in a hurry, we have to make sure they're the right players.
5. (After the window has shut) It doesn't matter we can still sign loanees and unattached players.

Obviously I don't have a clue as to why we seem always to be left behind, but one reason (I suspect) is that Ron refuses to pay agents on behalf of players, and that is actually a stance I completely agree with. If the agent is working on behalf of a player then why should we pay his/her fees? If the agent is working as a head-hunter on our behalf then we should pay, but not otherwise.

I also suspect another reason is that SUFCs reputation is so low (which has been pretty much confirmed to me by an agent friend) that if a player has a contract offer from us he will stall until the last minute because he will wait and see what other offers come in. He will also be able to use our offer as a bargaining chip.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on how you would deal with these types of issues, but I'd also understand why you might not want to elaborate. After all, this is only speculation on my part.

Excellent post- some crucial issues in here which get to the heart of why we have been going round in circles (at best) for some time.

 

[Blues ‘n’ twos]

If the Chairman



If the Chairman and I agree on a role tomorrow, I have lined up...

1. 6 recruitment specialists who've covered League 1 to National League for several years with great success, own and run the industry leading player profile software, have watched more gales at those levels than anyone in the country, have discharged roles from DoF to Academy to first team. None wanted any involvement without my assurance they weren't getting involved in a mess.

2. 15+ strikers wjo have been collated by these guys who all can perform at National League level and above. We need to get Phil as many options to fill the goals gap as possible.

3. Direct contact with several clubs with excellent reputations for developing young talent and loaning them out. All are interested, all would trust me to make sure their stars of the future are looked after.

4. Direct contact with out of contract players from mavericks to guaranteed 40 games a season. All would be put to Phil on day 1 for his and the football department perusal.

5. Constant communication with potential CEO in order to hit the ground running.

6. Communication with clubs across the pyramid to help Phil get a pre season match programme that would test and fill coffers.

Stan ?

For us fans this is just like winning the lottery!

 

[Jasrod]

For us fans this is just like winning the lottery!

More like winning the lottery with the first ticket you ever bought ?

 

[Smiffy]

If the Chairman



If the Chairman and I agree on a role tomorrow, I have lined up...

1. 6 recruitment specialists who've covered League 1 to National League for several years with great success, own and run the industry leading player profile software, have watched more gales at those levels than anyone in the country, have discharged roles from DoF to Academy to first team. None wanted any involvement without my assurance they weren't getting involved in a mess.

2. 15+ strikers wjo have been collated by these guys who all can perform at National League level and above. We need to get Phil as many options to fill the goals gap as possible.

3. Direct contact with several clubs with excellent reputations for developing young talent and loaning them out. All are interested, all would trust me to make sure their stars of the future are looked after.

4. Direct contact with out of contract players from mavericks to guaranteed 40 games a season. All would be put to Phil on day 1 for his and the football department perusal.

5. Constant communication with potential CEO in order to hit the ground running.

6. Communication with clubs across the pyramid to help Phil get a pre season match programme that would test and fill coffers.

Stan ?

This sounds very promising Stan. I hope Phil gets to see this list of targets and embraces it. For too long this club and its managers have gone down the route of using their little black book of previous players all the time. Perhaps not so much the fault of the managers, but more because of the state and reputation the club had and still has. This has resulted in a number of players coming in, that we have all seen before and quite frankly have been ****!

There's a pool of very decent players out there lower down, that are more than capable of doing a job for us, probably for a lot less than we have been paying. But we never really seem to tap into them. That's something hopefully yourself, Phil and the rest of the team can address quickly, before these gems end up elsewhere this summer.

 

[GNH]

Excellent reading here and genuine reasons for hope.

It seems to me that all of the well publicised off field issues we have been having over the last few years have made us a 'no go zone' for anyone with an ounce of any career aspirations, our clubs name is mud.

How easy is it going to be to change that? I would hope that given Stan's obvious contacts and respected attitude and commitment within the game, this would be the key driver.

Perhaps this is where Stan's role will be most vital, in getting people to believe they are not throwing away their chance by joining us, rather they are being given the opportunity to progress quicker.

 

[Member]

Really want to see Stan pull on a pair of boots for a pre-season cameo.

 

[Medway Blue]

If the Chairman



If the Chairman and I agree on a role tomorrow, I have lined up...

1. 6 recruitment specialists who've covered League 1 to National League for several years with great success, own and run the industry leading player profile software, have watched more gales at those levels than anyone in the country, have discharged roles from DoF to Academy to first team. None wanted any involvement without my assurance they weren't getting involved in a mess.

2. 15+ strikers wjo have been collated by these guys who all can perform at National League level and above. We need to get Phil as many options to fill the goals gap as possible.

3. Direct contact with several clubs with excellent reputations for developing young talent and loaning them out. All are interested, all would trust me to make sure their stars of the future are looked after.

4. Direct contact with out of contract players from mavericks to guaranteed 40 games a season. All would be put to Phil on day 1 for his and the football department perusal.

5. Constant communication with potential CEO in order to hit the ground running.

6. Communication with clubs across the pyramid to help Phil get a pre season match programme that would test and fill coffers.

Stan ?

These in my eyes were the main things hamstringing the Club, all linked to our shot reputation in the game. It's taken Ron Martin way too long in my eyes to recognise and to try to fix it, but it's good that he might finally be seeing the light where that is concerned. He would be a fool to turn down your help.

 

[stan collymore]

From a playing perspective that is key, and is exactly what we've been missing for years. The issue seems to be the length of time it takes us to sign anyone. Every window we've heard, in this order:

1. There'll be loads of players available.
2. We're talking to some targets.
3. We're still talking to some targets.
4. We're not in a hurry, we have to make sure they're the right players.
5. (After the window has shut) It doesn't matter we can still sign loanees and unattached players.

Obviously I don't have a clue as to why we seem always to be left behind, but one reason (I suspect) is that Ron refuses to pay agents on behalf of players, and that is actually a stance I completely agree with. If the agent is working on behalf of a player then why should we pay his/her fees? If the agent is working as a head-hunter on our behalf then we should pay, but not otherwise.

I also suspect another reason is that SUFCs reputation is so low (which has been pretty much confirmed to me by an agent friend) that if a player has a contract offer from us he will stall until the last minute because he will wait and see what other offers come in. He will also be able to use our offer as a bargaining chip.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on how you would deal with these types of issues, but I'd also understand why you might not want to elaborate. After all, this is only speculation on my part.

It takes time to rebuild burnt bridges.

All I can prove is the willingness of people at clubs who wouldn't touch Southend to now work with me and as a consequence, Southend United.

I can prove it ( potential CEO is one!) which is why I can say it aloud without anyone here or elsewhere being able to contradict it.

I've built relationships in the game over 30 years, and turbo charged in the last 20. You simply can't get names I have worked with in projects I've created without trust. You just can't!

Southend United don't have that anywhere in the club, today as we speak.

I'm bringing a banquet table of contacts and goodwill to the table at a time when the table in the boardroom has crumbs on it.


If a proper structure is in place due to these contacts and goodwill, Southend United will fly.

Or find someone else with those contacts, and there will be a few. See how many will give Southend a second glance.

The saviour of the club won't be any manager or CEO or player or owner. It'll be the structure that allows all of them to work on their role efficiently, and my worry is that a fan base so used to "great XXX has come in, happy days ahead " is like an addict. Needing a next hit rather than living a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

Doing things right means behavioural change. Nobody knows that more than me.

So little things, like announcing managers? Do it on official club channels rather radio stations. Why? Because the only people you owe is those who put their hard earned into the club, who support the club day in, day out. That's it, nothing more, nothing less.

It may not seem a big thing but lots of little things done well create trust, momentum and success.