Worst ownership in my 30+ years of FFC support

[bill taylors apprentice]

You can interpret it how you like but I choose to see it differently.

I will use the house buying analogy again, the previous owner had a tidy,solid property for sale that needed some work doing to improve it.
Ignore the leak in the roof and the faulty electrics and its going to cause big problems.

I would say this is more akin to being in Khan's shoes when he took over:

Wang Liqin
Chen Shuai
Ma Jike
Hao Lin
Zhang Qi
Ma Yue

You've become the benefactor to a team of players who ended this year just below midway in the Chinese national table tennis club championships. Who, if anybody, should be replaced for next year? And who is/are the right players to bring in? The Club secretary (in whom you hope you can trust because of his role in advising the previous benefactor) is convinced that if Liu Tao can be persuaded to join the group to replace Ma Jike, the team will be stronger than before. It's your call what to do next.

An analogy is meant to be a comparison between things that have similar features (for example, blood vessels in your body and the London Underground). I don't see a helpful analogy between our squad of football players and your leaking roof. A house with a leaking roof is something that is universally understood. Anybody can see that it's leaking. No specialised knowledge is required to ascertain this and the remedy (get a roofer to repair it) is just as evident.

A squad of English football players (like a group Chinese table tennis players) cannot be interpreted as easily. Our squad of 25-or-so players were not universally known (even when we were in the PL). Unless a person followed English football quite closely, he or she would have few, if any, realistic suggestions for strengthening the team, and at whose expense.

I hope you won't mind if I stick with the interpretation of Khan I already had.

I don't mind at all, you can stick (with) your interpretation.

I got bored with your story and gave up reading.

[Arthur]

I don't mind at all, you can stick (with) your interpretation.

I got bored with your story and gave up reading.

That's okay. If my response had been one that you could easily pull apart, I'm sure you would have carried on reading. I'll take your put down as an indication that I got my point across well.

And boring as my story may be, it is no more so than your 'leaking roof, faulty electrics, sitting on the bog' drivel.

[mikestrand]

Khans lack of football knowledge combined with ill advised management appointments and FFP, fills me with an underwhelming feeling the championship will grow on us like a rash. 

[bill taylors apprentice]

...the facts speak for themselves. He relegated an established top flight club in his first season in charge.

...it's pretty difficult to destroy "an established top flight club" in just one season, unless there are drastic managerial and team personnel changes...

I agree, Logicalman.

Despite what Statto says, his is one fact that definitely doesn't 'speak for itself' - there's a context to it, without a doubt.

When Khan took over, he actually did very little with the team at first. He didn't change the manager; he didn't bring lots of new players into the squad; he didn't dispense with those who were already here. In short, he allowed matters to remain much the same as he found them. On the basis of this, it is, as you point out, almost inconceivable that a secure PL club would be instantly relegated. By far the most compelling interpretation of the fact that we lost nine of the first thirteen matches is that our new Chairman inherited a first-team squad whose status for the following season was anything but assured.

The implication that Khan 'tried to fix what wasn't broken' and, in doing so, was the cause of our being relegated simply doesn't stack up.

You can interpret it how you like but I choose to see it differently.

Firstly, plenty of secure PL clubs have been relegated but once you have been its a different ball game.

You said it yourself, "he actually did very little with the first team" and "he allowed matters to remain much the same"
And there lies the problem!
He didn't see or have anyone close to tell him what needed fixing

I will use the house buying analogy again, the previous owner had a tidy,solid property for sale that needed some work doing to improve it.
Ignore the leak in the roof and the faulty electrics and its going to cause big problems.

What he did do, was get rid of the previous board and advisors and replaced them all with his son and a successful beer salesman who only new about Yankee sport.

You and illogical man are missing the point. Its not a case of trying to fix what wasn't broken or not!
He ignored the leak in the roof and was caught sitting on the bog when the roof caved in! 

Bill Taylor's Apprentice, you are spot on and full of common sense.

Thanks, I try my best.

[win-dup]

I have never bought into the ridiculous assertion by Khan that he was carrying on the history and inheritance of FFC.
Not a single thing about his involvement, apart from the value of the ground, makes any sense. He's not spent a penny of his own money since buying the club - in fact  the parachute payment and Pat Robert's fee must almost have him level pegging for the money he paid for the club.
Worse chairman ever? Could well be.

[bill taylors apprentice]

I have never bought into the ridiculous assertion by Khan that he was carrying on the history and inheritance of FFC.
Not a single thing about his involvement, apart from the value of the ground, makes any sense. He's not spent a penny of his own money since buying the club - in fact  the parachute payment and Pat Robert's fee must almost have him level pegging for the money he paid for the club.
Worse chairman ever? Could well be.

Agree!

I'm open minded enough to accept the day to day running costs of the club may be more problematic than we appreciate.

I'm sure its a bigger picture than just Parachute and transfer payments in against transfer fees and player salaries out!

Therefore costs to the owner may well be a lot more than we assume over the time of his ownership, BUT that still doesn't let him off the hook for all poor judgements so far.

[Chutney]

can we all just take a minute to appreciate that appointing gray as a coach is a good move? I would of been annoyed if he was to be our new head coach but in the role he's been given he can work behind the scenes to sure up our defence.

[colinwhite]

Lets see what happens now .Stuart Gray in as caretaker /senior coach is a good move until we get the right man(and he will improve our defence, not difficult I admit )  . Our team selection has been woeful under Grant and he clearly did not want the job.
The head coach appointment is still going to be the one where we can start making judgements about Mr Khan . The rest is , frustration and speculation about things we dont have any facts about . Calm down now boys and start getting behind Gray . I am not criticising anyone by the way, nor suggesting anyone is not behind the club . But now we do need to start being positive again .

:merry christmas:

[HV71]

can we all just take a minute to appreciate that appointing gray as a coach is a good move? I would of been annoyed if he was to be our new head coach but in the role he's been given he can work behind the scenes to sure up our defence.

Well said Chutney - let us get behind the man and the team. COYW!

[Woolly Mammoth]

I think Stuart Gray is a positive move, when you consider our present predicament. He has a week to improve and organise our defending responsibilities, and that has to be a plus, what I do know is, that with a local derby on Saturday against some outfit called Brentford, and just by coincidence apparently they are from Brentford, and what I also know is, there are 11 of them.