Thetownend.com

With all the off-field issues and the fact it's effectively him being paid by a mate, not the club as such with no income coming in could this be the first time we have a manager who genuinely does not give a fuck about results?  Only here a few months, knows if the club was sold tomorrow a new manager would be selected doesn't seem to know players names or care too much for making subs added to the fact he must know the fans do not want him here one bit

It just feels like we have a manager here  who is probably not that gutted

I doubt he’s arsed

TBH I am surprised that Power didn't appoint Noel Hunt, it would have saved a wage. I thought he would give it to him until the end of the season/when a new owner is appointed at least.

Hunt wanted the job and was pissed off when he didn't get it, the players liked him, he knows the players even if he is inexperienced in actual management.

Sheridan being appointed was a surprise and yes of course its "jobs for the boys" but it makes me wonder if Power though Sheridan could come in and wave a magic wand and get us results, even if temporarily, possibly making us a more viable sale to any new buyer? currently Sheridan has not been able to change results.

Sheridan doesn't seem THAT comfortable in charge of us, almost blasé and flippant at times in the few interviews he has done, but, that may genuinely be his style but it doesnt feel he is here for anything other than short term.

Until Clem/Barry/Standing/AN Other actually takes over at the club I don't forsee things changing and Sheridan will still be in charge until that point, so I just hope we can turn results around for the better.

In addition Paul Jewell could muck in and has taken training sessions.

I wasn't keen on Hunt as manager but sacrificing him for Sheridan, on reflection, looks like a bad call.

Paul Hart was definitely just here for a wage.

Richie Wellens obviously didn’t give a toss either.

To think anyone really gives a shit about the club is probably a mistake. However Wellens at least cared about his career and progression and undertstood what Swindon could give him. Covid fucked it a bit this year. But he wants to manage at the top and he drags us on part of his journey, which is generally how its worked with most of our best managers.

Sheridan on the other hand is on the other end of his career. He has failed repeatedly at many places. He is spent and has nothing new to contribute. He will never manage above league one so he is beaten. Clearly doesn't give a fuck as its just a wage at this point. Guy can fuck off.

The only people who really care are the fans.  Certainly at a club like Swindon town.

And sadly too few of them and getting less by the year.

Talk of potential is wide of the mark.

It’s less than a year since we got 13000+ for a L2 game. The potential has always been here. Unfortunately, any success we’ve had over the years has never been built upon - it’s all been transitory, an illusion.

Wellens saw it - hence him signing a 3 year extension. Then the Swindon curse struck again - one step forward, 2 steps back.

We’ve had a succession of chancers and potless owners - Black notwithstanding.

We've been in the doldrums for at least 20 years, far too long.

It took us as a Football League club 42 years to win our first ever promotion in 1963.

That really is the doldrums!

Records are there to be beaten!  ;)

I was reading something on Twitter yesterday from Sheff Wed fans, they seem to be suffering similar apathy within much of the fan base at the moment.

It's definitely been transitory, because as you say it's never been built upon, but I don't think it's an illusion, it's genuinely there just need someone prepared to invest for the first success and invest again to build on that. A sustained period of development and progression and you never know.

Di Canio showed a lot of passion. Did he care? I think he did to an extent.

Certainly cared about himself.

And I'd still rather be a fan of my local club than a glory hunter, makes it sweeter when things do go well.

True perspective.  I wonder what the attendance levels used to be in the pre 63 days.  Pretty decent, I'd wager?

The Doldrums would make a more apposite and also distinctive nickname for STFC.  I like it.  Eff off to the Robins  , Cheltenham and City.

I believe that in the 30s the average was about 8k but in the late 40 and through the 50s the average was between 10k and 15k depending on us being top half or bottom half of the table, we finished bottom and still averaged around 10k one season.

At that time Swindon had a population of about 50k, probably 1/4 to 1/5 the level it is now.

Pre glory hunter days?

tbf the town was considerably more monocultural and with considerably fewer leisure options in those days. I suspect you would probably find the same pattern in most towns of similar size

Cheers.

Fantastic levels of support.  No Chelsea or Liverpool leisurewear polluting the Towncentre.  Though incomers would legitimately have also supported their childhood team.

I genuinely shed a tear for the loyal Doldrums generations who weren't there to see our reaching the very top tier

More fun and memories getting there than actually being part of it.
The Late 70’s for so many reasons my favourite period, then came a period of stagnation and king Lou just ignited it all once again.
Still gives me knots in the stomach when I look back and can still make that connection.
Last season my dreams were shattered as I allowed myself to want to believe again and in true Swindon fashion the whole lot came crashing down.

Can’t believe I am approaching 1700 games - ffs a life sentence and a mental health scare.

Even now the 79-80 season is my all time favourite season as a Town fan, so many great memories in just one 10 months period, an incredible time to be a Town fan and being 13/14 at the time they will live long in my memory.

As you say the rise under Macari is next best, winning the clubs first ever league title at Mansfield and then being 90 mins away from Division 1 in the play offs at Palace.

I have never totted up my matches but I am probably at least 1,500+ by now too having started going in 74.

You are right, its the ride and not the destination.

EDIT: did a calculation and its 1,252 matches for me +165 iFollow games ( +53 Sky/BBC/ITV live games which I couldnt attend in person).

Its never boring.

Fell out of love with it ref the Williams debacle.

Came back last season...now its rat shit again!

I like it.

Sheridan on time at Swindon:



I'm not being disrespectful but if I was winning all the time then I wouldn't be at Swindon. I've done really well at clubs and have done poor at clubs. Every manager wants to win and there is no better feeling as a manager when you win. As a manger you get judged on your results and I totally understand it is about results. I'm here to keep Swindon in this division and it is a very very tough league but it is also very evenly matched.

SOURCE: total sport swindon

He has quite the way with words.

Well that should change a few views on him ::)

I'm pretty sure he said that a few weeks ago?

I enjoyed 2/3 of the 79-80 season. I even got over the semi final defeat but the falling away in the League was hard to take. That season convinced me of one thing - it is better to have the points on the board than games in hand.
I know McMahon wasn't popular (and not surprising) but I enjoyed that season we went up to  whatever it was called (1st div?) as champions. We made a good start (something we rarely do) and there never seemed much doubt we'd go up automatically.

Maybe yeah, also today

He said something about how if he was an amazing manager he wouldn’t be in league 1. So similar really, this one feels a bit more of a direct dig at swindon to me though

He's got a point.....

He is right....but i question the timing!

Its an arrogant comment, and you have to question his judgment. Premier League aside, there are just over 70 managerial jobs in football. There are a lot of talented, motivated men, who would absolutely kill for the opportunity to be a football league manager. So, if he can’t pluck up the enthusiasm to give a toss, I’d rather see someone that does given a chance.  But we’ve heard all of this from his other clubs. Just seems a thoroughly miserable bloke without a care for the fans of the clubs he manages. You have to question what motivates him. Or maybe he isn’t all that motivated.

The comment was a reasonable one - albeit poorly phrased.

The reaction to it has been fucking cringeworthy. I'm glad I avoided STFC discussion for the week.

I agree. Just being honest, I reckon. At least he’s not making out he’s some sort of messiah. If he keeps us in L1 - job done and thanks very much.

Couldn’t disagree more. If you underperform in your job, do you use the excuse that if you were any good, you’d own the business, or work in a bigger business? No, you try and do better. The right response to underperforming is not to say “I’m average, deal with it.”

I can't even be bothered to argue.

C'mon FH, that's not like you.

The question posed to Sheridan was ‘How important is success to you, baring in mind your record at Chesterfield?’ who then replied with ‘Of course success is important, if I was winning every game I wouldn’t be at Swindon. That’s being realistic, not being disrespectful’.

It's a clumsy response but I'm not going to flap/dwell over it too much.

I think it's one of those conversations that won't sway somebody from their point of view and that's fine because this is relatively 'small fry' within the world of Swindon Town and indeed the tenure of John Sheridan.

Likewise, not losing sleep over this. It’s just symptomatic of the mediocrity and lack of care that seems to have set in.

Sheridan isn't that media savvy/friendly.

more concerned what he does with the team that what he says. which so far is 2 derby victories and bugger all else

I think John Sheridan has done a decent job since coming in... He's arrived into a squad low on confidence, low on squad numbers, the former manager gave up and decided to do one because he knew if he stayed - the ship sinking on his CV wouldn't look good.

Grounds and Baudry making mistakes left right and centre, dropped Kovar for a game - Fryers hashed his opportunity and Kovar turned the corner. Beat Rovers, beat Oxford by recognising something that has been evident all season in our awful final third play. Tried various things, rotated the squad where he can, tinkered with the formation to shore up our defence and whilst we might not be there yet, having Conroy and Zeki back in the squad immediately has made a difference.

Yes, we do have some flaws that we're working through but for the last 3 games, the team has been growing in confidence and style of play. I really think if we continue with our trajectory, we can start pushing up the table. We've got a decent team that when it plays to its strengths, we can win more games than we lose. Wellens was right about one thing... We're only 1 or 2 players away from being a playoff challenging team.

No matter what circumstances Sheridan has been brought in under, his lack of PR and poor tone and way of wording things...  The Robins are on the rise! Bring on Portsmouth!

In the same interview he also said it's a massive job and he's lucky to have it.

That didn't make the headlines.

Definately a soundbite taken out of context and latched onto by the press and some fans.

I don't have any issues with Shez so far other than some weird and often non existant substiutions, he has his hands tied, and hes right, if he was a great manager he wouldn't be at Swindon he would be managing at a far higher level.

I've really found it all quite embarrassing to be honest. 

I suspect that some of those making the most noise are well aware of the context, but want to make a show of being angry because it's the in thing to do and making LOUD NOISES helps them be part of the crowd. Or some people just like to be angry regardless of whether or not the anger is justified.

Yep.

The "I wouldn't be at Swindon" is almost Clough like in its bluntness.  And, in the particular context of the situation in which he took over and with the ownership shenanigans, entirely fair.  I'd love to hear about the enormous potential of Swindon, Shezza's plans to tap into it and grow us into a respected Championship-level club.  Only, right now, that wouldn't seem like ambition, it would sound deranged.

He's not charismatic like our PM for example.  

However he's come to save us from relegation.  He needs to be judged on that.  Obviously his dour, inarticulate countenance recalls Hart but let's remember Wellens failed his R test at Oldham.  

For the future, I'd prefer a younger, more ambitious appointment.  But they normally come to a club with a plan.  Right now, I'm keeping a close eye but I am getting behind Shezza

Waterford FC have posted condolences to Sheridan after the passing of both his mother and father over the christmas period.

Fucking hell RIP

Maybe that explains why he seemed 'distant'. Awful news and feel very sorry for him - What a rubbish time and thing to happen.

Wow! That's terrible news. Hard to imagine something like that happening, especially at this time of year. RIP

Here's the post for anyone who hasn't seen it:

https://twitter.com/WaterfordFCie/status/1343877277986287616?s=20

Fuck me that’s terrible

So presumably the reason he missed a couple of press conference wasn’t because he was living it up on the piss as some implied

That's absolutely awful, I can't even imagine what he must be going through right now.

To lose both parents within a short period is just awful irrespective of the time of year. Can only imagine the whole situation must have been made doubly hard by current restrictions. Condolences and RIP

This makes it even worse for the poor bloke, lost my Dad 10 years on 23rd December and it changes everything in such a short space of time.

Couldn’t blame the bloke if he did have a drink or 10 either in all honesty, who wouldn’t.

hope he takes the time out he needs

Let's hope the guy is given some slack even if results don't go our way. Terrible news and condolences to him and all of his family and friends

Wonder why the news was broken by the Waterford twitter and nothing on the STFC comms?

Terrible terrible news. Poor guy

As I implied. I was the only one, so I'll gladly take the flak. No one else mentioned anything. If you want to point the finger please do be direct.

However that doesn't mean that what I said isn't true. What it does do is at least give more understanding as to why he may have been, and as Quaggy says - I don't think anyone would be too judging regarding that if so.

In any case, as mentioned on t'other fred. I can wish nothing but my condolences to JH and all connected.

Terrible news. RIP to his parents, condelences to the family.

Yep,  bad news at any time of the year but as things stand couldn't have come at a worse time.   Probably won't see him tonight but sure we can all understand that, if that's his decision.   RIP Mr and Mrs Sheridan Snr.

Yes, a little odd. Unless it was someone only partially ITK at Waterford and Sheridan had asked his current employer for privacy?

Edit: Or our Comms and media team/person were not aware or are on holiday.

It’s now hardly surprising that he may not have been in the mood to be positive or upbeat.

It just goes to show how many people in life are quick to judge without knowing all of the facts. Yes I mean us on here!

Can we now show the man some respect, leave him in peace and allow him to say goodbye to his parents and then get on with his job.

Great post and well said

Maybe they were asked not to and Waterford didn't get the memo.

Sent from my CLT-L09

That's probably correct given there is still no comms. Fair enough that the club must respect Sheridan's wishes.