Is Fitton Incompetent?

[Arriba]

gasha shouldn't have been banned

[ahounsell]

Getting things wrong from time to time is inevitable.

"incompetent" as per the OP's original question is forgetting about VAT, lying to shareholders at an AGM, signing players the manager doesnt want just because it might sweeten a deal to sell the club. etc.. etc..  (All of this seems like ancient history now, but it actually happened barely a year ago, which in itself is testament to the off-field job the new board have done).

We may have to accept that the twin objectives of a stable self sufficient football club and promotion to the Championship are incompatible at least for the time being. Unless we can get to a position where we are regularly getting 10,000 crowds, promotion to the Championship would likely be short lived anyway. (Ask Luton or Colchester).

The current manager search is frustrating for everyone, but in this instance Fitton can actually benefit from the fickle nature of football fans in general. As long as the new man gets the team organised and leads us safely up the table, nobody will remember how long it took to appoint him.

Of course, if the new manager cant turn it round and we go down, Fitton`s reputation will take a battering (as he has said himself), but that would also have happened if he made a quick appointment and it went wrong.

[Arriba]

as far as i'm concerned fitton has made 2 bad errors of judgement.
1. the appointment of malpas (which, as time goes by was so bad it could see us relegated)
and 2. the townend season ticket pricing balls up.
he has also shot himself in the foot with comments he has made during the search for a new boss.
if he didn't come in and rescue the club,(for which all fans are gratefull) he'd be getting pelters now from everyone.
yes he does deserve slack for digging us out of a financial mess,but that doesn't get away from the fact that he has made bad mistakes.

[dell boy]

as far as i'm concerned fitton has made 2 bad errors of judgement.
1. the appointment of malpas (which, as time goes by was so bad it could see us relegated)
and 2. the townend season ticket pricing balls up.
he has also shot himself in the foot with comments he has made during the search for a new boss.
if he didn't come in and rescue the club,(for which all fans are gratefull) he'd be getting pelters now from everyone.
yes he does deserve slack for digging us out of a financial mess,but that doesn't get away from the fact that he has made bad mistakes.

Both of which could have paid off, they didn't/haven't ....

Malpas I'm sure was recommended by Sturrock.

The crowds for a side fifth from bottom of this division are far higher than likely if the season ticket scheme had not come into place.

[Arriba]

with no atmosphere and postioned above the relegation zone on goal difference.

[herthab]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing....

[Arriba]

of course herthab.but they are mistakes made nonetheless.

[RobertT]

Quite Dell.

Malpas was a calculated risk, at the time I thought it seemed fair enough, and only because of the sheer weight of negativity did I think it was right to let him go.  We may need a few seasons of being shit but plodding in mid table, it wasn't 3 years ago we were god awful and I don't think we've done much since then other than have half a season in League 2 where sheer organisation and fitness gave us a good enough start to get back up.  Without those first 6 games I think we'd still be in League 2 now.

The season tickets was a success.  It's not Fitton's fault fans can't sing.  We spent a fair few years without the Town End at all and the atmosphere was better than it is now.  The business sense is clear to see though with crowds holding up well above where they would be, and I've spent a small fortune on beer and burgers in comparison to past seasons where I was paying on the day to get in.

We had an easy little run last season before the wheels fell off just before Sturrock left.  Given the off field state, it's actually quite remarkable we a) got back and b) stayed up.  If someone comes and clears our debts, ploughs millions into the club, then they can run it on sound business principals if they wish.  I'll knock a lack of investment, or an unwilligness to bend the spending budget regardless of position in the club, when I can afford to.

[Reg Smeeton]

gasha shouldn't have been banned

 Somebody has to take on the obergruppenfuhrer Sonic role...given that fB is pining for the angst ridden one..it only seems right and proper.

[Arriba]

i think it's the glass half full-to the empty senario.i'm a pessimistic fucker so it's half empty.
if we had a name manager from pre season i reckon we'd have shifted even more season tickets.a cheaper option in the townend,more still.
you can bet alot wont renew next season unless something is done.

[RobertT]

I bet you more than 2500 season tickets get sold next season regardless of division and even if they go back up in price.  We sold 3000 under the shit for brains past regime most seasons.

I'm not saying everything is rosey, in fact the past few games have been laughable to watch.  It's just we may need to accept this is how it will be for a while yet.  I'd reckon not until next season, with a years stable off field support to the budget and a gradual move from our past financial worries - which also will help with player recruitment, will we see proper green shoots on the field.  Lets not forget we must be the footballing equiv of Ratners still.  Can we really be trusted to pay-up? etc.

[@MacPhlea]

of course herthab.but they are mistakes made nonetheless.

Incompetance is making the same mistake twice, which to date, Fitton has not done....

[flammableBen]

I reckon the odds of Fitton appointing Malpas again are pretty slim.

[Reg Smeeton]

 Next season could very well see us in Div 4 playing in front of 3-4000. while Bath egg chasers play in front of 10,000+....which would be  surreal.

[RobertT]

Next season could very well see us in Div 4 playing in front of 3-4000. while Bath egg chasers play in front of 10,000+....which would be  surreal.

Only if flying wilderbeast are part of the set piece moves of both clubs.