Smith in quit threat
Monday 26th January 2009, 2:15PM GMT.
Boss Rob Smith has threatened to “walk away” from AFC Telford United in an astonishing blast at his under-performing squad.
The Bucks went down 1-0 at Fleetwood Town on Saturday in a game that also saw James Meredith become the first Telford player to be sent off this season.
It means they have now taken just one point from their four league games in 2009, and Smith feels he and the supporters have been “conned” by the side’s recent displays.
“If they all scrap they’ve got the ability to get wins but these results are coming because they’re not fighting,” he said
“They’re picking up their money and they’re not fighting for the club.
“If that carries on then I’ll walk away, I’ll go, because those players don’t represent me at all.
“I’m sick of apologising to the fans for our results. Why should I, because I’m doing my job but those players are letting me down.
“I’m not here for the money, I’m here to win games of football and if I’m lumbered with some of those because I can’t get them out of the club, then I will go.
“I don’t think we’re doing anything different in preparation and I think some of those lads are conning us at the moment – they’re conning themselves and they’re conning us.
“They haven’t got the strength of character to play against teams scrapping for their lives.
“It’s all well and good playing at home on a nice pitch in August and getting the results then, but this is when the season really kicks in and for too many players it’s too difficult for them. Their mental strength isn’t there.”
Smith’s anger was not restricted to his own players, with referee Peter Bankes from Bootle also on the end of a tongue-lashing for his decision to dismiss Meredith on the stroke of half-time.
“That decision was an utter disgrace and I knew he was going to give something like that even before the game kicked off,” said Smith.
“Jon Adams was about 10 yards behind him (Meredith) so he was never the last man. All their fans were laughing and saying the same.
“He was being all cocky and arrogant and giving the lads some verbals even when they were warming up – he was a disgrace to the FA and he shouldn’t referee ever again in football.”
By CHRIS HUDSON
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Hmmm, seems strange thing to say. Fans need to back the club at this time and show our support even if we disagree with certain aspects
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he should go.
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NO NEED TO PUT ADDED PRESSURE ON THE PLAYERS.
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He won’t walk away, he’s trying to get a rise from the players!
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Fans will back the club, they always have but Rob probably feels that he and the fans are shouting at the moon at this stage.
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Sorry Rob you pick the team and on Saturday we only started with nine!!
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I don’t believe for a second that Rob would go, but you have to hand it to him, he shoots from the hip so to speak! No pussyfooting around with Mr Smith!! The quotes in the full story make great reading.
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If he was a half decent manager, Telford would have walked that league last season.
They will be better off without him.
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Well said Nick.
I have long been sceptical of Smithy’s criticism of players, as is the case here, and would suggest it is a method of management that does not get the reaction he hopes for. Take the past two seasons. When results started going badly he berated the players for their ‘inept’ performances. In 2007 this cost us the Unibond title and last year, whilst I recognise that second place was a very good performance from the team, we looked like we might challenge for the title until things took a late downturn. The same thing happened at Willenhall in 2005.
I’m not advocating that Smith goes but he must recognise that the blame does not lie solely on the players; he must shoulder some of it himself. By all means lambaste them in private but in a public arena the manager should always protect his players from criticism, not inflict it on them.
= ]
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Smith is a passionate football person and is entitled to let rip- good on ‘im.
A for ‘samtheshrew’ i suppose it’s no surprise to see a Town fan try and get rid of managers- they do it every 15 months or so, so pretty-boy Simpson’s time is nearly up!!
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Get Bully at the Bucks Head!!
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How about a headline for Samtheshrew….
Simpson in “I’ll stay” threat.
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