S-Clarke

I believe they clarified it a little later to say that managers currently in jobs have applied, even some currently in the premiership. Blackmore does seem to have a close contact in the club, but whether the info is fed as spin - who knows.

interesting. KS's track record is pretty good fwiw.

tbf i wouldn't be suprised if he's one of the applicants, i bet he's dying to get away from boro before he's pushed. It just hasn't worked out for him there.

I agree with you. A manager should be left to pick the players, select the team, sort out the transfers and appoint the coaching staff around him that he see's fit. When we first got pardew and there was talk of him overhauling the scouting system etc i actually believed that he is being left to build the football side of the club, which is exactly how it should work. but recent events unfortunatley seem to suggest otherwise. Cortese has always indended to bring a european setup here and i think this will be the way we work now, and the manager we appoint will have to accept that. I think that will limit our options somewhat.

He has struggled since the back end of last season if im honest. He doesn't seem to have ever recovered from the injury he had. A real shame, because at the start of last season he was an utter beast and perfect for this league.

I've never understood why we keep playing Puncheon on the right. He is a left footed player, so why do we never use him there? He is dangerous on the right but it's often counteracted by the fact he has to cut inside.

I don't believe that as a fan base we should sit back and accept what we all feel are poor decisions. We're not just talking about the timing of sacking Pards, there are plenty of other decisions that have been made in the past few months that are seriously questionable to say the least. I have said before that i believe he has the interests of the club at heart, but he doesn't do things the right way and is a PR disaster. He has no experience of doing this and it's starting to show, as we all know - managing a football club is nothing like managing a bank.

We never will, he would have almost certainly been forced to sign an NDA.

I agree with alot of what you have to say Hypo. i'm also just stunned by it all, it's hard to really put it into words isn't it. All in the space of 3 weeks. It's the most surreal period in the history of this club, well for me it is anyway. The events of the last 3 weeks have just totally stunned me in many different ways.

bpsaint i truly hope you are wrong.

Don't think so ''However, we are taking these steps to achieve our aims, which we share with all supporters, to get promoted this season,''

Bizarrely, they also confirmed later that some of the managers are currently in the PL. can't work out who that could be??

That's fair.

Solent have spoken to the club, and they say a ''process will be started and time will be taken to ensure the right person is appointed (i thought we already had the right person?).'' - so no one imminent.

According to Solent, cortese has assured him of a role at the club no matter what.

Will be another week or 2 yet.

Yes, he needs to explain his actions. Preferably without a dig at former players.

the morale seemed totally fine on Saturday! this performance is a direct result of pardews sacking, i'm sure of it.

From what Solent have said and what i was told earlier, we're not even close to anyone. It will be a few weeks at least.

That's kind of why i've felt apprehensive, especially with the crazy hype about us pre-season. but i honestly never envisaged it turning out like this. It's honestly like we're jinxed.

Unfortunately it's not been made up, it was confirmed by Mick Channon on the radio yesterday.

Flat. I have been apprehensive for this season all summer, but generally felt it would work out ok. I never ever thought it would turn out like this. Tonights result was like a flash back to a few seasons ago. It's a nightmare.

He is making too many god-awful decisions alpine. Banning Benali and MLT from St Marys, excellent. banning all external photographers from the ground and getting them to pay for photos to put in their papers - genius. falling out with the builders so the staplewood project is dead - fantastic. the guy is really starting to do my head in, and it's getting to a point where he cannot be defended anymore.

Cortese would never wonder that. He's always right.

Anyone who said that the sacking would not effect our chances of promotion, think again. We are run by a mad man who will only appoint someone that he can control. I thought the situation at this club was always too good to be true, maybe it was. We've possibly erased all the good work of last season already.