Jan;s and Wotte's comments;

[NickG]

JAN Poortvliet walked out of Saints tonight, after being overwhelmed by fan criticism, but described his time at the club as a “beautiful adventure.”

 

The Dutchman said he had been stunned by the “negativity” from the crowd during last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Doncaster at St Mary’s.

 

Speaking honestly and openly to the Daily Echo after resigning as head coach, the 53-year-old said that loss had been the final straw.

 

Although the reaction from supporters this week has left something of a bitter taste in his mouth, Poortvliet said he had enjoyed the chance to take charge of Saints.

 

“For me, it’s just the end of a beautiful adventure and hopefully in the future for me will come other things,” he said.

 

 

The club announced shortly after 8pm that Jan Poortvliet had stepped down due to the side’s woeful home form – Saints have won just one of 14 league games at St Mary’s this season.

 

Wotte has now taken over as head coach on a permanent basis and was due to meet the players at the club’s Staplewood training ground at 9am tomorrow.

 

The 48-year-old will meet with the media on Monday and did not wish to say much before then.

 

However, he said: "It is mixed feelings for me. But the club is the most important thing right now. We have to do what’s best for the club, starting today from me."

[saint lard]

I really do feel a little sad fo JP.

A pretty fine fella from the way he comes over.

Given the right tools for the job i suspect he could succeed.

He's been a patsy for Lowe,Imo.

He's been undermined from every angle i suspect also,all the best.

Statistically bad,but an amiable character.

Unfortunatley we are in a results driven business,where have i heard that before?

[SaintRobbie]

I will double my efforts.

[NickG]

timings are strange, wonder if he did suddenly feel "oh **** it".

 

But why not at the beginning of the week -which equally applies to be being asked to resign???

[Huffton]

had been stunned by the “negativity” from the crowd during last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Doncaster at St Mary’s.

 

 

 

That quote sums up my feelings for the guy, 1 win in 14 and he expects the crowd to be positive towards his increasingly bizarre selections and tactics? Sorry Jan, I know you had the best intentions but you were clearly way way out of your depth.

[Fowllyd]

That quote sums up my feelings for the guy, 1 win in 14 and he expects the crowd to be positive towards his increasingly bizarre selections and tactics? Sorry Jan, I know you had the best intentions but you were clearly way way out of your depth.

 

Exactly. We were losing at home to one of two teams then below us in the table, a team which was only promoted last season and is many people's hot favourite to go down; he changed the team line-up, going to a 3-man defence (with ONE centre-back, for god's sake), at which point many players by all accounts seemed totally unaware of how they should be lining up... And with all this he expects a positive reaction from the crowd?

[Iowsaintsfan]

Nice guy but well out of his depth tactically

[WealdSaint]

Can't help but feel a little sorry for him..........but the table dos'nt lie.

 

Sadly the people who appointed him when we had a perfectly good manager hav'nt the integrity to resign as well.

[St Marco]

That quote sums up my feelings for the guy, 1 win in 14 and he expects the crowd to be positive towards his increasingly bizarre selections and tactics? Sorry Jan, I know you had the best intentions but you were clearly way way out of your depth.

 

I agree. I think it could be simply because he has no clue about English football. Have to remember he is used to 1000-3000 attendences in Holland, he has got clubs relegated before and im unsure if in the amateur leagues people are as vocal when things go pear shaped. As mentioned if he thinks the fans should be happy to be 2nd to bottom with 1 home win all season then he does not know the league nor the supporters at all.

[NickG]

does show how low we are when you see manager arguing with fans during a game

[Frank's cousin]

Re the timing - needed o be done really before the weekend to hopefully give Wotte time with the squad befor tuesday...A decent bloke, with god ideas on how e game should be played, but not able to put that into practice at this level - would make a good academy director/coach IMHO, but not a first teamer.

[sfc6mufc3]

I too am amazed regarding Jan's comments towards the crwod.

Where he questions their reaction to us losing to Donny.

This to me (once again) shows he was out of this depth, by not knowing about the history of our club.

 

Did he realise apart fom Everton we had one of the longest staying records for being in the top flight?

Was he not aware of the amount of England captains we have had at our club?

Was he not aware of our trip to the FA cup final and (admittedly brief) venture into Europe?

Did he not realise the conveyor belt of talent we have produced in the last few years?

 

This to me is why we should not have appointed him and should stick to a non-foreign manager.

[Big Ron fan]

Can't help but feel a little sorry for him..........but the table dos'nt lie.

 

Sadly the people who appointed him when we had a perfectly good manager hav'nt the integrity to resign as well.[/QUOTE]

 

Hear! Hear!

[Big Ron fan]

does show how low we are when you see manager arguing with fans during a game

 

Yes, after the euphoria and togetherness on 4 May last year.

 

Thanks Rupert and all those who have supported him!