Mike Newell - the latest

[Neko Bazu]

Just been reading the local Sunday rag, and the headline was about Mike Newell's sacking. To summarise:

- He was sacked for 'gross misconduct' regarding his frequent comments to the media (well done board, way to get out of a payout)
- Mike Newell is going to take legal action against this (maybe not...)
- Newell also says he has one or two more surprises regarding the board
- One director has resigned over the sacking, saying he wasn't informed and disagrees with it, and another has complained about the manner in which it was done
- Newell thanked the fans for all their support, many of whom were supportive right up until the end. He wishes them and the club all the best in the future
- Chants of 'sack the board' rang out through the game against Ipswich, and apparently many disgruntled fans surrounded the directors' box after the match

To be perfectly honest, as much as I know it's going to hurt the club, I say good on him. This board are doing more harm than his legal action ever could, and he deserves some financial security after being stabbed in the back like that.

I'm also all but resigned to going down - and I won't be heartbroken if we do either. Hopefully, it'll get the board to sell up and ship out, leaving room for new faces with a bit of ambition and the club's best interests, rather than their own pocket's, at heart.

Some people have asked "Do you really want to keep your manager after losing six games in a row and having such a dreadful record before that?" To be blunt, if said manager is Mike Newell, then yes.

Onwards and upwards, Hatters, and Newell - all the best in the future.

[Golden_Boy™]

Newell's honest, some would say too honest - and his recent comments just gave your shite board a ready made excuse to sack him.

As far as I know, and I don't really know a great deal about it tbh, your fans were always behind him. Its a well known phrase - that the chairman doesn't sack you, the fans do.
In this case, it all points towards your board.

I'm just glad our board is nothing like that!

[Neko Bazu]

To the best of my knowledge (based on atmosphere at the ground, newspaper reports and letters, forum chats etc), Newell probably had about 90% of the fans behind him, if not more. This is entirely the board's doing - maybe even just the chairman's. I know there's a fans' representative on the board, and I can't see him having agreed to sack Newell either.

I'd love to see them hold a 'meet the fans' Q&A session in the near future

[derekhappyhatter]

Mostly I'd agree with that, Neko, although many fans that I spoke to (and heard on radio phone ins) were questioning Mike Newell's team selection on Tuesday night against Hull. Playing Leon Barnett up front was a bit bizarre, quite honestly.

Saturday's game, we looked much better with Carlisle and Barnett at centre back and Heiks playing a holding midfield role. But then Stein plays the new guy Idrizaj up front, very very lightweight.

And then we lost..... again......

But I still would have preferred Newell to stay and see the season out, althouth that would probably have meant the board couldn't use the misconduct excuse (and no compensation).

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see what the board say about transfer money today on the Town website.

[Neko Bazu]

derekhappyhatter said:

Mostly I'd agree with that, Neko, although many fans that I spoke to (and heard on radio phone ins) were questioning Mike Newell's team selection on Tuesday night against Hull. Playing Leon Barnett up front was a bit bizarre, quite honestly.

True, I've heard that too - but given all that's happened this season, our current position etc, he hardly had the fans baying for his blood, did he? I think, like me, most supporters wondered what that was about, but trusted him in the long term.

I can only assume he tried Barnett out up front in training (wondering if he could do two jobs like Stevo used to) and it worked then, but not when it mattered. Maybe his hand was forced by niggling injuries or something.

Let's face it, I think that the majority of fans would still have him back!