I have just witnessed one of the worst performances by a Welling side, embarrassing. First half Hemel were useless and we didn't take advantage. The Hemel number 8 is possibly the worst player I have seen at this level, just there for heading the ball. So why did Welling keep kicking it to his head? Nothing up front, midfield non existent and defence not able to clear there lines and keeper kicking schoolboy standard. Second half Welling terrible, so why change from the first half? Hemel were only slightly better from the first and had a slice of luck to get the goal, but it was coming. Common denominator is the manager for me and enough is enough and time for a change before we're dragged towards the bottom 4. The crowds are the lowest seen for ages, I wonder why? 416 odd is another embarrassment for this club as even Goldberg kept the crowds above 500.
Managing expectations is a key part of management. Warren has been totally undermining this team by setting no ambitious targets at all (we will take one game at a time and see where it gets us) which will be so unmotivating for the players as they have no positive targets to aim for.
I am quite black and white in my thinking, l need to know what success is, and what failure is. So I asked the chairman what we were aiming for, as that would help me understand if we were doing well or not. He told me and all the fans in the meet the manager meeting that we were aiming for a top half of the table finish, looking up (toward promotion) not down (relegation). I loved that, it helped me and everyone else so much understand what we were going for this season. It was a soft target, not hard like "we must finish in a play off spot", but fairly easy, just top 12. After rebuilding the side a top 12, and increasing training and spending more on the squad, top 12 was not a tough target
Well, we aren't going to make even top half, we are 15th, 7 points off 12th spot, and have had two shots on target in the last 3 games (all played at home). For the second time in the last three matches we never looked likely to score.
Warren sets us up to restrict the opposition, but they set up to attack us, which is why we hardly ever win these days.
The players arent stupid, I remember seeing an interview with a player who said he wanted the team to play to its strengths. I agree. But the manager can't even see what the strengths are, and who should be playing in different positions to bring the best out in themselves and the team.
This match was DREADFUL. A real turning point. Is THIS what the board want? A crowd of 419 (lower than last season's bottom 2 attendances) watching the home team not get a single shot on target once again at home?
It wasn't a one off, it has been like this for the past 5 months, 5 wins from the last 25 games. Time to give someone else a chance, as we have a great squad, with a great attitude - THEY DID THEIR BEST TODAY, NEVER GAVE UP - just hopeless management tactics not getting the best out of them.
The club really needs to decide what direction it wants to head in and whether they have the manager to match that ambition - it really is as simple as that. I know from speaking to people involved at the club before the season started that playoffs were an ambition, but a decent top half finish was certainly realistic. The start to the season on and off the field, led us all to believe that was achievable too.
The simple facts are that the clubs core attendance can be relied upon to be in the range of 400-600, and those guys will turn up week in, week out through thick and thin whoever the owner is, whoever the manager is, whatever the style of play is. God bless them all - the club needs a backbone like that.
We have never been a regular 1,000+ team. What gets us to that level is what I'd call "hope value", and I speak as one of the supporters that would fit in the bracket of the 'top up 500' who has come and gone over 35 years since first attending. I'm afraid Warren Feeney has sucked that hope out of me from what I've seen on the field of play, and looking at comments on Twitter and other socials, and again reading on here, I'm sure I probably speak for many of the 'top up 500'. The style of football is awful - as bad as anything I can remember, and whilst we dug out some narrow wins (and some plucky draws) with that style in the early months, those points have turned into regular, spiritless losses. Its a bit like the Sam Alladyce, Sean Dyche school of football - when you're winning 1-0 people forgive the stylistics, but when you're losing 1-0 its an even bigger stick to beat you with. Couple that with the fact that his post match comments regularly dig the team and individuals out, and you have to question whether the players really believe in him too
The "top up 500" are supporters I believe the club genuinely want to see back in the ground. The drive to get the gates up to 1,000+ in the early months was there for all to see. You could detect it in the ground and at away games - the start of something new and exciting, ambition off the field, some great signings on it.....the sort of thing that made me drive an hour just for home games and want to travel far and wide. Now, I'm afraid that enthusiasm in late Feb, early March has been sapped
The club can look at the "top up 500" in a few ways. Warren Feeney's way is to dub us all as 'non football people' in so much as we dare to raise eyebrows at being 15th in the league and question if Steve King, Brad Quinton and numerous others would be getting a better tune out of this squad. Someone should really send this fella on some sort of PR training exercise, because if he thinks he's winning people over with his post match comments, he is actually having the opposite effect. Patronising, condescending and borderline passive aggressive - that will never bring back gates of 1,000 mate, and that's a promise. I thought how the club actually viewed 'the top up 500' was as an opportunity to turn them into more dedicated fans, who would be regularly welcomed through the gates and encouraged to grow a closer relationship to the club.....certainly not to be sneered at.
So, as I started off by saying.....the very simple decision the club has is whether they truly believe this manager will match their on and off field ambitions. I would love to be proved wrong but football is an entertainment business (not just a winning one) and non league football has always thrived on community spirit - I personally doubt if Feeney has the capacity to entertain or foster any sort of community spirit
-- Edited by Treacle on Wednesday 1st of March 2023 08:24:55 AM
The board are the only ones who want Feeney here. Surely theyve seen enough of this too. If theyre only keeping him here because of his potential academy connections then thats not good enough. This is a football club and the decisions need to based on results, not whether you like the guy. He has no rapport with the fans and never has. His tactics are non existent. His input into recruitment has not improved it. The crowds are suffering because of the results. Its quite clear he isnt going to turn things around and having people around the club tell him him what a fantastic job hes doing is making things worse.
This season is over but go and get a competent manager who matches the clubs ambition and can back it up. Feeney is ambitious but not good enough. We need change otherwise we have another season of this rubbish. People just wont come back if thats the case. Although by the looks of it the board would rather that than get rid of Feeney.
I think the bottom line is do the Board, and the supporters, believe that the current management can not only move us up the table, but also develop the playing squad into a team that can challenge in the playoffs next season?
If there is a lack of belief that the management team is right for next season, then the sooner changes are made the better chance the incoming staff have of doing a proper job.
The club really needs to decide what direction it wants to head in and whether they have the manager to match that ambition - it really is as simple as that. I know from speaking to people involved at the club before the season started that playoffs were an ambition, but a decent top half finish was certainly realistic. The start to the season on and off the field, led us all to believe that was achievable too.
The simple facts are that the clubs core attendance can be relied upon to be in the range of 400-600, and those guys will turn up week in, week out through thick and thin whoever the owner is, whoever the manager is, whatever the style of play is. God bless them all - the club needs a backbone like that.
We have never been a regular 1,000+ team. What gets us to that level is what I'd call "hope value", and I speak as one of the supporters that would fit in the bracket of the 'top up 500' who has come and gone over 35 years since first attending. I'm afraid Warren Feeney has sucked that hope out of me from what I've seen on the field of play, and looking at comments on Twitter and other socials, and again reading on here, I'm sure I probably speak for many of the 'top up 500'. The style of football is awful - as bad as anything I can remember, and whilst we dug out some narrow wins (and some plucky draws) with that style in the early months, those points have turned into regular, spiritless losses. Its a bit like the Sam Alladyce, Sean Dyche school of football - when you're winning 1-0 people forgive the stylistics, but when you're losing 1-0 its an even bigger stick to beat you with. Couple that with the fact that his post match comments regularly dig the team and individuals out, and you have to question whether the players really believe in him too
The "top up 500" are supporters I believe the club genuinely want to see back in the ground. The drive to get the gates up to 1,000+ in the early months was there for all to see. You could detect it in the ground and at away games - the start of something new and exciting, ambition off the field, some great signings on it.....the sort of thing that made me drive an hour just for home games and want to travel far and wide. Now, I'm afraid that enthusiasm in late Feb, early March has been sapped
The club can look at the "top up 500" in a few ways. Warren Feeney's way is to dub us all as 'non football people' in so much as we dare to raise eyebrows at being 15th in the league and question if Steve King, Brad Quinton and numerous others would be getting a better tune out of this squad. Someone should really send this fella on some sort of PR training exercise, because if he thinks he's winning people over with his post match comments, he is actually having the opposite effect. Patronising, condescending and borderline passive aggressive - that will never bring back gates of 1,000 mate, and that's a promise. I thought how the club actually viewed 'the top up 500' was as an opportunity to turn them into more dedicated fans, who would be regularly welcomed through the gates and encouraged to grow a closer relationship to the club.....certainly not to be sneered at.
So, as I started off by saying.....the very simple decision the club has is whether they truly believe this manager will match their on and off field ambitions. I would love to be proved wrong but football is an entertainment business (not just a winning one) and non league football has always thrived on community spirit - I personally doubt if Feeney has the capacity to entertain or foster any sort of community spirit
-- Edited by Treacle on Wednesday 1st of March 2023 08:24:55 AM
Exactly this. I was one of the 500 to be relied upon but have lost interest in the last few years as first Goldberg ran the place in to the ground, and now Feeney manages a team whose performances have made them virtually unwatchable, and yet seems untouchable. The positivity of last summer seems a long way away. The Hobbins were not perfect but at least they genuinely cared about the club, I am not so sure about the current owners. Maybe I have not taken enough interest but do we actually know who they are?
The club really needs to decide what direction it wants to head in and whether they have the manager to match that ambition - it really is as simple as that. I know from speaking to people involved at the club before the season started that playoffs were an ambition, but a decent top half finish was certainly realistic. The start to the season on and off the field, led us all to believe that was achievable too.
The simple facts are that the clubs core attendance can be relied upon to be in the range of 400-600, and those guys will turn up week in, week out through thick and thin whoever the owner is, whoever the manager is, whatever the style of play is. God bless them all - the club needs a backbone like that.
We have never been a regular 1,000+ team. What gets us to that level is what I'd call "hope value", and I speak as one of the supporters that would fit in the bracket of the 'top up 500' who has come and gone over 35 years since first attending. I'm afraid Warren Feeney has sucked that hope out of me from what I've seen on the field of play, and looking at comments on Twitter and other socials, and again reading on here, I'm sure I probably speak for many of the 'top up 500'. The style of football is awful - as bad as anything I can remember, and whilst we dug out some narrow wins (and some plucky draws) with that style in the early months, those points have turned into regular, spiritless losses. Its a bit like the Sam Alladyce, Sean Dyche school of football - when you're winning 1-0 people forgive the stylistics, but when you're losing 1-0 its an even bigger stick to beat you with. Couple that with the fact that his post match comments regularly dig the team and individuals out, and you have to question whether the players really believe in him too
The "top up 500" are supporters I believe the club genuinely want to see back in the ground. The drive to get the gates up to 1,000+ in the early months was there for all to see. You could detect it in the ground and at away games - the start of something new and exciting, ambition off the field, some great signings on it.....the sort of thing that made me drive an hour just for home games and want to travel far and wide. Now, I'm afraid that enthusiasm in late Feb, early March has been sapped
The club can look at the "top up 500" in a few ways. Warren Feeney's way is to dub us all as 'non football people' in so much as we dare to raise eyebrows at being 15th in the league and question if Steve King, Brad Quinton and numerous others would be getting a better tune out of this squad. Someone should really send this fella on some sort of PR training exercise, because if he thinks he's winning people over with his post match comments, he is actually having the opposite effect. Patronising, condescending and borderline passive aggressive - that will never bring back gates of 1,000 mate, and that's a promise. I thought how the club actually viewed 'the top up 500' was as an opportunity to turn them into more dedicated fans, who would be regularly welcomed through the gates and encouraged to grow a closer relationship to the club.....certainly not to be sneered at.
So, as I started off by saying.....the very simple decision the club has is whether they truly believe this manager will match their on and off field ambitions. I would love to be proved wrong but football is an entertainment business (not just a winning one) and non league football has always thrived on community spirit - I personally doubt if Feeney has the capacity to entertain or foster any sort of community spirit
-- Edited by Treacle on Wednesday 1st of March 2023 08:24:55 AM
Really good post. Does Wusa have any views on the current circumstances. Are such matters taken as feedback, challenge etc by the appointed board member or supporters association?
The club really needs to decide what direction it wants to head in and whether they have the manager to match that ambition - it really is as simple as that. I know from speaking to people involved at the club before the season started that playoffs were an ambition, but a decent top half finish was certainly realistic. The start to the season on and off the field, led us all to believe that was achievable too.
The simple facts are that the clubs core attendance can be relied upon to be in the range of 400-600, and those guys will turn up week in, week out through thick and thin whoever the owner is, whoever the manager is, whatever the style of play is. God bless them all - the club needs a backbone like that.
We have never been a regular 1,000+ team. What gets us to that level is what I'd call "hope value", and I speak as one of the supporters that would fit in the bracket of the 'top up 500' who has come and gone over 35 years since first attending. I'm afraid Warren Feeney has sucked that hope out of me from what I've seen on the field of play, and looking at comments on Twitter and other socials, and again reading on here, I'm sure I probably speak for many of the 'top up 500'. The style of football is awful - as bad as anything I can remember, and whilst we dug out some narrow wins (and some plucky draws) with that style in the early months, those points have turned into regular, spiritless losses. Its a bit like the Sam Alladyce, Sean Dyche school of football - when you're winning 1-0 people forgive the stylistics, but when you're losing 1-0 its an even bigger stick to beat you with. Couple that with the fact that his post match comments regularly dig the team and individuals out, and you have to question whether the players really believe in him too
The "top up 500" are supporters I believe the club genuinely want to see back in the ground. The drive to get the gates up to 1,000+ in the early months was there for all to see. You could detect it in the ground and at away games - the start of something new and exciting, ambition off the field, some great signings on it.....the sort of thing that made me drive an hour just for home games and want to travel far and wide. Now, I'm afraid that enthusiasm in late Feb, early March has been sapped
The club can look at the "top up 500" in a few ways. Warren Feeney's way is to dub us all as 'non football people' in so much as we dare to raise eyebrows at being 15th in the league and question if Steve King, Brad Quinton and numerous others would be getting a better tune out of this squad. Someone should really send this fella on some sort of PR training exercise, because if he thinks he's winning people over with his post match comments, he is actually having the opposite effect. Patronising, condescending and borderline passive aggressive - that will never bring back gates of 1,000 mate, and that's a promise. I thought how the club actually viewed 'the top up 500' was as an opportunity to turn them into more dedicated fans, who would be regularly welcomed through the gates and encouraged to grow a closer relationship to the club.....certainly not to be sneered at.
So, as I started off by saying.....the very simple decision the club has is whether they truly believe this manager will match their on and off field ambitions. I would love to be proved wrong but football is an entertainment business (not just a winning one) and non league football has always thrived on community spirit - I personally doubt if Feeney has the capacity to entertain or foster any sort of community spirit
-- Edited by Treacle on Wednesday 1st of March 2023 08:24:55 AM
This is a really well articulated post. One that the owner should be shown.
__________________
"Passion for the game.......is Passion for the game" 'Have you got the Spills to pay the bills?'
I come in peace and don't have any axe to grind with the owners, who its absolutely clear have invested in the club and for me were a welcome change to what we've gone through over the past few years.
I do feel that the views of the 'top up 500' (forgive the term) should be listened too - but that doesn't have to be me, it could be anyone in that group. Sadly I feel that the views that go back to the top are only those of the absolute hardcore, and as I said, "god bless them" because without them the club is nothing. However, if we are going to be a 1,000+ regular gate club then winning over the remainder and communicating with them in a positive way (rather than dismissing them) would seem like a logical step to me.....just as any business tries to attract new customers.
Whether people like it or not, Warren Feeney, is a core part of the PR machine and when he refers to people who take a contrary view as "non footballing people" it's hugely damaging. I don't lose sleep over it, but every time one of those sneers come out, just know that it is registered and I can see straight through the statement. Its just an alternative way of saying "turn up, agree with everything, never challenge anything, never have your own view" and everything will be ok. If you don't want to do that, just stay away. Well, Mr Feeney you will truly get your way if you continue to dismiss derby matches and look upon anyone who hasn't played 30 times for their country with such complete disdain.
I'd like to think that the representatives of the club who speak to the board wouldn't like that to be part of the plan in attracting 1,000+ people, but it really is over to them as whether the voice of these people is dismissed or listened to
-- Edited by Treacle on Thursday 2nd of March 2023 01:43:07 PM
-- Edited by Treacle on Thursday 2nd of March 2023 01:49:52 PM
I come in peace and don't have any axe to grind with the owners, who its absolutely clear have invested in the club and for me were a welcome change to what we've gone through over the past few years.
I do feel that the views of the 'top up 500' (forgive the term) should be listened too - but that doesn't have to be me, it could be anyone in that group. Sadly I feel that the views that go back to the top are only those of the absolute hardcore, and as I said, "god bless them" because without them the club is nothing. However, if we are going to be a 1,000+ regular gate club then winning over the remainder and communicating with them in a positive way (rather than dismissing them) would seem like a logical step to me.....just as any business tries to attract new customers.
Whether people like it or not, Warren Feeney, is a core part of the PR machine and when he refers to people who take a contrary view as "non footballing people" it's hugely damaging. I don't lose sleep over it, but every time one of those sneers come out, just know that it is registered and I can see straight through the statement. Its just an alternative way of saying "turn up, agree with everything, never challenge anything, never have your own view" and everything will be ok. If you don't want to do that, just stay away. Well, Mr Feeney you will truly get your way if you continue to dismiss derby matches and look upon anyone who hasn't played 30 times for their country with such complete disdain.
I'd like to think that the representatives of the club who speak to the board wouldn't like that to be part of the plan in attracting 1,000+ people, but it really is over to them as whether the voice of these people is dismissed or listened to.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Couldn't put this post and your previous one better myself. I am one of the core 450 who will come through thick and thin. Whilst I understand that we may see a new dawn next season/year, it is this one that worries me. We are in free fall with safety by no means a forgone conclusion and the crowds will continue to dwindle because we are offering them nothing to remain with us. Whilst the current make up of the board is a mystery, even though we are three quarters of the way through the season, if we knew their addresses or personal emails I should recommend sending a copy of your original posting to them, as it sums the current situation admirably."
-- Edited by RonF on Thursday 2nd of March 2023 02:22:19 PM
__________________
In three words I can sum up everything i've learnt in life; it goes on.
The decision on keeping or releasing a manager is complicated, the obvious deciding factor is match results, but actually there are lots of other things that need to be taken into account, as sometimes the reasons for results mean they are not the best sole way to make any decision. From what I have seen, the decisive factors are the 8 below, though there may be some big ones I have overlooked. But it covers the things that the club have spelt out they wanted from this season, and what all clubs need from any manager.
Everyone will have their own view of the current manager's performance, I have put in my marks for the whole season so far, he started off better than Peter Taylor, but is now pretty much the same, he seems to have built a solid bond with the board who dont seem to care that the club has won once at home in the last 4 months and accordingly attendances are falling. The board would see more of the training, so I have left that unmarked, and it is too early to know how many will stay next season, but we now only have Chi, Aaron and Jamie from last year, I'd be surprised if too many of the squad want another season with him, time will tell, but my scoring is 18/70.
Tactical awareness/ team effectiveness in matches 4 Attractive crowd building style of football 3 Engagement with board 10 Engagement with players in matches 1 Engagement with fans 0 Team improvement as season progresses 0
Player discipline 0
Player retention for next season - not marked Training quality - not marked
-- Edited by Johnny Hartley on Thursday 2nd of March 2023 05:45:25 PM
Yeah its a stinker alright! Our manager has no filter and certainly has no love for or a relationship with us the fans, why would he I suppose when he must know hes not wanted. That said hes making zero attempt to get us back on side. I believe there is only one man that wants Warren at the club and he is the man that counts.
__________________
"Passion for the game.......is Passion for the game" 'Have you got the Spills to pay the bills?'
The thing is, the approach Feeney is displaying with regards to them and us is just creating divide.
I know as I have played at a high level, whereas you are just simpletons with no knowledge approach is not healthy.
It would break both my son and my heart to see Welling fail, but there is a small part of me that if we go a couple down, would like to see a hatful.
If only to heap more pressure on Feeney.
The current club/supporter relationship is not healthy, and come to think of it, neither is the Manager/Chairman one.
Probably have a complete change of heart come 3pm tomorrow.
Well, at least I hope so.
Finally I would like to see a bit more direct questioning in the post match interview.
Questions along the line of shots on target? Constant high ball? Showing your hand taking off an attacker and bringing on a defender when drawing (Tuesday night)? Crowd down to just over 400, why do you think this is? Etc, etc.
Just think he gets off far too lightly.
The thing is, the approach Feeney is displaying with regards to them and us is just creating divide. I know as I have played at a high level, whereas you are just simpletons with no knowledge approach is not healthy. It would break both my son and my heart to see Welling fail, but there is a small part of me that if we go a couple down, would like to see a hatful. If only to heap more pressure on Feeney. The current club/supporter relationship is not healthy, and come to think of it, neither is the Manager/Chairman one. Probably have a complete change of heart come 3pm tomorrow. Well, at least I hope so.
Finally I would like to see a bit more direct questioning in the post match interview. Questions along the line of shots on target? Constant high ball? Showing your hand taking off an attacker and bringing on a defender when drawing (Tuesday night)? Crowd down to just over 400, why do you think this is? Etc, etc. Just think he gets off far too lightly.
I dont think losing any more games will have any direct effect on his job, I sound like a broken record but honestly until the day he decides to leave, the job is his. He wont be sacked. So we need to hope we win as many as possible just to make sure we are not dragged into a relegation dog fight.
__________________
"Passion for the game.......is Passion for the game" 'Have you got the Spills to pay the bills?'
On one hand a positive interview as far as he and I suppose those that are in power within the club. However, it bears no resemblance on performances of late (particularly at home). Mr Feeney I have no idea who you are are alluding too in respect of sitting having their lunch on Friday, however, all I can say that come Saturday I live on tenterhooks both home and away about what we face at 5 o'clock (or 2145), at present it is not good enough. Like many, I have had my heart and soul in this Club for many years, managers are transient and if they cannot perform they should go. I am not saying that Mr Feeney is any worse than we have had over recent years but the squad assembled should be in a far better position than it is at present. Saturday's result will be interesting, a loss and I can seen another season of looking over our shoulder. A position the money men I am sure did not envisage at the start of the season.
__________________
In three words I can sum up everything i've learnt in life; it goes on.
The irony is that I've never seen the club so active in doing so many good things - and being so community and charity focused. The piece with Jenas, the sign up to ProstateFC etc - all stuff to be really proud of. I also saw the short social piece trying to attract people down to the club to get behind the women's team and the academy set up seems very positive too.
So I ask the question once more - is Warren Feeney an appropriate mouthpiece/PR outlet for a club trying to attract 1,000 people+ through the gate and to get behind the club more generally? If the board and owners honestly think that is the case, then I can honestly say with my own voice, that they couldn't be more mistaken.
The words "no disrespect" at the start of a sentence generally mean that would is about to get said is going to be disrespectful. "No disrespect, I've been in bigger and more difficult situations than this" - if a statement screams "F+++ you bunch of small time losers" its that one. "The people having their lunch on a Friday" - another passive aggressive comment, that only those inside the club are qualified to pass comment. Add this to the "the footballing people understand", the utter dismissal of the Dartford derby game and countless more.
Sorry Warren - I've only been involved in playing, watching and coaching in football for 40 years and spent more time than I care to remember watching Welling games over the years (despite never living within 30 mins of the ground, and at times up to 2.5 hours away). Because I haven't played for my country 30 odd times, because I don't agree with everything you say, I now understand that makes me a "non footballing" man and clearly not the type deserving to watch your great team, let alone be able to pass comment. I'll do as instructed and stay away and let the more qualified, "footballing people" swell the gates to 1,000+ every week because you're clearly doing a fine job of winning so many of them over
The irony is that I've never seen the club so active in doing so many good things - and being so community and charity focused. The piece with Jenas, the sign up to ProstateFC etc - all stuff to be really proud of. I also saw the short social piece trying to attract people down to the club to get behind the women's team and the academy set up seems very positive too. Well done to everyone involved in all of those initiatives - its well received and you can really sense a club that cares about its local community
So I ask the question once more - is Warren Feeney an appropriate mouthpiece/PR outlet for a club trying to attract 1,000 people+ through the gate and to get behind the club more generally? If the board and owners honestly think that is the case, then I can tell you with my own voice, that they couldn't be more mistaken. Is this truly the public voice that you want representing your club?
The words "no disrespect" at the start of a sentence generally mean that what is about to get said is going to be disrespectful. "No disrespect, I've been in bigger and more difficult situations than this" - if a statement screams "you bunch of small time losers" its that one. "The people having their lunch on a Friday" - another passive aggressive comment, that only those inside the club are qualified to pass comment whilst the rest of us are some sort of ill-informed, lazy bunch of halfwits with nothing better to do with our time than dare to raise an objective view. Add this to the "the footballing people understand", the utter dismissal of the Dartford derby game and countless more. Nobody doubts that people are working hard - I've got 470 people working in my organisation and none of them come in every day thinking how they should deliberately screw things up or sit around all day lazing about. Nobody is questioning work ethic or intention. However, as the head of any business is accountable for its results (trust me as a FD/MD of many years its a real pressure that I work under every day), it can not turn on its advocates/customers/shareholders, every time it has a difficult time. I've never worked harder than the last 3 years and my intentions every day are only good ones. However, I don't get all the decisions right all of the time, and would like to think have the humility to accept criticism of those decisions (providing its done respectfully and constructively). Criticism comes in any leadership position - MPs, business leaders, head teachers, senior figures in the armed forces - and football managers are not exempt! Its how you deal with it that counts, and I can honestly say that if I treated my own existing and potential customers with such utter disdain, I wouldn't have a business left!
Sorry Warren - I've only been involved in playing, watching and coaching in football for 40 years and spent more time than I care to remember watching Welling games over the years (despite never living within 30 mins of the ground, and at times up to 2.5 hours away, and for the past 20 years at least an hour away). Because I haven't played for my country 30 odd times, because I don't agree with everything you say, because I haven't been directly involved in a Rangers v Celtic match, I now understand that makes me a "non footballing" man and clearly not the type deserving to watch "your" great team, let alone be able to pass comment. I'll do as instructed and stay away and let the more qualified, "footballing people" swell the gates to 1,000+ every week because you're clearly doing a fine job of winning so many of them over.
I presume using Warren's logic, that unless you've written a best selling novel, directed a blockbuster movie or been head chef at a Michelin star restaurant that any comments you may have posted on Amazon, Netflix or TripAdvisor should be immediately removed as you're obviously a "non reading", "non directing", "non cooking" type.....and I presume he counts himself within that collective, as to the best of my knowledge he hasn't done any of those things
Anyway, good luck to the team today and to all the fans going down there today - I wish I could join you rather than sit at home with the lunch munching, non football types.
-- Edited by Treacle on Saturday 4th of March 2023 09:47:50 AM
The thing is, the approach Feeney is displaying with regards to them and us is just creating divide. I know as I have played at a high level, whereas you are just simpletons with no knowledge approach is not healthy. It would break both my son and my heart to see Welling fail, but there is a small part of me that if we go a couple down, would like to see a hatful. If only to heap more pressure on Feeney. The current club/supporter relationship is not healthy, and come to think of it, neither is the Manager/Chairman one. Probably have a complete change of heart come 3pm tomorrow. Well, at least I hope so.
Finally I would like to see a bit more direct questioning in the post match interview. Questions along the line of shots on target? Constant high ball? Showing your hand taking off an attacker and bringing on a defender when drawing (Tuesday night)? Crowd down to just over 400, why do you think this is? Etc, etc. Just think he gets off far too lightly.
We seem to always have that problem with interviews, then the only 2 people who haven't been like that and asked proper questions are Spills here and Gav Sutton who's services were no longer required!
The irony is that I've never seen the club so active in doing so many good things - and being so community and charity focused. The piece with Jenas, the sign up to ProstateFC etc - all stuff to be really proud of. I also saw the short social piece trying to attract people down to the club to get behind the women's team and the academy set up seems very positive too.
So I ask the question once more - is Warren Feeney an appropriate mouthpiece/PR outlet for a club trying to attract 1,000 people+ through the gate and to get behind the club more generally? If the board and owners honestly think that is the case, then I can honestly say with my own voice, that they couldn't be more mistaken.
Summed up very well in these two sentences. I had the feeling earlier in the season that the club really was going in the right direction. Lots of positive things - maybe not perfect - but a vast improvement in lots of areas. I've regularly been bringing more people to games, but I'm now at the point where that feeling has totally gone out the window. As a season ticket holder for 20 years there have been plenty of ups and downs - which you come to expect supporting a non-league team - but at the moment for me feels like the lowest point in all those years.
