Today the board responded to the news yesterday that John Eustace had been sacked. Garry Cook has written an open letter to the fans. In it, he explained that there was a mismatch of ambition between JE and Knighthead. Admittedly we haven’t heard JE’s perspective, but at least this is an explanation of why the sacking happened now. The board also commended JE’s hard work and especially for keeping us up last season. Interestingly saying that if we had have gone down, they wouldn’t have bought us. We would therefore probably still be stuck with the previous regime. That doesn’t bear thinking about.
While the decision isn’t ideal, the owners of the club can do what they want. As I said yesterday, Eustace wasn’t their man and therefore was always at risk. It’s clear that they want the best for the club, and quite rightly, have the right to make the decisions they need to to see their ambitions realised.
So what now? Well I guess we have to wait and see if Rooney is their man, and if he is – he will need our support. This brings me to the second part of my blog.
While on the whole, most fans are supportive of the board, or at least prepared to see what happens – today I have witnessed nothing short of a complete embarrassment of posts by certain fans. One particular guy said he was giving up supporting Blues as a result of this decision. While he has a right to make that decision, for someone in their 60’s (as I am) – talk about a childish response. When I dug deeper, he also said he hoped we would get relegated. I have seen a bunch of other similar vitriolic posts.
Well you need to take a long hard look at yourselves if you’re saying these things. Anyone hoping the club will fail, in my opinion, loses any right to an opposite opinion. By all means disagree with the decision, and it’s ok to be angry about it – but statements like this completely undermine your argument. No one knows yet if it is a good or a bad decision, at the moment it’s only a decision. We have to wait and see what happens, but supporting the team is all we can do. If it doesn’t work – I believe that this board will face up and respond appropriately. The last board didn’t engage with us about anything at least this board are.
So Blues fans, whether you agree or not, the decision IS made, so put your big boy, (or girl), pants on and get behind the team and let’s see where we go!
Rooney didn’t do so well at his previous two managerial positions, so the headline today of “Rooney will take Birmingham City to another level”, makes me think it will likely be the third tier!
In the end though, whoever might be installed at St. Andrews needs to be given a time to succeed. KRO
I agree with the above. I thought JE was on to something and was doing OK, so be sacked after keeping Blues up AND starting so well this season was a bit of a shocker. No disrespects to Wayne, but he wouldn’t have been my first choice – I’d have thought Graham Potter would have been a better fit. But, as the OP has said, this is Knighthead’s club now and they must do was they think best. Let’s give it a try… KRO!