What’s with the negative vibe regarding Mansford?

Couldhaveboughtafiatuno said:
A genuine question. I’ve read several comments on here and only today spoke to someone who met the guy recently. Doesn’t seem to be anything concrete but the feeling is one of an agenda and or mistrust.
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People don’t like that he’s a qualified, experienced football professional instead of someone’s mate or a pub landlord from Oldham etc.

Not that he’s above accountability, the fact he was agent to Appleton many years ago doesn’t sit especially well.

His critics had a chance to question him at the BST meeting yet were strangely absent. Not so easy when u can’t hide behind a keyboard, is it?
 
He says all the right things and comes across as professional, but he makes a lot of avoidable mistakes.
What is his actual role as CEO? Appreciate there are major projects going on behind the scenes at BFC at the moment. Has he taken on too much? Does he need help from someone closer to the playing side, than the legal side?
 
TKL_Seasider said:
I don’t disagree, but how do you think he got it past the guy who signs the cheques? He’s not making these decisions alone or in isolation
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If the guy who signs the cheques didn’t trust his judgement, he wouldn’t be paying him circa £300,000k a year. But that doesn’t mean his judgment is always right, or that it can’t be called into question.
 
Raging_Bull said:
The fact he gave Apples a four year deal after his previous connection with him doesn't sit well with me one bit, made even worse by the current situation we are in.
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l will give the owners and Ben the benefit of the doubt on this one. They’d been stung by Critch leaving them high and dry, so to show confidence and longevity they offered MA a long contract. I guess they all thought that he’d build it like Critch did. Then be under demand so a 4 year contract would give us a bigger payday.

Also we don’t really know the contract terms? There might be a get out clause if results go wrong and there might be a maximum payout on sacking?
 
Chunkylad said:
l will give the owners and Ben the benefit of the doubt on this one. They’d been stung by Critch leaving them high and dry, so to show confidence and longevity they offered MA a long contract. I guess they all thought that he’d build it like Critch did. Then be under demand so a 4 year contract would give us a bigger payday.

Also we don’t really know the contract terms? There might be a get out clause if results go wrong and there might be a maximum payout on sacking?
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He doesn’t get all of the contract paid up. Standard now in football.
 
GaryMadineGoalMachine said:
Didn’t know this - kind of explains a lot!
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www.dailymail.co.uk

Michael Appleton wants to be Barnsley manager

Michael Appleton is desperate for a return to management and may have his wish granted at Barnsley after it emerged their chief executive used to be his agent.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk

Used to be before, quoting his own online CV, he became the 'proverbial poacher turned gamekeeper' and took up a bit of CEO-ing.

Critchley is a Wasserman client as well I think.
 
Chunkylad said:
l will give the owners and Ben the benefit of the doubt on this one. They’d been stung by Critch leaving them high and dry, so to show confidence and longevity they offered MA a long contract. I guess they all thought that he’d build it like Critch did. Then be under demand so a 4 year contract would give us a bigger payday.

Also we don’t really know the contract terms? There might be a get out clause if results go wrong and there might be a maximum payout on sacking?
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There is no way it's a four year contract with no provision for notice before the expiry of the fixed term
The Board aren't stupid
I don't profess to know the terms but I'd expect the notice period to be be twelve months
The 4 year bit was as you say to show confidence in the decision to appoint MA
 
12 month would be my thought too Tam.

I actually thought the 4 year contract with clauses was a clever piece of business after Critch. Our model of develop and sell applies to managers too
 
I dont understand the negativity towards him. By all accounts he works hard and is extremely dedicated to his job and employer.

However when things aren't going great fans need someone to blame.

Its as simple as that.

Im not saying he has got everything right because I don't know whether he has or he hasn't or who is at fault and who isnt but the name calling of him appears unjustified and hardly motivating.
 
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AngelBFC said:
I dont understand the negativity towards him. By all accounts he works hard and is extremely dedicated to his job and employer.

However when things aren't going great fans need someone to blame.

Its as simple as that.

Im not saying he has got everything right because I don't whether he has or he hasn't or who is at fault and who isnt but the name calling of him appears unjustified and hardly motivating.
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He heads up the recruitment team that has failed to land targets. He has to take the flak.
 
fcblackpool said:
He heads up the recruitment team that has failed to land targets. He has to take the flak.
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That's the one big criticism and a valid one at that. For a man of his experience, our transfer windows, under his watch have been terrible & the players MA wanted all failed to sign (failed medicals / terms etc).
We're in the shoite, and in January, he and to a lesser extent our new former Coventry guys, must earn their salaries.
 
People blame him for the last two abysmal transfer windows. Don't know whether he is to blame or not, but certainly someone has not made a very good job of it!
 
Raging_Bull said:
The fact he gave Apples a four year deal after his previous connection with him doesn't sit well with me one bit, made even worse by the current situation we are in.
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I’m not so sure Sadler didn’t have a say in the 4 year contract, clauses will make sure he won’t get paid 4 years wages if he’s sacked, if those clauses aren’t in the contract then god knows how SS has been savy enough to make millions
 
The 4 year contract is a headline. There will undoubtedly be performance related clauses in that contract.

Despite the perception of many on this forum there is no way the club will not be protected.
 
I see that with Mansford there have been a lot of positive progress at the club. I see the relationship with the likes of the Council have probably never been better. However, the whole appointment of Appleton does sit uncomfortably with me as there is a massive conflict of interest and Appleton seems an appointment that was always going to have major problems.
 
I think the negativity towards Mansford is for 2 reasons; the summer transfer window and the assumption it was his relationship with Appleton that led to him being appointed. Whether that's fair or not doesn't really come into it when it comes to supporters, ultimately a losing team will attract criticism of more than just the team or manager, it is a collective failing.
 
Surely the fact he is keeping his mate in a job when clearly no one wants him at the club says everything you need to know about him.
Out for himself and not the club.
 
The Board as a whole are doing a great job and the work going on behind the scenes making BFC a force again is admirable. Footballing wise, we are dogpoop not that they need telling in 50k new threads. ;)
 
The board are doing a very good job of improving the infrastructure of the club (which includes the academy) & with the capital projects.
However, I believe the first team squad is what matter most to supporters. No one can deny that the board have done a very poor job of ensuring our Championship safety this season.
It's Tuesday and we still haven't bought (not loaned), a Championship standard, combative, skilfull CH that we've needed all season (we may need two if Marv is out). Also, our kitten like midfield, has only seen the addition of an out of contract, free signing, who isn't anywhere near match fit.
 
TwelveAngryMen said:
There is no way it's a four year contract with no provision for notice before the expiry of the fixed term
The Board aren't stupid
I don't profess to know the terms but I'd expect the notice period to be be twelve months
The 4 year bit was as you say to show confidence in the decision to appoint MA
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It would perhaps have been better PR and definitely with hindsight to have avoided the headline “ 4 year contract “ as despite your assurances this headline has sent a clear message that Appleton is at BFC for 4 years unless we sack him and pay him shedloads of compensation. A lot of Blackpool supporters were against the appointment of Appleton from Day 1 and this number increases every week. Yes I agree the 4 year contract announcement definitely did demonstrate the Board’s confidence in the decision they took, but for some Pool fans it was like putting two fingers up to their views as supporters. Let’s face it, Appleton was an out of work Div 1 Manager with very little experience and a poor track record in the Championship, the headline “ 4 year contract “ with no other details seemed naive at the time but totally unbelievable the more this season has unfolded and quite rightly the BFC Board are coming under close scrutiny regarding this decision.
 
Isn't Ben an administrator essentially? Probably good at all.that stuff but I don't think this regime has been effective it's recruitment of head coaches. Critchley did a good job but they just seemed to assume he would stay and panicked when he didn't. Are any of the recruitment team really qualified to judge the people who apply for the head coach position? There were clear flaws in the Grayson and Appleton appointments and naivety in the Critchley appointment, I would say. Better expertise required.
 
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Chunkylad said:
l will give the owners and Ben the benefit of the doubt on this one. They’d been stung by Critch leaving them high and dry, so to show confidence and longevity they offered MA a long contract. I guess they all thought that he’d build it like Critch did. Then be under demand so a 4 year contract would give us a bigger payday.

Also we don’t really know the contract terms? There might be a get out clause if results go wrong and there might be a maximum payout on sacking?
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Please let there be that clause 😟
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
We always need a pantomime villain and obviously the recruitment in recent transfer windows has been disappointing.

Personally I think that Ben Mansford and the board in general are doing a fantastic job of rebuilding the Club…
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So if you acknowledge that the recruitment has been disappointing then why should there not be justified criticism of the guy who is ultimately responsible? Perhaps that's because you think it's more suitable to be in L1 although god knows how downsizing the club and it's fanbase support can be considered "rebuilding"!
 
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I think a lot of it comes down to poor communication.

His interview released on Tangerine TV before the transfer window did a lot of damage regarding the Schrodinger's budget at the club.
Also, the fact that there hasn't been a press release since the Appleton telling off.

It's alright that the board does fan engagement meetings at the Armfield, but it defeats the point if the audience and questions are pre-selected.

Seems to be a strategy at the moment to make Appleton the club messenger, the fall guy.
 
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Didn’t help himself with those interviews last January over the summer giving it the big one. That he seemed to respond to stuff on here was also a bit worrying. He cane with a mixed reputation, where he was apparently respected, clearly made it up himself (like a god in Israel apparently), and earned the nickname ‘bullshit’ that we have so fondly adopted. He’s made a lot of mistakes that are largely due to boxing himself in through the interviews and then not delivering. The Appleton relationship, much like his attempted Hecky appointment, doesn’t help.
Unlike Appleton I think he can turn his relationship with the fans around.
 
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20togo said:
So if you acknowledge that the recruitment has been disappointing then why should there not be justified criticism of the guy who is ultimately responsible? Perhaps that's because you think it's more suitable to be in L1 although god knows how downsizing the club and it's fanbase support can be considered "rebuilding"!
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I’ve not discussed or even mentioned anything about ‘justified criticism’.

I’ve also not said that I think it’s more suitable to be in L1.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I’ve not discussed or even mentioned anything about ‘justified criticism’.

I’ve also not said that I think it’s more suitable to be in L1.
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Well your post at #15 of the process made me think otherwise. You didn't seem to see a problem with us being in L1.
 
20togo said:
Well your post at #15 of the process made me think otherwise. You didn't seem to see a problem with us being in L1.
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I have a massive problem with us being in L1... And I've no desire to go there whatsoever.

My post #15 in the other thread was specifically related to the ability of a club in our position to be at it's most effective in terms of recruiting and developing young players who can impact the first team and be sold on for profit. Essentially It's just recognising the the process of recruitment becomes increasingly higher risk and that there is a diminishing pool of players to recruit from, the higher up the league you go.

Now I'm not sure to go with the "Jump to Conclusion Susan" or "Slippery Sandra" or whatever it was as your new moniker
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I have a massive problem with us being in L1... And I've no desire to go there whatsoever.

My post #15 in the other thread was specifically related to the ability of a club in our position to be at it's most effective in terms of recruiting and developing young players who can impact the first team and be sold on for profit. Essentially It's just recognising the the process of recruitment becomes increasingly higher risk and that there is a diminishing pool of players to recruit from, the higher up the league you go.

Now I'm not sure to go with the "Jump to Conclusion Susan" or "Slippery Sandra" or whatever it was as your new moniker
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but you said that was our level. Is it not reasonable to think we can recruit and develop young players who could play in the Championship then? After all, a player good enough for the Championship is likely to command a bigger fee than one only proven at L1 level. And of course your post #4 is all about the benefits of being in the L1 too. Not sure anything in those two posts suggested it's best we stay in the Championship. Far from it.
 
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So we aren’t allowed to be critical of BB who made the unpopular decision of employing MA amongst other things, like poor player recruitment etc…
But it’s fine to slate MA …morning, noon and night…you couldn’t make it up…🤣🤣🤣
 
20togo said:
1) but you said that was our level. 2) Is it not reasonable to think we can recruit and develop young players who could play in the Championship then? After all, a player good enough for the Championship is likely to command a bigger fee than one only proven at L1 level. 3) And of course your post #4 is all about the benefits of being in the L1 too. 4) Not sure anything in those two posts suggested it's best we stay in the Championship. Far from it.
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I don’t really think it’s fair on others to derail this thread with an off-topic discussion. So if you want to continue this, then maybe we should pick it up on the process thread.

To briefly answer you…

1. No that’s not what I said at all

2. It’s perfectly reasonable (but it requires larger resources and involves higher financial risk)

3. It was a theoretical discussion about the implementation of the plan / process and not a personal desire.

4. We weren’t discussing whether or not I felt it was best to stay in the Championship, we were discussing the theoretical ‘process’ and how it might look to a Club owner.

I hope that answers your questions 👍
 
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