Thomas Sandgaard was determined not to bow to pressure but this morning at around 10am the club announced that Adkins was gone and that Johnnie Jackson would step up as Caretaker with Jason Euell assisting.
It's a little disconcerting that a decision hadn't been planned for announcement immediately following the home defeat to Accrington Stanley. Sandgaard, Roddy, Gallen and couple of others were visible in deep discussion in yhe Boardroom for a couple of hours after the game but a lack of any announcement yesterday makes it look very much that there was no decision to out him and that has only come after a tidal wave of demands from the fans.
It's not like this was a knee-jerk reaction either. Adkins should have been removed weeks ago when it was clear nothing was improving. The empty stands on Tuesday - I am reliably informed the actual attendance was under 7,000 - would have worried me if I was the owner. Commercial revenues will have fallen off a cliff too and some longer term damage to the fanbase will be inevitable.
The prevarication over the decision has also given a section of the fanbase time to decide that Jackson and Euell needed removing as well and I don't think that has helped the final decision. I suspect they will come around if results improve but there will be a vocal minority telling us they said so if not. Personally I am not convinced either but Jackson and Euell know these players better than anyone and it's a least-risk option to start with. It is, after all, why you have an Assistant manager.
It does look increasingly like we have a far weaker squad of players in spite of all the recruitment hype. If that's the case, Jackson may find it very difficult for any sustained improvement and if that turns out to be the case, perhaps we should be happier we haven't brought in an expensive name who might not have got us much more.
Today feels like a good day and I am pleased Sandgaard hasn't prolonged things with Adkins as he was in danger of becoming public enemy number one - something he doesn't deserve. The jury is still out though on his willingness to invest in success. Summer business was ok but still modest and the Jackson decision is also least-cost although I don't disagree with it for now. Let us all pray that these players unite as a team under Jacko and we can all look forward to putting thoughts of relegation behind us and concentrate on finding the right side for next season.
I like to think the delay in the decision was down to Sandgaard wanting to wield the axe in person rather than through the media?
ReplyDeleteAC - good shout, given they don't come in after a game. I was just disappointed he wasn't prepared to do it straight after the match in the event of the defeat. Did he really think he could postpone it much longer?
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