Kevin McCabe

[DazBlade88]

Right, I've just read this off another forum and I found it a very interesting read so I thought some of you may also like to read it so here goes...

Kevin McCabe has just responed to an email i sent him yesterday. This is his reply.

Lee,Thanks for your courteous email.As you can imagine I'm inundated with emails (some of them rude!) so can you let me have a telephone number and let's have a chnwag.Its not the time to panic as we'll turn the cornerI'm on Football Heaven this evening as this Chairman believes in communicating with the fans when there's issues of concernUp the BladesKevin

He says he is going to call me, great credit to Kevin for communicating with the fans. I am a little nervous about speaking to him but does anyone have any questions they want me to sneak in if i get chance?

I have just come off the phone to Kevin McCabe, here are the points discussed. May i say that i think its fantastic that Kevin keeps this line of communication with the fans. I emailed him yesterday and was on the phone to him today. Great guy and a blade.

1. “Why do you think we will turn the corner Kevin? from Colchester to Sheffield Wednesday I have seen no improvement” Kevin’s response was that he thinks our problem is not scoring goals. He referred to the chances missed against Blackpool and Palace as an example and is very confident as soon as Sharp scores (he made several references to this matter) that the goals will start flying in.
2. “Whats happening in the January transfer window as regards more signings?” He said well you have to understand that players like Ugo and Speed have not come here just to sit around and do nothing, they have come because they believe they can take Sheffield United to the premiership and are wanting wages for playing to the best of their ability to do that. He basically said their on a lot of money and the wage bill is very high but then confirmed we are after one more midfielder. I said “Lee Cattermole?” He said “yes”.
3. My most important question I wanted answering, you too Rarstar I think.
“Why do you believe we will turn the corner? What is it specifically that makes you think this?” He went on to say he had a meeting with Bryan Robson on Monday and That meeting convinced him things will change. Ultimately he went back to question 1 above and pointed out that he thinks we are just been desperately unlucky with the goals not going in BUT did accept Saturday was very poor.

4. Protests on Sunday. He brought this up not me. He went on to say he does not want Sheffield United to embarrassed in front of the live cameras and we should indeed be Sheffield United, stick together and back the team as we always do. Sounds like he has received many emails from blades going on about protesting and boycotting and he aims to bring this up on footy heaven tonight.
5. “Is it true John Stead has been told he can leave?” Kevin said “no its not”. He pointed out the squad is too big though and most likely people will be leaving. He did not say Steady won’t be leaving in the future but said as of now, no-one is immediately scheduled to leave.
6. “why does Robson slate the players when we lose? Does he not take any responsibility?” He basically said after the game when passions run high its easy for reporters/media to get you to say things and only the comments which can be classed as negative will be focused on, but the spirit in the camp remains high.

Final points.

I think he wanted to know what I thought of the suggestions of protesting and boycotting and I gave my opinion. “Well I think that if the results stay negative I have faith that you will take necessary action, therefore I don’t intend to boycott or protest.” His reply was basically that if things did not turn around it is inevitable Robson will leave. But for now is confident he should be given more time and let’s see how we go on Sunday and Tuesday. I don’t think he meant that if we lose those 2 he will be gone but it may be the catalyst.

Calls on footy heaven tonight are live, not recordings as rumour had it, so call in if you want too talk too him.

I would just like to say that Kevin came across as a great guy and is really easy to talk to. For those of you have emailed him, Kevin is spending 3 hours today making calls and answering emails to fans only. He has received some rude/offensive emails though and is only calling people that have been courteous. My email pointed out I was very unhappy but I was not rude or offensive. I said at the end of the call I am still not convinced that Robson is the man but its Kevin’s decision and I respect that, I also referred back to my earlier comment that if it went nipples north he would do the right thing and look for a new appointment. Thanks very much for your time Kevin, it was a great pleasure speaking with you. I hope you do not mind me broadcasting our call but I don’t get to speak to the chairman of SUFC very often!

*Disclaimer – Please note this is not transcript of the telephone call I had with Kevin McCabe, it is from my recent memory of the call. Quotes are not exact but are to the best of my recollection.

 

[silverfox]

At least he's prepared to talk to fans and try to explain things, even if everyone may not like what he says.

You have to respect the guy!

 

[Robbie]

I have to question the authenticity as to this "call" to be honest.

Firstly, King Kev's email has a few minor spelling mistakes which I do expect would have been spellchecked before issue of email.

The mention of Lee Cattermole being of particular note, why would he clearly state that this is the midfielder we are after? Also his claim that if results didn't go right he will leave, this doesn't quite corrospond with his previous press releases.

Going on to Robbo's views on the derby game and blaming the press etc putting words in to his mouth, the blast actually came on the SUFC website, I'm sure there was no words put in to his mouth for this.

I just can't see this being all truthful, if any of it is.

 

[TonyAgana]

And the fact that the post-match interview was broadcast live on Radio Sheffield - hardly a case of journalists focussing on the negatives.

 

[S64 Blade]

At least he's prepared to talk to fans and try to explain things, even if everyone may not like what he says.

You have to respect the guy!

Yeah i agree.

Nice to see he's communicating with the fans.

 

[matth]

Um... am I the only person who questions the reality of this? I'm not sure Mr McCabe would have time to call everyone who complained, so why would he just ring one? And I can't see that he'd publicly state that we were in the market for Lee Cattermole. To me, it seems like so much bullshit from some sad fantastist who wants people to believe that Mr McCabe rang him up.

 

[Robbie]

Um... am I the only person who questions the reality of this? I'm not sure Mr McCabe would have time to call everyone who complained, so why would he just ring one? And I can't see that he'd publicly state that we were in the market for Lee Cattermole. To me, it seems like so much bullshit from some sad fantastist who wants people to believe that Mr McCabe rang him up.

Read my previous post.

 

[Foxy]

Well the fantasist must also be a clairvoyant... cus there were a number of points and turns of phrase that were very similar in Mr McCabe's live chat this evening

He also apologised for not being able to respond to everyone who emailed

 

[Robbie]

He also apologised for not being able to respond to everyone who emailed

If he wasn't ringing people he may have had time

 

[dingledog]

He is a clever man and is doing a number of things here. He knows for a fact that Robsons comments after the match were out of order and I am guessing he was told that in no uncertain terms on Monday. I also suspect he has chosen to 'deal' with the fans anger as he can diffuse it as the majority of fans think he is a good bloke and a true Blade. Had Robson been taking the calls it would undoubtedly not have been as civilised nor I suspect would he have handled the callers so effectively. So for me Robson is currenlty banned from talking to the media, Kev's trying to calm the waters to buy Robson the time to deliver.

We will see.

 

[Foxy]

I think he's been choosing his words carefully too...

Whilst he publically thinks Robson can turn it around, he'll have a private ultimatum... that if it isnt done by X, he's out. No fans action or reaction is going to change that, its his decision.

 

[keenzy]

we all know mccabe is special, and to take time out, if it is true, and call the fans is just amazing. would other chairmen do that?

Top bloke, long may his reign continue.

 

[silverfox]

we all know mccabe is special, and to take time out, if it is true, and call the fans is just amazing. would other chairmen do that?

Top bloke, long may his reign continue.

He spent a full hour answering difficult questions on radio Sheffield tonight too.

Top bloke!

 

[Foxy]

If anyone missed the 60-minute phone in with Mr McCabe...

Some kind person has made it available to you here: http://www.sheff-utd.co.uk/0708/audio/mccabe.mp3

Either right click and save as or single left click to 5tr3am in whatever software you have.

 

[silverfox]

Should be available on radio Sheffield too.

 

[Foxy]

Should be available on radio Sheffield too.

It is now , they are usually slower than that, hence me uploading it