Knill gone?

[Chezzy Blades]

Last heard of, helping Wales not to qualify for anything.
Lots of angst face pulling though, and chest thumping.

He's manager of Liverpool's U21s at the moment, though I didn't know that until I just Googled it.

 

[Hilly]

Given that I asked a serious question they're bloody crap at their jobs.

I n which case I think it's probably time to get someone in that actually does the job and communicates with the wider fan base from time to time.

Hi Maidenhead, I did try and give you a semi serious answer.
Head of media is Kevin Cookson (Cookie) - I have seen him up and around Shirecliffe over the years and you can see how well respected he is by all the staff.
Where my head wobbles a bit is the inference that if the club doesnt put out statements to dry certain fans bedsheets over every leak it is somehow the the Media Depts fault. A view held by a few people on here.
I think it is more likely that the Media Team are not the only ones setting the agenda on what is said to the press about clarifying contentcious stories. They will just react to instruction from up the chain, like any functioning business.
I find it amazing that people expect more, Its enough for me to read - 'so and so has left the club, we wish them well.' They are never going to tell us the ins and outs.
For everything else I just wait for Wit to come in the Banner...

 

[Maidenhead]

I'm sure that it's not the media team setting the agenda, and now you remind me, I know that Kevin Cookson has been around for ever.

I also don't want a daily update from the club but would be nice to have some sort of strategic update from time to time.

I get the feeling that the owners are taking the fans for granted and paying us no respect whatsoever.

They could probably get away with that if things were going well, but when they're not fan engagement is vital to keep their income source on board.

It still begs the question "what's the point of a PR/media team" if they're not going to engage, and what does that team do all day?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Hi Maidenhead, I did try and give you a semi serious answer.
Head of media is Kevin Cookson (Cookie) - I have seen him up and around Shirecliffe over the years and you can see how well respected he is by all the staff.
Where my head wobbles a bit is the inference that if the club doesnt put out statements to dry certain fans bedsheets over every leak it is somehow the the Media Depts fault. A view held by a few people on here.
I think it is more likely that the Media Team are not the only ones setting the agenda on what is said to the press about clarifying contentcious stories. They will just react to instruction from up the chain, like any functioning business.
I find it amazing that people expect more, Its enough for me to read - 'so and so has left the club, we wish them well.' They are never going to tell us the ins and outs.
For everything else I just wait for Wit to come in the Banner...

I’m sorry but the critics on here just don’t run their multi million pound businesses like that. Their customers are kept fully informed on company matters.

Our recent dress down Friday raised £42.67 for the RSPCA.

Our new range of staff uniforms has seen production delays. Our contract with Fruit of the loom has come to an end and we are proud to announce our new partnership with Lonsdale.

Canteen manager Doris retires at the end of the month after 27 years of service.

We are currently under investigation by HM Revenue & Customs.

Our new 17 year old apprentice has been shagging the Sales Directors 45 year old secretary, who has left her husband and children and is now living with him at his Nans.

 

[247Blade]

I’m sorry but the critics on here just don’t run their multi million pound businesses like that. Their customers are kept fully informed on company matters.

Our recent dress down Friday raised £42.67 for the RSPCA.

Our new range of staff uniforms has seen production delays. Our contract with Fruit of the loom has come to an end and we are proud to announce our new partnership with Lonsdale.

Canteen manager Doris retires at the end of the month after 27 years of service.

We are currently under investigation by HM Revenue & Customs.

Our new 17 year old apprentice has been shagging the Sales Directors 45 year old secretary, who has left her husband and children and is now living with him at his Nans.

Most interesting insight since COH have been here!

 

[Wards]

Whilst I really agree with the notion that a lot of stuff should be kept in-house and there are certain clubs that go way too far on comms, I do think there's room for improvement. It's something we've never really got right and fan engagement has always felt at arms length.

It's certainly not the best all and end all but the manager often talks about disconnect and I think that supporter comms are lacking somewhat, especially in regards to social media and the like. It all feels a bit...outdated. I think we almost had it cracked a few years ago with the training videos and various player pieces but it's regressed a fair bit since then. Your modern football fan almost demands that interaction since the players are quite elusive as individuals these days, much more so than they were even as recently in the 90s. I think the club can and should do more.

 

[BangorBlade]

Steve Davies would be a good shout as a young coach/assistant , stood in as temp manager at Rangers, worked alongside M.O'Neil at Norn Iron and also at the backend of last season at Blackburn.

 

[SB_90]

Wilder MK2 shouldn’t have happened, there was no need to sack Hecky when they did. Wilder wasn’t going to turn a Premier League season around when we had a strong Championship squad.

as i say alot. i have alot of fondness for hecky. but he had to go. & he should never have made to burnley away game.

 

[LBA_Blade]

as i say alot. i have alot of fondness for hecky. but he had to go. & he should never have made to burnley away game.

I like Hecky a lot too, but before match day 1 with the squad we had especially after losing N'diaye and Berge, there was no way we were going to be anywhere near competitive. Although he got us up he ultimately saved the club too as financially we would have probably been docked even more points if we hadn't have been promoted. I would have preferred him to least see out the season and part on mutual consent similar to how Scott Parker did with Burnley than to get rid like we did in the December, the page is still on the website https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2023/december/05/heckingbottom-departs/ which states he has been "relieved of his duties" although it did thank Hecky, however the delusion statement that followed "However, after slipping to the bottom of the table and a number of disappointing results and performances, it is felt that a change is needed to give the club a boost and every possible chance of remaining in the Premier League beyond this season."

It was clear that we were nowhere near good enough, not in the sense of lack of trying but physical quality in the squad. We had a Championship squad trying to play against teams with 10x more budget than us, we did well to scrap for the points we did. Fair enough bring Wilder in for the following Championship season if they felt it was necessary but no manager in the world would have kept us up from December with the squad and budget we had.

 

[Sean Thornton]

A lot of the intrigue around this is because we have two differing versions from local media sources. Biggseh has gone with Danny ( l suspect him out scooping Ralph on the morning of the Derby live on RS didn’t go down well) for what that’s worth but it could suggest a fallout somewhere along the line.

Wonder if they’ve compared notes?

 

[Bramhall Lane blade]

Getting rid of Knill and replacing him with Jones is change for changes sake.

I’m not Wilders biggest fan but surely it’s up to him to choose his team not the owners.

There literally is no reason to make this change, Knill has a proven track record working with Wilder and has gained promotion to the Premier League as part of that team, Jones is very much an unknown quantity.

This change makes no sense at all.

The football last season was dire,if we are not changing the manager then I agree we need a freshen up the coaches.Jones spent most of his career playing under Sir Alex mostly in the Premiership so what's not to like.

 

[Shadota]

The football last season was dire,if we are not changing the manager then I agree we need a freshen up the coaches.Jones spent most of his career playing under Sir Alex mostly in the Premiership so what's not to like.

Jones spent a grand total of 2 years under Fergie. Joined Man U in 2011, Ferguson retired 2013. He had 9 different managers at Old Trafford in 12 years.

I think his time working with Michael O'Neill as a coach at Blackburn will have done him more favours as far as his career off the pitch is concerned

 

[Bladeloyal]

To be fair to Jones he's not hung about getting all his coaching badges currently finishing his pro licence .just what we need young talented on the grass coach .who played at the highest level going .

 

[Pedro Verde]

Steve Davies would be a good shout as a young coach/assistant

Is he still capable of a 147 though

 

[KMC-1889]

Fuck it get Morgs back in, stop any silly bollocks from Wilder acting up again.

We haven't heard anything from the club cause the forms aren't signed yet. If Knill wasn't expecting to go he'll be negotiating his severance package, the club could want to announce the replacement at the same time as Knill's dismissal. What I'm trying to say is that there are many viable, sensible reasons the club might not have made a formal announcement yet.

People do need to be guarded about any the validity of any statements made by Hall or Biggs, given their source at the club is the manager. Whatever they report is going to be very biased.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Fuck it get Morgs back in, stop any silly bollocks from Wilder acting up again.

We haven't heard anything from the club cause the forms aren't signed yet. If Knill wasn't expecting to go he'll be negotiating his severance package, the club could want to announce the replacement at the same time as Knill's dismissal. What I'm trying to say is that there are many viable, sensible reasons the club might not have made a formal announcement yet.

People do need to be guarded about any the validity of any statements made by Hall or Biggs, given their source at the club is the manager. Whatever they report is going to be very biased.

Reported due to the lack of hysteria.

This is a Blades forum ffs!

 

[Jim Mcdonald]

I’m sorry but the critics on here just don’t run their multi million pound businesses like that. Their customers are kept fully informed on company matters.

Our recent dress down Friday raised £42.67 for the RSPCA.

Our new range of staff uniforms has seen production delays. Our contract with Fruit of the loom has come to an end and we are proud to announce our new partnership with Lonsdale.

Canteen manager Doris retires at the end of the month after 27 years of service.

We are currently under investigation by HM Revenue & Customs.

Our new 17 year old apprentice has been shagging the Sales Directors 45 year old secretary, who has left her husband and children and is now living with him at his Nans.

Dirty old bird so she is.

 

[I should coco]

If / when Wilder does leave he'll be top of the bladey blades list

He wasn't very popular at the Lane, mainly becasue he was slow and not really very good, so I doubt he'll be on top of many Bladey Blade lists.

 

[SB_90]

I like Hecky a lot too, but before match day 1 with the squad we had especially after losing N'diaye and Berge, there was no way we were going to be anywhere near competitive. Although he got us up he ultimately saved the club too as financially we would have probably been docked even more points if we hadn't have been promoted. I would have preferred him to least see out the season and part on mutual consent similar to how Scott Parker did with Burnley than to get rid like we did in the December, the page is still on the website https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2023/december/05/heckingbottom-departs/ which states he has been "relieved of his duties" although it did thank Hecky, however the delusion statement that followed "However, after slipping to the bottom of the table and a number of disappointing results and performances, it is felt that a change is needed to give the club a boost and every possible chance of remaining in the Premier League beyond this season."

It was clear that we were nowhere near good enough, not in the sense of lack of trying but physical quality in the squad. We had a Championship squad trying to play against teams with 10x more budget than us, we did well to scrap for the points we did. Fair enough bring Wilder in for the following Championship season if they felt it was necessary but no manager in the world would have kept us up from December with the squad and budget we had.

i agree on that hecky saved us from potential financial meltdown by getting us promotion & how bad we were wasnt his fault. we ended up with a worse squad post promotion

but we were on 2? points & we didnt look like getting anything. we were a beaten team & there was no coming back from burnley. wilder did turn a team that was 1/10 to a 4/10

 

[Bell4]

I’m sorry but the critics on here just don’t run their multi million pound businesses like that. Their customers are kept fully informed on company matters.

Our recent dress down Friday raised £42.67 for the RSPCA.

Our new range of staff uniforms has seen production delays. Our contract with Fruit of the loom has come to an end and we are proud to announce our new partnership with Lonsdale.

Canteen manager Doris retires at the end of the month after 27 years of service.

We are currently under investigation by HM Revenue & Customs.

Our new 17 year old apprentice has been shagging the Sales Directors 45 year old secretary, who has left her husband and children and is now living with him at his Nans.

FFS - you’re kidding , Shirley?

 

[LBA_Blade]

i agree on that hecky saved us from potential financial meltdown by getting us promotion & how bad we were wasnt his fault. we ended up with a worse squad post promotion

but we were on 2? points & we didnt look like getting anything. we were a beaten team & there was no coming back from burnley. wilder did turn a team that was 1/10 to a 4/10

Yeah fair one “CWAK MK1” which now sounds like code for an old Morris Minor or something were brilliant 19/20 season. It is up to Wilder now to make the decision if he is going to extend or not

 

[Pintor75]

One thing that cocerns me is, who will have the job of holding up the dugout if Knill leaves

 

[Dkc]

The club should issue a statement and they will surely do so when the details of Knill's departure have been finalised. Not much point in speculation. It will come out.

 

[Silky Sabella]

The football last season was dire,if we are not changing the manager then I agree we need a freshen up the coaches.Jones spent most of his career playing under Sir Alex mostly in the Premiership so what's not to like.

And HOPEFULLY he has already had a conversation with the hierarchy about his management ambitions, and with wilders contact ending next season, I am sure the owners are connecting the two

 

[Champagneblade]

I don’t really agree the football was dire.

I’m biased. I was there in November/December. We played 6 won 4 and drew 2. We scored 14 and conceded 3 in that period.

Now it wasn’t fully representative of the whole season but it didn't not exist.

Folk moaned we were too cagey and functional the prior year. We played more open with a lesser squad.

Results were not as good but that was clearly a prospect with playing with worse players and more open.

Is winning and playing like 1970s Brazil the only accepted formula now?

The outcome may have been disappointing but there were some enjoyable games.

 

[Pedro Verde]

I’m biased. I was there in November/December. We played 6 won 4 and drew 2. We scored 14 and conceded 3 in that peri

The outcome may have been disappointing but there were some enjoyable games.

I really enjoyed those games and thought we had turned a corner only to revert to type
I wonder if it was the Wrexham game on Boxing Day that made Wilder go back to more defensive tactics