Official Media Release 11/04/13

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Kopped

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Posting in the absence of Foxy as he had to run to a meeting so hope he's ok with it:

As I was there and have the write up in front of me, I thought I'd write what was said after the initial introductions and my thoughts on the questions put to KM and CM.

It Reads:
Quote:
Getting promotion to the Championship is at the heart of Sheffield United's decision for a change in team management.

The League One club began a new era today(Thursday) with former captain and first tyeam coach Chris Morgan taking over the reigns as manager until the end of the season. He will be assisted by Former player and now academy coach David Unsworth.

Football Club Chairman David Green outlined the reasons for the change in management. He said: "We have taken a reasoned decision to change the management on the back of some poor results, especially at Bramall Lane, which have put our promotion hopes in a certain amount of jeopardy.

"At this late stage in the season the Board felt that a Management change was in the best interests for everyone. We now have a mini-season within a season to ensure we get success and do not fail in our objective of promotion.

"Regretfully, in respect of Danny, with our desires itw as felt we needed to make a change so that we make the most of our three remaining home games and two away fixtures."

Club Owner Kevin McCabe added "We are in a fortunate position that we don't have to make a permanent decision. In Chris Morgan we have an individual who is close to the club and knows what makes it tick. He's a former player, captain and coach who has been at the heart of United since 2003.

"We are confident we will not fail, we are not planning to fail in our drive for promotion."

Mr McCabe paid personal tributed to both Danny Wilson and assistant manager Frank Barlow following their departure from the Blades.

He said: "Once again I want to thank danny and Frank for all their hard work over the past 2 seasons. this was a very difficult decision to make as Danny is a friend and I've always admired his managerial capabilities."

Looking ahead to the countdown to the end of the season, Chris Morgan said: "We have the players, We have the fans. I will do everything in my power to get us to the Championship. We will be giving it our all."

Now wgile listening to questions mainly from Paul Walker, I got the sense that Paul was more angry than being a journalist tbh. His quick fire questions really weren't warranted. He was asking why at this late stage, well it says above tbh. He was sacked because of our very poor home form, simple as that.

He was asking questions about if KM felt responsible for the disappointment of another manager not making the grade. KM said: "Of course I do, I take full responsibility for where the club finds itself."

There was no regret selling Blackman though given he is still our top goalscorer. KM feels he has given Danny all the tools he needed. Personally, I think the money could have spent in a much much better way and better loan players.

Not once during the conference did Paul Walker ask Chris Morgan a question while sat at the table.

In fact to try and change the mood a little and put it into a positive frame. I piped up with a question about Chris's fight and passion as a player, would he be instilling it into the team as it has been missing for the majority of this season. He answered fully and gave him the chance to speak to the media from the top table. His main points: although games are coming thick and fast, he has been at training this morning and spoken with the lads, they were all ready to back him and are fully focused at the job in hand. He did stress that his main focus today is Swindon on Saturday and he will be thinking about Brentford on Sunday. 1 game at a time.

I was shocked that Paul Walker continued with the attacks at KM. (I mean why live in the past, we are dawning a new era, get the new manager in the spot light and stop back biting ffs). We continued anyway, asking if it was a risk giving the mantle to Chris Morgan (With all due respects) at this late stage of the season. KM confidently said "NO, he has full confidence in Chris's managerial qualities, they won't be the same as Danny's and the main aim is an Upturn in our fortunes on the pitch".

A bit later, we went outside where Paul interviewed Chris Morgan after Sky Sports News. Chris wouldn't say he is the manager of Sheffield United simple saying "I'm Chris Morgan of Sheffield United FC".

From what I heard the main focus was on what he we bring to the team and how can he change the fortunes of the team? His Main answer was "I've had texts from Neil, Blacky and Danny spoke to me as did Frank before they left and all simply said to me, be your own manager. When and if you try to be or do something you're not then that is the time when people see straight through you and I don't want that. I will manage the team in my own image and expect full commitment from the players, as they do of me."

He did answer a question from on here: "Does he have all the coaching badges and qualifications to do the job on a permanent basis?" the answer is: Yes he does. He's been coaching for 2 years and is fully qualified to the level of managing a club.

He continued, "This is a big club and with 18000+ supporters behind us we know we'll have the drive to finish the job. They have always been behind me and always given me support from the day I came in 2003. With their help we can roar on to Promotion."

I also managed to speak to his Assistant Manager David Unsworth on a 1 to 1. I asked him if there is anything he would like relaying to the fans? He said "Yes, At training this morning the players were giving me their all and all are desperate for Promotion. They are all sorry to see Danny go but they know they have a job to do over the next 5 or 7/8 games and all have said they are 100% behind us. We had a good talk amongst ourselves and we are confident we will finish the job"

In conclusion, The players are behind the new appointments (Being fair I wouldn't want to face Morgs if I hadn't put a shift in).
Wilson was Sacked because of Home performances and results(Which has been coming).
The Owner has owned up to his Past mistakes and for that I thanked him and shook his hand.

It's up to Morgan now to make the job his own. there will be an interview process going on and that will be handled by the Dave Green, Ian Cameron, Dave McCarthy and John Stephenson I imagine, but a permanent Manager will not be decided on until after the season has concluded.

I thank you.

ps. Read the posts about the Season Tickets etc. on the other press posts. KM didn't say anything of the sort! He said he's not interested how season ticket sales are progressing. He wants to be a fan, the club and it's Board deals with that and they have to run the club. He lives in Belgium, not here.

Still a bit shocked why the local media concentrated on the Negative instead of a possibly positive new direction tbh
 



I can't blame Paul Walker at all for the line of questioning he took - in fact, I think it would have been completely unprofessional for him not to highlight the implications of Wilson's failure on McCabe personally, and on how, given mathematically it was still in Wilson's hands to get us up automatically, this is a risk. Morgan's biggest supporters surely wouldn't argue that this is a big risk - it very clearly is. Had McCabe been willing to do one-on-one interviews afterwards (stated at the start of the press conference that he wouldn't be) perhaps Walker would have saved that line of questioning for then. In the absence of that, how else is anyone able to ask him the tough questions? Plenty of time to ask Morgs for his thoughts from his point of view - McCabe on the other hand is probably already back in Belgium.

I'll be cheering on Morgan's team for the rest of the season. But it would have been criminal to give McCabe a free pass in a love-in with a weak press.
 
I can't blame Paul Walker at all for the line of questioning he took - in fact
He was more aggressive than he normally is in press conferences, I put that down to some of the grief he's been getting of late on Twitter/RS. It didn't really do wonders for the press conference because K McC was then in short defensive mode to deal with Walker's sarcasm.
McCabe on the other hand is probably already back in Belgium.
It'd save my typing hands tomorrow evening if he was! but he's staying for the Fans Forum and the match I believe.
 
Sorry it would appear that I missed a wink or smiley. Apparently without one sarcasm is lost round here

:) ;)
 
I'm sorry Foxy, But having watched the press conference I could not disagree with you more. Walker's questioning was relevant and warranted.

We learned that Wilson has been fired because we don't win at home. Nothing said by any of Green, McCabe or Morgan explained how getting rid of Wilson at this stage will change that.

The real answer as to why we do not win at home is that we never score any goals, which is down to Wilson's tactics in part but more down to poor quality players and the sale of better players. This is McCabe's responsiblity and it was right for Walker to point that out.

There has either been a player revolt or it's just knee jerk stuff from McCabe again, just like when Blackwell went.

I like Morgan and want him to succeed, but there is no evidence at all that McCabe knows what he is doing. Every major football decision he has made since 2007 has been wrong, and there is no reason to believe that this one is any better.

Panem et circenses again, and that seemed to be enough for you.
 
I'm sorry Foxy, But having watched the press conference I could not disagree with you more. Walker's questioning was relevant and warranted.

We learned that Wilson has been fired because we don't win at home. Nothing said by any of Green, McCabe or Morgan explained how getting rid of Wilson at this stage will change that.

The real answer as to why we do not win at home is that we never score any goals, which is down to Wilson's tactics in part but more down to poor quality players and the sale of better players. This is McCabe's responsiblity and it was right for Walker to point that out.

There has either been a player revolt or it's just knee jerk stuff from McCabe again, just like when Blackwell went.

I like Morgan and want him to succeed, but there is no evidence at all that McCabe knows what he is doing. Every major football decision he has made since 2007 has been wrong, and there is no reason to believe that this one is any better.

Panem et circenses again, and that seemed to be enough for you.

Thanks to google I apparently agree!
 
There has either been a player revolt or it's just knee jerk stuff from McCabe again, just like when Blackwell went.

I like Morgan and want him to succeed, but there is no evidence at all that McCabe knows what he is doing. Every major football decision he has made since 2007 has been wrong, and there is no reason to believe that this one is any better.

Panem et circenses again, and that seemed to be enough for you.

In the press conference he made it sound like he made hardly any of the footballing decisions since we were relegated from the Prem. Said he pays a team of people to run the football club and they should be able to make those decisions.
 



I've been very critical of Walker expecially on twitter recently, however I think his questions needed to be asked, but maybe he chose the wrong time to be so aggressive. He should havr focussed more on Morgan and less on McCabe.

Right questions, wrong timing.
 

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