Tekel Towers » Working with Stephen Thompson

Tek · 29/9/2015 9:51 am

I reckon this will see a number of candidates who would normally express a great interest in the Utd job dismiss it out of turn.

Already Stephen Pressley has turned down an approach.A guy who's tailor made for the position.

I can only hope personally that the 'Rumour' thread is true and Bennett is away to buy his stake.

Luggy's Shins · 29/9/2015 9:58 am

I'm not so sure that is the case. For all the chat around Thompson, he still gave the manager more money to spend than just about anyone else in the league outside the sheep and Celtic. Undoubtedly the timing of the Armstrong/GMS transfer was his doing, but over the course of his chairmanship, that is the one truly bad move I think he has made.

This is still an attractive proposition, with a Chairman who has a record of backing their manager in the transfer market.

Tek · 29/9/2015 10:12 am

Luggy's Shins wrote:
I'm not so sure that is the case. For all the chat around Thompson, he still gave the manager more money to spend than just about anyone else in the league outside the sheep and Celtic. Undoubtedly the timing of the Armstrong/GMS transfer was his doing, but over the course of his chairmanship, that is the one truly bad move I think he has made.

This is still an attractive proposition, with a Chairman who has a record of backing their manager in the transfer market.

We shall see LS.

Wouldn't surprise me if we see the list of candidates dwindling though as they distance themselves from the job one by one.

Thompson does not have a good reputation in footballing circles.

The way he's went about the sacking of Mcnamara is another classless act that won't exactly endear him to any potential candidate imo.

Football people talk afterall.

PatReilly · 29/9/2015 10:20 am

Tek wrote:
We shall see LS.

Wouldn't surprise me if we see the list of candidates dwindling though as they distance themselves from the job one by one.

Thompson does not have a good reputation in footballing circles.

The way he's went about the sacking of Mcnamara is another classless act that won't exactly endear him to any potential candidate imo.

Football people talk afterall.

I'm not so sure that the method of "sacking/mutually agreed departure" was classless. It was all a bit late for me, but it lifted the spirits of supporters after another rudderless defeat to know decisive action had been taken.

We don't really know what took place after the match, apart from a few snippets from folk here and there.

Surely football people expect managers to leave clubs, and hardly anyone in the game could have been shocked that McNamara and his group have gone.

Certainly, I'm not complaining about the chairman's actions in this case.

Tek · 29/9/2015 10:31 am

McNamara had to go, should have went weeks ago infact.No one has probably said that more than me on here.

But there are ways to sack people.

Taking them into a conference room in another teams stadium and handing someone a pre-typed out letter is unbelievably classless imo.

He then has to go and face his staff, players, media, probably even his family straight afterwards.

There are ways of handling things professionally and if I was an up and coming Manager I'd think to myself 'Do I really want to work for and under someone like that?'

Ex Houston Arab · 29/9/2015 10:40 am

I have to disagree there.
What is a 'classy' way to sack someone?
Classless would be via text, voicemail, non personal.
Face to face with an official letter is standard and correct.
Location is the only argument, but I suppose that could show he was maybe pissed off at him for another humping and couldn't contain himself.

29/9/2015 11:00 am

What looks wrong to me is the typed letter handed to him immediately after the game (assuming this has been reported accurately)

Not very classy and could have been done later - sorry to say it looks like ST playing to the fans again and it might make some potential managers think twice

Luggy's Shins · 29/9/2015 11:10 am

I agree that the way he was sacked lacked a bit of class. But would-be managers are no different to the rest of us - this is, in a Scottish context, a big club with a good playing staff. Which half-decent manager wont think "I can do something with this team and I will be leaving on my own terms to go on to better things".

Money and ego always wins out in football...

Ex Houston Arab · 29/9/2015 11:20 am

The fact the letter was pre typed and our form since February would indicate this should have came as no surprise, yet Jackie said he was shocked.
He is media savvy and his account will put him in the best light possible.
I wouldn't read too much into it.
The readiness of it all indicates this had clearly been discussed.
ST gave him longer than most would. I think this is just Jackie trying to garner some sympathy

Leedsy2 · 29/9/2015 12:30 pm

Tek wrote:
McNamara had to go, should have went weeks ago infact.No one has probably said that more than me on here.

But there are ways to sack people.

Taking them into a conference room in another teams stadium and handing someone a pre-typed out letter is unbelievably classless imo.

He then has to go and face his staff, players, media, probably even his family straight afterwards.

There are ways of handling things professionally and if I was an up and coming Manager I'd think to myself 'Do I really want to work for and under someone like that?'

Immediately after the final whistle I'd have taken him to the centre circle and publicly punted him!

Last edited by Leedsy2 (29/9/2015 12:31 pm)

Silver · 29/9/2015 2:37 pm

Don't honestly see what the problem is here. JM was the first to know he'd been relieved of his duties, that's all that matters surely. Why is the letter a big deal? Why is it a big deal that it was allegedly pre prepared? In fact the only criticism I can lay at STs door here is that he was TOO loyal. The sacking should've happened months ago.

No getting the hysteria behind this tbh. The board had a decision to make, and made it.
Stephen Thompson, in the main, has been a tremendous Chairman, who continually backed his manager.

As for others no being interested in the job because of ST ,no chance imo. I bet there's a list of them out there that would fkn love this job. There will of course be others that won't because of other reasons like location, timing, etc.

Sieb22 · 29/9/2015 3:36 pm

Taken straight from Ceres Arabs Facebook regarding ST's press conference today..

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/2015/09/29/the-key-points-from-dundee-united-chairman-stephen-thompsons-press-conference/

Tek · 29/9/2015 3:51 pm

Silver wrote:
Don't honestly see what the problem is here. JM was the first to know he'd been relieved of his duties, that's all that matters surely. Why is the letter a big deal? Why is it a big deal that it was allegedly pre prepared? In fact the only criticism I can lay at STs door here is that he was TOO loyal. The sacking should've happened months ago.

No getting the hysteria behind this tbh. The board had a decision to make, and made it.
Stephen Thompson, in the main, has been a tremendous Chairman, who continually backed his manager.

As for others no being interested in the job because of ST ,no chance imo. I bet there's a list of them out there that would fkn love this job. There will of course be others that won't because of other reasons like location, timing, etc.

Firstly mate there's no 'hysteria' here (certainly not on my part anyway),i'm merely giving my opinion that i think certain candidates wouldn't look on working at Utd favourably because Thompson has a dislikable persona and reputation in the game.One that i've heard voiced by several people involved in the game (ex-players,coaches,journalists etc).

There will of course be dozens of candidates that is of no doubt.But my point is that his reputation may (or may not) put off certain people applying or even taking the job if approached.

As for your point about him being a 'tremendous Chairman' i will respectfully disagree.I think he got very lucky in a number of instances.No time more so than when Boulding scored v Aberdeen.Langfield saves that and we were looking at Admin probably.That is despite having sold a guy like Goodwillie for 2million pounds just a few months previous.

The most important relationship in a Football club is between the First team manager and his Chairman.I remember an excellent quote in Sir Bobby Robson's autobiography when talking about his Chairman at Ipswich Town (John Cobbald)."When we won he would open a bottle of champagne in the team bus and drink it with me.When we lost he would open TWO bottles of champagne'.That was a dignified way of looking at defeat and made Robson feel he had a Chairman that was a friend aswell as a Boss and as a consequence he had a burning desire to do well for him.

I've never felt that burning desire to do well for Thompson from Houston or Jmac.It was all about 'self-interest' with both of them latterly...and imo that stems from the Chairman.

Silver · 29/9/2015 3:53 pm

Happy enough we that explanation from ST
Onwards and upwards.

Last edited by Silver (29/9/2015 3:53 pm)

Beharder · 29/9/2015 3:53 pm

Silver wrote:
Don't honestly see what the problem is here. JM was the first to know he'd been relieved of his duties, that's all that matters surely. Why is the letter a big deal? Why is it a big deal that it was allegedly pre prepared? In fact the only criticism I can lay at STs door here is that he was TOO loyal. The sacking should've happened months ago.

No getting the hysteria behind this tbh. The board had a decision to make, and made it.
Stephen Thompson, in the main, has been a tremendous Chairman, who continually backed his manager.

As for others no being interested in the job because of ST ,no chance imo. I bet there's a list of them out there that would fkn love this job. There will of course be others that won't because of other reasons like location, timing, etc.

Agree with all that Silver. The only thing ST could be accused of is giving McNamara too much time which would surely be a selling point for any potential new manager.

Silver · 29/9/2015 4:01 pm

Tek wrote:
Silver wrote:
Don't honestly see what the problem is here. JM was the first to know he'd been relieved of his duties, that's all that matters surely. Why is the letter a big deal? Why is it a big deal that it was allegedly pre prepared? In fact the only criticism I can lay at STs door here is that he was TOO loyal. The sacking should've happened months ago.

No getting the hysteria behind this tbh. The board had a decision to make, and made it.
Stephen Thompson, in the main, has been a tremendous Chairman, who continually backed his manager.

As for others no being interested in the job because of ST ,no chance imo. I bet there's a list of them out there that would fkn love this job. There will of course be others that won't because of other reasons like location, timing, etc.
Firstly mate there's no 'hysteria' here (certainly not on my part anyway),i'm merely giving my opinion that i think certain candidates wouldn't look on working at Utd favourably because Thompson has a dislikable persona and reputation in the game.One that i've heard voiced by several people involved in the game (ex-players,coaches,journalists etc).

There will of course be dozens of candidates that is of no doubt.But my point is that his reputation may (or may not) put of certain people applying or even taking the job if approached.

As for your point about him being a 'tremendous Chairman' i will respectfully disagree.I think he got very lucky in a number of instances.No times more so than when Boulding scored v Aberdeen.Langfield saves that and we were looking at Admin probably.

The most important relationship in a Football club is between the First team manager and his Chairman.I remember an excellent quote in Sir Bobby Robson's autobiography when talking about his Chairman at Ipswich Town (John Cobbald)."When we won he would open a bottle of champagne in the team bus and drink it with me.When we lost he would open TWO bottles of champagne'.That was a dignified way of looking at defeat and made Robson feel he had a Chairman that was a friend aswell as a Boss and as a consequence he had a burning desire to do well for him.

Tek, things like Bouldings goal etc has nothing to do with the Chairman tho. That's an "on the park" issue to which he has no control over. It was the manager and players that got us into that position.

Obviously, things have been shite fae January and could've been handled way better than it was, but overall, I think he's been a tremendous Chairman.

He's definitely taken his eye off the ball lately tho. Definite room for improvement but hopefully he can prove himself over again with some who criticise his every move.

Tek · 29/9/2015 4:03 pm

Silver mate.

Tha fact that we could have went into Admin if we never went into the Top 6 is DEFINITELY on him.

He controls the budgets and everything else afterall.

He got lucky,very lucky infact.

Anyway going in a wee bit of a tangent now.

Last edited by Tek (29/9/2015 4:25 pm)

PatReilly · 29/9/2015 4:05 pm

Said it before on here and elsewhere: I don't buy that story about the Boulding goal saving the club from administration, or going 'straight to liquidation' as has also been mentioned.

Silver · 29/9/2015 4:09 pm

Tek wrote:
Silver mate.

Tha fact that we could have went into Admin if we never went into the Top 6 is DEFINITELY on him.

He controls the budgets and everything else afterall.

He got lucky,very lucky infact.

Tek, how can you possibly lay that at his door? He controls budgets etc yeah, but the manager controls tactics, team selections, and who he signs. No blame attached to ST for that from me.

Maybe we all got lucky that day, that's part and parcel of football.

Tek · 29/9/2015 4:28 pm

Silver wrote:
Tek wrote:
Silver mate.

Tha fact that we could have went into Admin if we never went into the Top 6 is DEFINITELY on him.

He controls the budgets and everything else afterall.

He got lucky,very lucky infact.

Tek, how can you possibly lay that at his door? He controls budgets etc yeah, but the manager controls tactics, team selections, and who he signs. No blame attached to ST for that from me.

Maybe we all got lucky that day, that's part and parcel of football.

How can i lay that at his door?Eh..because he's the Chairman.

The fact that we were in a financial position where it's Top 6 football or Admin/Liquidation is entirely at his door.

He sanctions every penny that is spent at the club afterall.

Silver · 29/9/2015 4:29 pm

Just watched his interview there. (Maybe someone could add the link) and thought it was brilliant. I really hope people are happy that he's given it and now leave him to get on with his job in peace.

huntedbyafreak · 29/9/2015 4:53 pm

Silver wrote:
Just watched his interview there. (Maybe someone could add the link) and thought it was brilliant. I really hope people are happy that he's given it and now leave him to get on with his job in peace.

They won't. You know they won't

SuperMario · 29/9/2015 4:54 pm

hes been a fantastic chairman!

Silver · 29/9/2015 4:56 pm

huntedbyafreak wrote:
Silver wrote:
Just watched his interview there. (Maybe someone could add the link) and thought it was brilliant. I really hope people are happy that he's given it and now leave him to get on with his job in peace.

They won't. You know they won't

You're right mate. Some are after blood it seems.

Andy · 29/9/2015 5:11 pm

I have no problem with how the chairman dealt with the sacking, very harsh to say it lacked class - in fact it was the opposite.

Personal yet formal, immediate action rather than rumour and leak.

Like many have said, I wish he had done it earlier but I can't see any fault in the way he went about it.

I believe any manager who wants to work in Scotland would be delighted to be interviewed for the United job and I don't think Jackie will have a bad word to say about how the chairman had treated him during his tenure.