Playing Devil's Advocate - the Worthy situation from the Board's perspective (long post!)

It is all too easy for people on this board to make sweeping comments - to slate everybody who's view doesnt entirely agree with their own. To state that unless Worthy is sacked we are inevitably sliding towards League One, and that the only way to stop this is for Worthington to be unceremoniously removed from from office while his annointed successor rides to our rescue.

Do I think it would be better if Worthington was replaced now - I would have to say I am now leaning 60-40 in the yes camp - it's time for a change. However, we all know that the board is going to give him a little longer to prove himself - so why are we creting such an atmosphere of complete poison? This helps noone and can only harm our club. Apart from anything else I believe Worthington deserves more respect than to be treated with the utter contempt - of demonstrations outside the ground by a load of vicious morons baying for his blood surrounded by horses with policemen on top. He HAS done a lot for the club over the last five years. He is not perfect and has made many mistakes. He is also NOT the 'luckiest manager' we've ever had, as fans with short memories have just completely trivialised his achievements in both nearly gaining promotion in playoff year then achieving it in championship year.

Look at the facts. Say the board sack Worthington. There is a GUARANTEED cost to our club of the figure to remove him from his contract (say ?600k). There is then the cost to remove Foley and Livermore (an extra ?400k). That is ?1m. FACT. GUARANTEED.

Is the new manager GUARANTEED to improve things? No. He may do of course - but what if he doesnt work and things get worse? We are sliding towards League 1 in an even bigger shambles.

There has been a lot of comment that Worthington may or may not have 'lost' the dressing room. We cannot know this for sure - and we definitely can't tell this completey from watching thm on the pitch. We do know that they are all publically backing him. If they are all genuinely behind Worthington - which is still likely - then sacking him could prove to be a disastrous move, and things could go utterly to pieces. Say that Ashton, Huckerby etc all bak him and thing he's great, then they may feel that they no longer feel the loyalty to the club and now want to leave. Forward 3 months and we are an even bigger shambles.

On the other hand, if he HAS lost the dressing room - then a change of manager could dramatically improve things. The reality is only the people within the club can genuinely know this on a large scale, and all the noises suggest he retains their backing.

Remember I'm just offering up some alternative opinions here. I happen to think it's time for him to go - but there is more to consider than lazily just saying - he's got to F**K off - as some have so eloquenlty stated.

Dear God we need a win tonight!

Posted By: canary_don, Nov 1, 10:47:43