I was surprised to learn that Mark Allen had resigned from Sevco.
Moreover, I was interested to ascertain whether or not he was similarly taken aback by the news.
However, it would appear that this was not Warburton redux.
I finally got speaking to a well-placed source today and he is fairly clear what actually happened.
Apparently Mr Allen was summoned to a dignified conclave on Friday.
My information is at the Conveyancing Consigliere and the Serious Professional were in attendance with the Convict Chairman completing this dignified trio telephonically.
I’m told that the backstory to this event is the aftermath of the defeat to Celtic.
His Glibness had travelled from South Africa to bask in the adulation of a Sevco victory over the champions.
Of course, it didn’t work out like that.
Instead of enjoying the congratulations of his fellow directors Mr King found himself challenged by his Blue Room colleagues.
As well as failure on the field they wanted their chairman to justify the set of accounts that will be published later this year.
A cynic might conclude that in this situation Dave needed a scapegoat to deflect away from his own shortcomings.
I, of course, couldn’t possibly comment.
At a sit-down with Mr Let’s Go the impecunious chieftain let the Sevco manager have it without any niceties.
Essentially he was told that what had been seen on the pitch against Celtic wasn’t good enough.
The board had backed him, be had brought in a large number of players and yet they were no closer to Celtic.
Moreover, there were no Sevco equivalents of a Moussa Dembélé or a Virgil van Dijk.
Players sourced by Celtic for small fees and then sold on for many millions.
My information is that it was clear that Dave wasn’t happy about how the recruitment process had gone.
The resident MBE then pointed out that not all of the players that had were his choice.
Therefore, he wasn’t really to blame either.
However, there had to be a guilty man.
Enter the Director of Fantasy…
Unfortunately for those who wanted him to be the fall guy the ex-Manchester City chap has kept copious records of every apposite conversation.
Apparently, he had an answer for almost everything that was laid at his door during the meeting.
The one area where he did fail, and he didn’t duck that, was to shift Señor Alfredo José Morelos Aviléz in the summer.
Sadly, there was little real interest in the Colombian striker.
I’m told that there had been some interest from an English Championship Club, but nowhere near what the Sevco High Commanded had hoped for.
There was also the possibility of a deal with a German club.
The sticking point was that they wanted to try before buying and have him on loan in order to assess his temperament.
However, they didn’t get that far in their negotiations with Sevco.
As well as the South American a serious fee was also expected from Mr James Henry Tavernier.
Now those two combined with A N Other it was hoped to bring in a combined fee of £12.5m minimum.
Now, we know that this simply didn’t happen.
I’m told that Mr Allen pointed out that he had effectively no budget to work with and that he considered that he had done well under the circumstances.
Indeed, he pointed out that players had been brought in against his advice.
I understand that the acquisition of Eros Grezda was discussed at length during the Friday meeting.
The upshot of the conclave was that Mr Allen stated that he believed that he had worked to his remit despite the challenging resource situation.
Another allegation made by the outgoing director of football was that major decisions were taken without his input.
Consequently, he couldn’t be blamed if they turned out to be bad calls.
It will come as no surprise that THE major one was the move for Ryan Kent.
I’m told that Mr Allen was informed that this was a done deal and he had simply to action the paperwork.
With Mr Kent purchased Sevco now has a fully stocked winger shop.
Yet this knee jerk acquisition ignored the work that Mr Allen had already carried out.
Once it was clear that Jordon Jones might not be the answer and that the Liverpool player was not coming back then Mr Allen moved to get Brandon Barker as a replacement.
Then in comes Mr Kent at the 11th hour.
If the Sevco recruitment policy has been haphazard and ill-judged then that cannot be laid at the door of Mr Allen.
The conclave finally came to an end and I am happy that it was all amicably settled.
Those employment tribunals can be very messy especially if the employee has an extensive paper trail proving that they did no wrong.
Although I’m sure that never was on the cards anyway.
I suppose this is just another day at Dunning–Kruger FC.
When the history of Sevco is finally written then I am sure that Mark Allen, just like Mark Warburton, will be remembered as a decent guy who did his best in difficult circumstances.
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I recently lost my best mate of over 60 years …..to that bastard of a disease called MND.
I had to watch as, physically, his body was ravaged by this illness…whilst his brilliant mind continued to function.
And it was a brilliant mind…he was the most intelligent guy I ever knew …and I know a few.
On the day of his passing I spoke to his wife who comforted me by saying….” It was a blessing…and he’s now at peace.”
I can only hope that Mr. Ricksen’s family and friends can take the same comfort.
My sincere condolences go to them.
If part of the reasoning for Allen’s exit was his failure to secure big bucks transfer fees for Morelos and Tavernier, and a huge chunk of the Europa gate monies has gone on Kent, then the ST revenues will be melting away at speed.
With Close Bros monitoring the situation and Sports Direct’s accountants tallying up the cost of their claim as we speak, the picture is bleak.
Of course an audited set of annual accounts showing a rude leap into profitability, however unlikely, will be sold to the fans as proof that good times are just around the corner.
I see one of the Supreme Court judges is making much of the fact that The Hulk has failed to give a witness statement to defend his actions in shutting down Parliament.
Has he been advised by his legal team that giving such a statement, which he knows to be a lie, will result in serious consequences, as in jail time for perjury?
However I suppose that there is no jail on earth that could hold the Hulk, especially an angry one.
It would be fitting that the former worst foreign secretary in history, and now the worst PM, is given a few months behind bars to reflect on where it all went wrong.
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
We have seen Johnson nailing his true colours to the mast today when the Hulk refused to take part in an outside broadcast.
Maybe tomorrow he might don his Hulk costume and bash a 3 year old to the ground as that’s his limit.
He’s a yellow livered coward who can’t be trusted in any matter.
Every time he opens his mouth he’s lying, you can see it in his eyes.
When pressed about breaking the law by taking the UK out in a no deal brexit you could sense by his smug grin that he has something up his sleeve to get around the law.
Hopefully the Supreme Court will back the 3 Court of Session judges in their ruling that shutting down Parliament was unlawful and that he lied to Her Maj.
Lock him up and throw away the key, the country will be a much better place without him.
Every time he’s interviewed he talks of progress being made yet when you listen to any of the EU negotiators it’s clear that Johnson is telling more porkies and absolutely no progress whatsoever has been made.
It’s do or die on the 31st October, as has been his plan all along and he will shift the blame to the EU guys.
Give it a couple of months and the country will be in chaos, the pound wilk be worth 80 centrs, Johnson will have been removed and some other poor sod will be left to mop up the mess he’s left behind.
Where’s that Homes In Spain sales brochure?
https://countryeconomy.com/unemployment
Spain probably isn’t a great idea especially if you are under 25 at present.
They are deluded if they think any of their players would go for north of 10million. They have zero track record of producing / polishing players that can play at the highest level. The KT fee didn’t all come about because of his ability it has taken Celtic years of polishing rough diamonds to show that we have a caliber at this and that if you are buying from us you can expect quality. When KT proves his worth down there it strengthens our position again for the next sale when we can point at all our success. Rangers have none of that and if the want to start they have to start at the bottom. £5-6m sales is there top line until they start having success in that area
The ”it’s no ma fault” attitude is still alive and kicking at Ibrox. No one at this klub takes responsibility for anything and Slippy has twigged that there’s always some other patsy to lay the blame with. Mark Allan is the patsy this time but who will it be next or will Slippy get out of Dodge before the fingers start pointing at him? HH
Way off topic here, but I thought that fellow Celtic anoraks like myself, may be interested in a book to be published late October, this year. It’s called The Celtic Jersey by John Paul Dykes. It is of course a history of THE most famous jersey in wold football, going back to the year dot, I would imagine. The front cover features one of my faves, the jersey worn when 10 Men defeated the deid club 21st May 1979.
It is in hardback format, and runs to just shy of 300 pages so def. VFM. It is described as a ‘Coffee-table book’. Personally do not have a f*****g clue what that means. I wonder if the owners of coffee-tables in Orange/masonic halls will be willing to stock a few copies. It would look just fab placed beside ‘Downfall’ and ‘Hampden In The Sun’. HH
Off topic but…
I e -mail Hamilton FC every season end to congratulate them on ” staying up.”
For a Club that has the smallest budget in the SPFL…its a remarkable achievement…BUT…unless they scrap that plastic crap that call a “pitch”….then they can forget it.
Not only does it embarrass our players…it doesn’t do much for theirs either.
The number of times the ball ” stuck” and bounced badly was unbelievable and no one will tell me that footballers should be expected to cope with that…especially ” football playing ” players.
The bottom line is…if you can’t afford grass for football….then you shouldn’t be a football club.
This needs addressed…NOW.!!
Aye and here’s something interesting on this very topic. Before the split we visit Accies twice, as we do Livingston. Sevco go to each of them once. We also visit Aberdeen, Hibs and Motherwell and Sevco twice each before the split. If any four of that sextet join us in the top six it’s inevitable we will have a third game AWAY to one of them.
Out of curiosity I had another wee peek at the fixture list. Sevco play us, the Dons, Hibs and Well TWICE each at home before the split. Meaning that if any three of that sextet make the top six along with us and Sevco someone WILL have to play a third game at the crumbledome.
It’s so good to see the evil empire eat itself once more. What a time to be a supporter of the team in green!
The ‘howling will continue till halloween’…classic. However I believe that the howling will continue for far longer than that. Has anyone noticed that certain posters of a blue-tinged hue no longer seem interested in engaging with us, on this site.
Could it be that these peepul have contracted a recently discovered malady known as Septemberthefirst-itis. Symtoms of this disease appear early morning of said date, and present in terms of sufferers feeling an over-whelming sense of superiority and hubris. Between the hours of 1200 and 1400 hours, symtoms change dramatically, resulting in severe depression, the need to kick the cat and neck copious amounts of buckfast tonic wine. Later on, in early evening, these symptoms become too much for some of these poor dears, resulting in an over-whelming urge to be ‘Jumpin’ oota windaes’, preferably of the multi-storey variety, onto green-spikey railings below.
Depression continues until late December, when believing their own press, these poor unfortunates once again indulge in master-race type behaviour, until they are once again brought back down to earth, by the sudden thump of reality hitting them squarely in the coupon…29th December for any interested parties.
Those of you feeling sorry for said unfortunates, can cheer up, as a cure has already been discovered for the above malady. Unfortunately, this cure is unavailable on the NHS, and may well be beyond the price range of those in the Ibrox boardroom…it is of course a European Cup win. Ah well, never mind, worse things happen at sea. HH
Any chance of Johnson taking a lead from Mark Allen?
How is it possible for the worst Foreign Secretary in history to end up in the top job?
You can imagine the suppressed laughter around the negotiating table as the Hulk makes his entrance today.
Looks as if those pesky Irish and the troublesome backstop will end up with The Hulk taking us out of the EU with a no deal, just as he’s always planned and to hell with the consequences.
Will be no surprise to see Johnson throwing the DUP under a bus if it promotes his cause.
Fed up hearing that the vote 3 years ago to leave should be held up as Democracy in action.
Did anyone who voted leave realise that there would be food shortages, medicine shortages, prices shooting up, fuel shortages,
fresh fruit going wrotten stuck in border queues, money and investment fleeing the country?
The Yellowhammer papers are nowhere near a worst case scenario.
Would anyone be surprised that at this very moment Civil Servants, who have signed the Official Secrets Act, are printing off food and fuel vouchers for when rationing kicks in?
Joseph, if Johnson is gonna throw the DUP under a bus, then I wish to be considered for the position of driver of that said bus. I would obviously swerve to avoid any damage to the Fermanagh Stunner aka Wee Arlene, but would gladly flatten the bold Gregory Campbell and his camp follow-followers…and Public Schoolboy Corbyn for that matter. HH
Yes Ivoted leave knowing there would be a kick back from rejecting the Superstate Politics.
I knew this you see as I suspected you are only ever welcome fully to the EU buffet provided you tow the Party line.
That party line being Neoliberal Capitalism ( Thatcherism as we Scots know it by)
The same Neoliberal Capiyalism that has backed and Supported the sell off of Nationalised Industry,the advent of Zero Hour Contracts,the birth of Foodbanks the length and breadth of the Country,the 10 years of Austerity,Ignored the reasons for the Global Recession and continued to back those who push Neoliberal Economics as the answer to all our problems.
You see unlike our own pathetic Parties in the UK at least there are other options available.
The EU is a closed shop one option only deal.
Neoliberalism or nothing.
As the newly elected Commissioner has yet again rubber stamped.
Centre Right agenda or GTF.
Well I chose GTF.
By the way our Fuel prices have been at a premium for years as have Goods,medicines and all other imports,
JMcC
Please just talk about something else. I`m fed up listening or seeing anything about Brexit. Let tomorrow take care of itself. If you are correct at least the obesity crisis will be lessened.
When you need a ” reason” to cover up a sacking…you use the ” Family reasons” one.
( Gordon Smith (Spit ) anyone ?)
There is as much chance of Mr. Allen leaving for this reason …as there is of me singing Follow Follow.
Once again a compliant and useless Scottish Media, rolls over and prints this guff.
I can just imagine a similar situation at Celtic.
In depth examinations…forensic details…to get to the truth from an intrepid Press.
As Phil might have said…
“Jurnalizm…??…They couldnae spell it.”
( Wi’ apologies tae Phil.)…:0)
Livvie gave them a fright at the weekend and McGregor had to look lively on a couple of occasions.
Perhaps the players are not coping with the pressure that comes with Ibrox Noise talking up Morelos, Tavernier, Aribo, Kamara, Barasic and Arfield as future £20m sell on players.
So the Rookie, has given his first definitive, “its not my fault guv!” The Micheal Beale podcast of Gerrard’s masterplan to management was as equally insightful – his ego, has not got a clue –
So Allen has gone, and it has lined up Stevie’s Brand guys to get the pre print guys into action with, well he “wanted” to, he “tried” he brought you “this far”, but the players he “wanted” were not bought, I’m a manager and there was a lack of “control” and lack of “real investment”
MG from SuperScorebaord was very quick to say “MA he won’t be missed” “he took credit for way more than he did” and “why was he on the training ground and in the tunnel” – Swiftly backed up by RH. if they new all this why was it not presented to the listeners in either of the last 4 windows where they have purchased over 20 players.
Of all the quotes attested to pundits and spin doctors alike, Mr Let’s Go, statement, was almost glossed over “I would like to place on record my sincere gratitude to Mark for the incredible support he has shown to me and all of my staff since I came to the club 16 months ago,” – phycological referral to the “16months”, the last 3 words could have been omitted Mr MBE, but you’ve got a timeline in mind already, I reckon you’ll bounce after the January/February window, – when you didn’t get your players you needed Terminado anyone.
However – Was that his way of saying – Sorry Mark, don’t forget me for the first round of Championships jobs with oodles to spend – he is a becoming a rather over emotional dugout guy – the void he feels, and the I’ll be involved in the boards decision, – eh naw Stevie, you have mistaken your remit! – you don’t know what you are doing and Snow Patrol duets will not soothe Klan when you’re 6 points behind heading to the home of the champions.
Your brand team are beginning to nauseate the rank n file, Kingco has underestimated this one even though he will use Jabba to the full, because when Mr Let’s Go has to reboot the profile, he will walk in to sycophantic BT or Sky studio. and say, it wasn’t all sweetness, a lot going on in the background. His “no nonsense ” pressers are already an indication to this, it’s his brand style, he wouldn’t give a Sky Sports post match interview, until after the show had ended. This is a guy already teeing up excuses. it wasnae my players etc etc. is classic, the Steve Clark deflection, Uefa Rules this week, all this is pre planned. but get pumped at home on Thursday and the howling will continue until Halloween.
They leaks are already happening, the Inspirational Wipe Board, is just the beginning, – but wait for it, Injuries, not my players, number of games, Uefa squad, no referee protection, plastic pitches, Sunday Games, El Duffalos temperament, I need a striker, missing my family, missing mark Allen, downsizing, the repetition of the league, having to replace legends of macgregor , Davis and defoe and the their 108 years of experience with…… loanees,
Weak managers make excuses….
It is just beginning, and Mr Let’s Go, is now beginning to get his ducks in a row too
We now know that Stevie G’s karaoke number is Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars. My guess is that Mark Allen loves a Sadie Shaw number… Puppet On A String?