Jordanhill Jag

Hi Rob Circa 20+ Years ago I worked for a large Multi National Company whose HQ was in England - The CEO who I had met couple of times found out I was a a Thistle Fan - he supported Spurs - knew nothing about Thistle You wrote an article about your 10 Favourite Stadiums - mentioning Firhill as one - I think you mentioned your dad in the article - The CEO was so impressed with your description of Firhill that he asked next time we had clients at Hospitality at Firhill could he come (and he did ) he went to Robert Reids pre match “ talk” in the Boardroom - these were the days whe Hospitalty was in the Aitkin Suite - he thought Robert was one of the funniest men he had ever heard - had a grew day and spoke about his visit for Years You did great work for the Jags Rob - take care of yourself amigo jim alexander

Yes - so will I

Agree 100%? Sometimes people make decisions on more data and in my view that was the case - it was more than just Football

Exactly one point off the play offs = a sacking simply disgraceful and the only conclusion that I can reach is because various people with influence didn't like him

I have no idea on any level who provided the information for the statement & I have neither stated nor implied anything of the sort your suggesting However given the Financial position that the Board inherited - common sense would be to make your own analysis of any previous decisions & not take as read that they are correct

The primary aim for Partick Thistle Football Club for season 2022/23 is to regain Premiership status. The management team were given a budget to support this objective. Given the playing squad assembled for this season, everyone at the club was united in the belief that this was an achievable prospect. One thing to Note - the Replacement Board had No idea if this was correct - as none of them apart from Smillie were part of the Board who set the Targets

Ah of Course - here is the start of the "Save Dools the Legend " Campaign

I stand corrected We were one point away from that target - it = a sacking Here is hoping Dools doesnt slip out the Top 4 by a point ?

Agreed - Top 4 is the target - my argument is that its pretty much is always the target Dropping a point out of it Mid Feb = a sacking ? Now TJF Board Members are saying if we dont make the Top 4 - Dools gets another Season ?

We were off the Play Off Spot by one point Are you suggesting if Dools is in a Similar position we sack him ?

Yes - Your correct

They Quoted the Growing Gap Between the League Leaders & where Thistle were sitting when they dismissed McCall - we were one point off the Play Off Spot Mid Feb - so still in contention So No - Im not talking Rubbish

Thanks FT It was the Poster Lenzie Jag who stated that the target was third so some confusion - so Dools has No Target - Nothing to measure him against - however if we miss the Playoffs it has a Financial Implication - just as missing promotion last Season as stated by the Board had a Financial implication So by Logic -you sack one Manager for not hitting Targets - You Sack the other One

I've made absolutely zero up - that's complete and utter tripe Every Target stated for the Two Managers was put out by the Board from there various announcements There is No Agenda or "Chip on my Shoulder " Ive pointed out that the Board introduced a dismissal process based on certain Targets being missed - you & WJ argued very strongly that they were justified in doing this regards McCall ( fair enough ) NOW your arguing that despite missing the Boards Targets - Dools should be kept on So either Dools goes OR the Dismissal Strategy of Firing Managers is wrong Your Running away because you don't want to upset the Board Members- after all TJF and the Board are pretty much the one thing these days & how dare anyone criticise the Board Members

Well that's not the Board Strategy McCall was given a target of Promotion Outright by Winning the League by the Jlo Board - few week as after replacing the Jlo Board the New Board judged this to be a written in stone target - and the Manager was fired for not being in a position to achieve the Jlo Target ( you and WJ both from TJF have argued this was the correct thing to do ) Dools was brought in to achieve this Target of Winning the League - he failed scraped into the Playoffs - missed promotion - now so we are clear his Target was Promotion by Winning the League - so he failed on that + failed on Promotion This Season his Target is finishing 3rd - he drops out of Play Off Contention then the Board have to apply there own rules - McCall was fired for not achieving a Jlo Target - Dools cannot get a third chance of achieving the Board Targets - otherwise people may conclude the sacking of McCall was not for simply Football reasons ? So you cant argue one decision is Right - then Argue you should change the measurement parameters set by the Board Now - if your saying the Parameters are wrong - they were applied unfairly - they are too draconian - that's fine - you remove those who have set unreasonable Parameters at Board Level Which one would you like it to be - Sack Dools - Replace Directors - you cant have it both ways Members of TJF Board cant argue McCalls Sacking was 100% correct- and then argue that Dools is OK not to meet Board Targets

Well we start with replacing Directors who started this Strategy in the first place You then decide medium and long term objectives for both the Football Manager & The board directors with KPIs that you can measure progress on You look at your structure and weaknesses Here is something that is worth noting - Ian McCall indicated he would be interested in a Director of Football Role during discussions after Dools replaced him - bearing in mind we were paying him anyway - it was made clear that McCall ( despite his strengths in recruitment - contacts and experience would get no where near PTFC ) also that any future Director of Football would also have a Key Role in the Woman's Team So instead we let a Rookie Manager Flounder with No Support That fact alone in my view is a sacking offence for the Board Directors who rejected the idea We are floundering about with zero plan or direction - Dools is struggling but the Board are throwing him under a Bus whatever people thought of Gerry B - he was at least an experienced Football Guy - who has Dools got ? we are a shambles

So despite what our friend Lenzie Jag is trying to make out - its not the signing of Mcbeth thats the reason for us losing goals ?

Well given we averaged £300k losses each Season and are forecasting £150k loss this Season we are obviously not exactly a bastion of Financial Competence and the £150k is masked by the TJF funding or it would be £300k ( again) Ok - if it was me - and it was my Business - I would make the cuts to fund getting in a New Manager -rather than going for another inexperienced “ legend” like Brian Graham The manager is the most important decision a Club takes you cannot base it on “ availability” and its the cheap option And so we are clear - I have not called for Dools sacking - Ive asked Norge Thistle at what point do you replace the Manager and by what measure and at what point do you replace Directors and by what measure ? And dont ask what cuts - Im not going to name who I would cut on a public forum But there are cuts you can make to Non Core Functions

So at what point do you sack a Manager - how do you measure it ? At what point & when do you remove Directors if there Strategy isn't working - how do you measure it ? ( obviously a key Board Role is Sacking & appointing the Manager ) if not there most important role

So as previously stated the options are a) Stick with Dools no matter what b) or appoint another "Legend" with zero management experience How come other Championship Teams manage to sack Managers and not have to appiont inexperienced "legends" ? Are there finances so much better than Thistles ? Maybe the Manager isn't the Core Problem ?

We got £500K Investment - we are forcasting a £150K loss - we got a very positive report at the AGM on Finances - so its not correct that we have "No Money" according to the AGM ?

Well that Strategy has been set by the Board - our previous Manager got a Target of Promotion by the JLo Board ( we have no idea how realistic it was - or the conditions surrounding it ) he was sacked because the New Board felt that the target was not going to be met- last February Soo the same Board have Set Dools a Target of 3rd Pace - they therefore have to apply the same consistency they measured ( & fired ) the previous Manager on - they have set the Modus Operandi - and by extension - they need to apply the same logic to there own positions The Figure Set by the Jlo Board was Promotion outright ( win the league ) - now given the resources of Dundee & QP at the time - that would seem highly ambitious - now even more bizarre is the fact the replacement Board ( whilst finding carcrashes all over the place in finances etc ) uniquely took this Promotion Target by the previous Board - as 100 % accurate & deliverable - few weeks into the Job - sacked the Manager as they did not believe he would achieve it Sooo - the current Board have to apply the same standards -otherwise people will conclude it was more than just results for sacking the previous Manager Yes - what your saying is correct - its a ridiculous strategy - but Hey Ho- that's the rules they made up so they can follow them

You deal the hand you get in Football McCall was sacked because he was not going to get us promoted according the the Board No one said - look at the turmoil of the previous Board - Look at the Fan Protests - look at the Club Going Bust - look at the lack of experience in Running a Football Club of the New Board Nope the New Board were in the Job a few Weeks - first item on the Agenda - sack the Manager So sorry - there is not a Set of Rules for certain people and a different Set by others If McCalls Target was Promotion and they deemed him to be failing against that Target in February - this Years Target is 3rd - if we fail both the Manager & those who set the objective go - as it was done jointly

The reason we signed Mcbeth is because we had no Midfield worth talking about so we drop Mcbeth - its his fault