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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: joe on September 14, 2010, 02:00:32 PM
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On Messenger website. Contract terminated by mutual consent. Ken McKenna in temporary charge while the club invites applicants.
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Terminated by mutual consent, apparently.
Good luck Graham to wherever life takes you next. Moss Lane will seem a strange place without you.
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Blimey, now we are in unknown territory. The certainty of the last few years - the no debt live within your means philosophy off the pitch, and the traditional Heathcote approach on the pitch - is now gone.
A new future awaits us - I hope we remain true to our off field standards and rebuild our reputation as a solid Conference battler.
Thank you Geoff; thank you Graham. Graham - I hope you can now spend time to cope with the loss of your mum without having to perform every Sat / Tue.
Onwards and upwards - come on Alty
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Good luck Graham, you did an amazing job when you look what you had to work with most of the time.
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Given all that has happened, perhaps it's for the best.
The mixture of depatures and serious injuries which have contributed to our poor start were totally beyond his control. He probably felt exasperated and demoralised that having built a good side, it was totally decimated in the space of a couple of months. Best to get a fresh start.
Good luck to GH, and thanks for all you've done.
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The situation was no good for Graham Heathcote and no good for Altrincham Football Club. It was going nowhere other than a war. And Altrincham Football Club is bigger than any one man.
In my opnion there was simply nowhere to go after Black Thursday.
I'll collect my thoughts a little before posting anything else.
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Good luck in the future Graham and thanks for your efforts.
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Think it was inevitable really :(
I'd like to thank Graham for all his hard work over the last 8 years, especially for getting us promoted. Happy days.
Good luck for the future.
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Good luck to GH and thank you.
A new dawn for Alty, let's hope that KMc and/or whoever comes in breathes new life into the team and we can start to move forward again.
What a strange few weeks.
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Good luck to Graham along with Geoff in the future, both are legends in my eyes and will be missed.
New era for the club now lets hope its a great one!!
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I thought this would happen, so I did not fel it appropriate to add to the 'Heathcote out' call.
Graham is Alty through & through and, despite some difficult times over the years has always come good. This was just that one time too many with his sad personal loss recently.
Nobody has ever fought more for the Alty cause and he will be missed as a manager, mentor, leader and as a man of character, stoicism and experience. I hope there will always be a role for him at the club - honoroury life vice president or some such - even if he gets a role elsewhere in football. I can see some smaller club getting the great benefit of Graham's experience.
I hope Graham is able to get a wee break, however - the last few weeks must have taken a great toll on him.
But, Graham, thanks for everything you have done for the club (so far) and the way you have been able to work with Geoff Goodwin & the board to run a club the way it should be run and with - lets face it - success. The stats will not tell the true story.
On a personal level I wish I had been able to go to the events that Graham has presented - it seems these are where we have seen the great wit, raconteurishness and rapport he has with the players and fans (there have been blemishes - Lewis) but they are history and Graham has come good from these in the past.
Graham - I hope we will see you at Moss Lane, but thanks for everything and wishing you and your family all the very best.
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NOT happy about this >:(
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As I have said before I am grateful for what GH has done in the past as afterall it was he that got the club back in the Conference but I think this decision is correct for moving forwards and for all parties.
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Many thanks to Graham for many years hard work, but I think this will be for the best for all parties in the long run.The memories will always be there of stoke etc, good luck for the furture graham.We must ALL get behind kenny now
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GUTTED GUTTED GUTTED >:(
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It's been a very strange and sad 48 hours.
First the Chairman then the manager ?
Good luck to you both and best wishes for the future.
I only hope that all this change is not a knee jerk reaction to the poor start to the season.
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A massive thank you to Graham for all he’s done! Hope he will still stay around the club and hopefully have some sort of role at Moss Lane.
Don’t get me wrong I didn’t always agree with all his choices but if you look at the squad he inherited compared to last seasons squad it shows what a great job he did for this club. Regardless of what others may say his ability to be able to recruit such talent without spending a penny shows his ability. I just wish he could have bowed out under better circumstances.
All the best Graham ,
Lew and the rest of the Needhams
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The correct decision. GH is without question one of our true legends. Like Geoff Goodwin, he leaves us in a far better state than when he took over. I am sure he will get another job in football and he deserves the best wishes of every Alty fan for the future.
But please, any idea of him staying around at Alty in the background (particularly at a small, close knit club like ours) is potentially very damaging. It undermines McKenna and sends out the wrong signals about any change actually taking place. We need to look forward and stand together.
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Blimey
TA
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A massive thank you to Graham for all he’s done! Hope he will still stay around the club and hopefully have some sort of role at Moss Lane.
Don’t get me wrong I didn’t always agree with all his choices but if you look at the squad he inherited compared to last seasons squad it shows what a great job he did for this club. Regardless of what others may say his ability to be able to recruit such talent without spending a penny shows his ability. I just wish he could have bowed out under better circumstances.
All the best Graham ,
Lew and the rest of the Needhams
Me too gutted !!!
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I won't lose any sleep over it. Nor will I miss his endless ranting at the players during a match ( up until we were 2 down), nor the abuse that he hurled at fans if he did not like their comments.CHEERIO.
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Feeling a bit numb and sad at present.
Good luck Grahame and thanks for all you did for Alty FC...
In my opinion we don't want any ex players etc as the new manager, Just because these ex players were good players does NOT automatically make them decent managers especially if they havent had any experience. ....
Having said that I think that it is only fair and right for Kenny Mc to take over as temp manager he knows the club, knows the current players and has had experience..
If I am honest I do not think that bringing Colin Little back is a progressive move...
I prefer Ex players to remain just that... and remember them for the good they did on the pitch on there day...
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this was inevitable after Geoff left yesterday.
Graham Heathcote did a very good job as manager, working so closely with Geoff Goodwin got this club on an even keel. Regardless of what folk think, and I am no big fan of Grahams, his overall contribution was heavily positive.
now for the new dawn...
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Theres ultimately been more ups than downs and who could have predicted that we'd be mixing it where we have been when GH started.
Many thanks GH, for all the memories good and bad, thats what football support is all about.
Time to move on for Alty, if we approach it in the right manner theres no reason why we cant push on further, so lets be positive.
Im hoping Ken gets a fair crack at the job.
Cheers Graham, and good luck to you and your family!
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Many thanks for your sterling efforts over the years and good luck for the future.
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Whilst I feel that it was essential that Graham step down, it doesn't alter the fact that his contribution to this club over an immense number of years was absolutely immeasurable.
Not everybody manages to go out while they're on top. Whatever the future holds Graham, you are truly an Alty legend.
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Thankyou Graham, A Legend as a player and Backroom staff member. enjoy your free time and feel free to come and watch us you've earned the right to sit with VofD and heckle our next manager :P
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It was for the best at this current time but thank you so much Graham for your work over the years, an alty legend
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GOOD LUCK AND THANKS THANKS THANKS TO BOTH GH & GG. MR ALTRINCHAM HAS LEFT THE BUILDING - A SAD DAY FOR ALTY AND GH THAT IT ENDED THIS WAY. I DO THINK AND HOPE HE'LL BE BACK ONE DAY AND MAYBE GEOFF TOO !
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Thanks and good luck Graham. There are few managers who could match what you have done. I hope the time out is beneficial before you manage again. The Brittania Stadium Stoke in May 2005 will live long in the memory, up there with our greatest days.
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Thanks a million Graham, we are gutted in this household. I am sure you will be manager of another club in the not to distant future.
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Really sad to hear this, but probably the correct decision for the football club but also his own personal happiness.
Graham gave me the opportunity of work experience at the club a few years ago, which was thoroughly enjoyable, and having got to know some of his family they really are lovely people and will be missed.
Thank you GH
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I personally want to say thankyou and good luck to Graham and hope he takes a well earned break.
I doubt anyone will EVER get a team promoted without spending any money and within a strict budget whilst clearing a debt, we should ALL remember this. We could be a whole lot worse off.
Its a shame its happened the way it has, and in hindsight if his personal matters had happened at a different time he might have resigned end of last season.
I also think Little should be politely told thanks but no thanks, although it kind of leaves him in limbo which isn't the Alty way.
New chapter awaits....
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I just want to say thank you to Graham for all his hard work and the fantastic job he has done at the club.
Personally I believe he didn't receive the level of support from our own fans that maybe he was deserving of.
Thanks again, a new era awaits us, lets hope we move forward and not backwards!
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Many thanks Graham. There has been a lot of highs and lows from day1,but the last 8 years have mostly been a joy to watch (even in the getting tonked 5-0 days to teams like York, you still have to make sure we were playing league matches against these sides).
He may not be everyones cup of tea, but no-one can doubt he has been a successful manager at the club, and him and Geoff have left this club in a much better state than when they came.
The club now moves forward,with the aim of climbing back up the league, and regaining confidence.
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Good luck for the future , think it had to happen , lets get behind Kenny now , and get us back on track
come on alty
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will miss his rants with Mansfield Town fans, he always took it well!
But alty deserve better than being bottom of the league!
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All the best Graham.
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Best wishes Graham, it will be very different without you. The king is dead, long live .......
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When the invite for the interested is thrown out, I wonder who will come?
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thanks GH for your hard work at the club
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Has to be a thank you. Fantastic memories of the man as a player, some great memories of him as manager (including some of his TV interviews). Ultimately though I think this was probably the correct decision for the club and for himself. I hope he takes a well earned break and kicks back for a while to contemplate where he's at. If he decides he's got the appetite back, I wish him all the best when he reenters the footballing fray.
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I to am Gutted by this,He did a great Job under Difficult circumbstances with no money to spend.Losing Greg and Chris did not help matters this season either.I am in Shock and at a complete lose at the moment,think it was a bad move by the club to agre to let him go.
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I to am Gutted by this,He did a great Job under Difficult circumbstances with no money to spend.Losing Greg and Chris did not help matters this season either.I am in Shock and at a complete lose at the moment,think it was a bad move by the club to agre to let him go.
There can be no disputing that Graham has done an excellent job under trying circumstances for 7 of the last 8 years. He has also worked well as an assistant to Kingy and Bernard and deserved the chance to be manager, just like Ken McKenna does now.
Harold, everyone is entitled to their opinion but I would challenge anyone who saw the second half at Gateshead to tell me where the next point was coming from. In a recent MORI poll I was voted third most positive person on the forum after Distance Traveller and Mick and I could not tell you it was going to get any better.
Once it was made clear he would never resign for financial reasons, sacking him was 100% the correct decision unless we were to go down without a fight.
Its not nice but for me its true.
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I to am Gutted by this,He did a great Job under Difficult circumbstances with no money to spend.Losing Greg and Chris did not help matters this season either.I am in Shock and at a complete lose at the moment,think it was a bad move by the club to agre to let him go.
There can be no disputing that Graham has done an excellent job under trying circumstances for 7 of the last 8 years. He has also worked well as an assistant to Kingy and Bernard and deserved the chance to be manager, just like Ken McKenna does now.
Harold, everyone is entitled to their opinion but I would challenge anyone who saw the second half at Gateshead to tell me where the next point was coming from. In a recent MORI poll I was voted third most positive person on the forum after Distance Traveller and Mick and I could not tell you it was going to get any better.
Once it was made clear he would never resign for financial reasons, sacking him was 100% the correct decision unless we were to go down without a fight.
Its not nice but for me its true.
Did I only come second........must try harder in future to beat Ray ! ;D
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According to todays Evening News Graham resigned. The paper has quotes from Graham Rowley that include 'He came to us and said he didn't fancy the battle of another campaign' and 'We as a board were behind him and weren't looking to make a change'.
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I don't believe for a moment that we've seen the last of Graham. This has been a difficult few weeks for him, and he's probably at the lowest ebb of his entire life.
I believe that the time was right for him to go, but that doesn't mean that, when he's recharged his batteries, and he's up for the unique challenge that is football management, he won't reappear to play a role of some kind for the club that he loves.
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I am glad that GH realised that this situation couldnt continue, anyone that thought otherwise was just burying their head in the sand. I am slightly horrified by Grahame Rowleys comments in the M.E.N that the board hadn't even considered that a change in manager might be necessary, I think this shows who exactly was running the club. There is life after Heathcote and I look forward to the new regime whoever they may be. For the new manager to be given a chance GH should not been invited back to the club in a formal position this would only undermine the manager and put them under pressure.
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Dont believe everything you read in the papers....
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There have been a few times in recent years when I couldn't see where the next goal or point was going to come from.....and when folk were chanting the heathcote out mantra.
I think of that game at Lancaster where we were hopeless and Tony sullivan ran us ragged.....I think of lewes....I think of when we played bottom club vauxhall motors and the 'cote played pottsy up front by himself, left Marcus hallows on the bench and threw Talbs up front for the last 15 mins where I just couldn't see how 'cote could possibly continue let alone turn it round.
But these dark spells were instantly transformed and the 'cote did indeed turn it round.
This time just felt different didn't it?
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I admitted earlier in the season that i felt like watching Alty had turned into a habit rather that something i enjoyed. With the news that Heathcote has gone my enthusiasm has suddenly come flooding back and i can't wait for Barrow! It's too short notice for me to make Eastbourne but i'm really looking forward to the rest of this season now where we'll hopefuuly see some attacking,entertaing football with plenty of encouragment coming from the manager on the sidelines.
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There have been a few times in recent years when I couldn't see where the next goal or point was going to come from.....and when folk were chanting the heathcote out mantra.
I think of that game at Lancaster where we were hopeless and Tony sullivan ran us ragged.....I think of lewes....I think of when we played bottom club vauxhall motors and the 'cote played pottsy up front by himself, left Marcus hallows on the bench and threw Talbs up front for the last 15 mins where I just couldn't see how 'cote could possibly continue let alone turn it round.
But these dark spells were instantly transformed and the 'cote did indeed turn it round.
This time just felt different didn't it?
Totally spot on.
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I think your right, in the past Heathcote attacked any detractors, this time during games he just slumped against the dugout and then there was Black Thursday where he admitted That he was fallible something he would never have done in the past. Incidentally Black Thursday will live long in the memory along with the "your all f.....g Gobsh*tes" meeting at the start of the Heathcote era. I think there's a great symmetry there. You can say what you want about Graham Heathcote and I often have but you can't say his era wasn't a rollercoaster.