Yesterdays programme notes................
Good afternoon and welcome to Jim Gannon and his Stockport side for this Vanarama National North fixture. A lot has happened over the last week but we must now stand back,appraise the situation and move on.
Firstly my thanks to Alan Goodall,Shaun Densmore and Jake Moult for agreeing to step up to the mark and take control of team affairs after the resignation of Neil Young and subsequent departures of Gary Jones and Simon Garner. I would like to put on record my personal thanks to Neil Young for the way he dealt with the situation. I do not regret employing Neil-he was the best candidate available when we advertised the job and he worked tremendously hard to make things work. Unfortunately things transpired against him with injuries and players not performing to expectations and thus,with dignity,he resigned his post. If,as I was informed that comments on Social Media,to him and his family,were a contributory factor then I think the people involved should hold their heads in shame. The loss of Neil Young(and Liam Watson) is a loss to the game especially when they state that this is the end of their managerial careers. I have not known a harder working "team" for this football club.
The expression "sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me"-may be a nursery rhyme and people will say they agree with it but when the words get personal and are directed at family members as well as the person involved they "DO" hurt. Myself and my family have also come in for the social media treatment in recent days and although I've always said I've got broad shoulders and you've got to take the stick when things go wrong if you're prepared to take the plaudits when things are good,it still does hurt especially when you put a much time,money and energy into this football club as my family do. There's only so much that people can stand before action is taken.
Let's hope that the "supporters" of our Football Club can now regroup and get behind whoever is the given the opportunity to move the club forward. The appointment won't please everyone-I can guarantee that-but once the applications have been appraised and interviews carried out the Board will appoint the person who they believe will bring success back to the club. With your support that job will be made easier.
Let's work together as a strong unit-togetherness will always outdo conflict. Together we can put the "heart" back into Altrincham Football Club.
Thank you for your time,
Grahame.
Make of that what you will people