Oliver Holt on Sunday Supplement 23/1/2011

[dave.woodhall]

So are we suggesting that Robertson etc wanted to stay but that MON forced them to leave? Seems a bit fanciful to me. More likely they feel a sense of loyalty to the man as he's taken them with him everywhere he's worked and so theyvfollowed him out the door.

No he hasn't.

[Villa'Zawg]

I don't think the long term prospects of Aston Villa were even in his mind as he went his merry way, making sure that his reputation was intact amongst those that matter (mainly the press) as he went.

Yeah that would be why he took the 5 backroom staff with him five days before the season started. He may not have wanted to do any long term damage to Aston Villa but he sure wanted to teach Randy Lerner a lesson.

I always disliked this 'took them with him' concept.  They are his staff and were always likely to follow, but would Randy or anyone else have wanted them to stay under the circumstances?  As it goes I doubt Robertson or Walford would have done any better than K-Mac did, so no harm was done there.

What usually happens in such circumstances is that the backroom staff stay until another manager takes over. That's what happened when every other manager I can remember has left us.

but did they leave of their own accord or did the board want them to go? I seem to recall reading that they officially left a couple of days later after negotiating a pay-off.

[Surrey Villain]

I don't think the long term prospects of Aston Villa were even in his mind as he went his merry way, making sure that his reputation was intact amongst those that matter (mainly the press) as he went.

Yeah that would be why he took the 5 backroom staff with him five days before the season started. He may not have wanted to do any long term damage to Aston Villa but he sure wanted to teach Randy Lerner a lesson.

I always disliked this 'took them with him' concept.  They are his staff and were always likely to follow, but would Randy or anyone else have wanted them to stay under the circumstances?  As it goes I doubt Robertson or Walford would have done any better than K-Mac did, so no harm was done there.

I doubt any of them would have been capable and would have been like headless chickens when their joint head was cut off.

[spangley1812]

Whatever happened, we may never know, but one thing is for sure MON did not take into consideration the fans or any of staff when he walked out on Aston Villa.

At the end of the day it was his "job" and he didnt want to do the job any more so he walked, im sure he discussed it with
John Robertson.....if you dont want to do a job anymore you leave as for "considering the fans" thats "tosh" im afraid 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I don't think the long term prospects of Aston Villa were even in his mind as he went his merry way, making sure that his reputation was intact amongst those that matter (mainly the press) as he went.

Yeah that would be why he took the 5 backroom staff with him five days before the season started. He may not have wanted to do any long term damage to Aston Villa but he sure wanted to teach Randy Lerner a lesson.

I always disliked this 'took them with him' concept.  They are his staff and were always likely to follow, but would Randy or anyone else have wanted them to stay under the circumstances?  As it goes I doubt Robertson or Walford would have done any better than K-Mac did, so no harm was done there.

When DOL left, Roy Aitken took over and in the few games in charge had us playing some wonderful stuff. I'll always respect him for those few weeks as he showed loyalty to the club that paid him handsomely rather than the manager.

No harm done? I'm sure Kevin MacDonald could have done without the shit he was left to pick up. An extra pair of hands would have been most welcome, I'm sure, even if they were the cigarette stained hands of Robertson.

[dave.woodhall]

but did they leave of their own accord or did the board want them to go? I seem to recall reading that they officially left a couple of days later after negotiating a pay-off.

They all left together. 

[Ian.]

Whatever happened, we may never know, but one thing is for sure MON did not take into consideration the fans or any of staff when he walked out on Aston Villa.

At the end of the day it was his "job" and he didnt want to do the job any more so he walked, im sure he discussed it with
John Robertson.....if you dont want to do a job anymore you leave as for "considering the fans" thats "tosh" im afraid 

Maybe so, I just wish he left at the end of last season when the rumours were rife that he would leave.

[pauliewalnuts]

but did they leave of their own accord or did the board want them to go? I seem to recall reading that they officially left a couple of days later after negotiating a pay-off.

They all left together. 

That's a shame, Robbo could have stoically prolonged the regime, Doenitz-like.

[Villa'Zawg]

but did they leave of their own accord or did the board want them to go? I seem to recall reading that they officially left a couple of days later after negotiating a pay-off.

They all left together. 

Did they leave of their own accord or did the board want them to go?

[spangley1812]

but did they leave of their own accord or did the board want them to go? I seem to recall reading that they officially left a couple of days later after negotiating a pay-off.

They all left together. 

Did they leave of their own accord or did the board want them to go?

Im sure they left with MON as he had quit, they all work together as a unit

[dave.woodhall]

but did they leave of their own accord or did the board want them to go? I seem to recall reading that they officially left a couple of days later after negotiating a pay-off.

They all left together. 

Did they leave of their own accord or did the board want them to go?

They left of their own accord. It was said at the time that they left us in such a state there weren't enough coaches to cover the squad.

[damon loves JT]

It is a real nose/spite/face scenario too. At least if you wait for the push from the incoming boss, you get some kind of redundo. This lot walked and got nothing, and as far as we know are still living on fresh air and self-righteousness.

[pauliewalnuts]

It is a real nose/spite/face scenario too. At least if you wait for the push from the incoming boss, you get some kind of redundo. This lot walked and got nothing, and as far as we know are still living on fresh air and self-righteousness.

Having seen the loyalty MON inspires in the press this week, maybe we shouldn't be surprised he inspires it in Robbo and Walford as well.

[Concrete John]

A little different, IMO, as they're a team that has worked together for years.  Still, if either had wanted to stay I very much doubt their contract was linked to MON's.

Unlike, say, Allan Evans and Brian Little? David O'Leary and Roy Aitken? Ron Saunders and Tony Barton?

I think the relationship and bond of that team was far greater than in any of the examples you mention.

And what are we saying anyway?  That we wanted them to stay and help K-Mac, which wouldn't have worked given the differing playing styles, or that MON was to blame for putting pressure on them to walk with him?

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't think the long term prospects of Aston Villa were even in his mind as he went his merry way, making sure that his reputation was intact amongst those that matter (mainly the press) as he went.

Yeah that would be why he took the 5 backroom staff with him five days before the season started. He may not have wanted to do any long term damage to Aston Villa but he sure wanted to teach Randy Lerner a lesson.

I always disliked this 'took them with him' concept.  They are his staff and were always likely to follow, but would Randy or anyone else have wanted them to stay under the circumstances?  As it goes I doubt Robertson or Walford would have done any better than K-Mac did, so no harm was done there.

When DOL left, Roy Aitken took over and in the few games in charge had us playing some wonderful stuff. I'll always respect him for those few weeks as he showed loyalty to the club that paid him handsomely rather than the manager.

No harm done? I'm sure Kevin MacDonald could have done without the shit he was left to pick up. An extra pair of hands would have been most welcome, I'm sure, even if they were the cigarette stained hands of Robertson.

I remember KM saying that at one point, he was coaching three or four different levels of the club in one day, from first team downwards, we were so short of actual bodies.