AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

It wouldnt surprise me at all if the board decided to keep him on IF we stay up hence why I am not getting too excited about him leaving

That'd be a big mistake, because on the whole the fans are completely lost now and I can't see how he'd win them back.

It would be pointless anyway, he's a Manager who is totally incapable of setting up sides that play anything other than negative.
The supporters will not put up with another season of drab, borefest football.

The only answer is to get rid.

[DeKuip]

The decision maker/s will sit down and way up the pros and cons and decide to stand by the manager. They are fully aware of the fans feelings and will anticipate a big hit in season ticket sales – losing 10,000 sales would be the worst case scenario and that would cost around £5m.
Changing the manager would cost about that when you take into account McLeish's compensation, paying off a contract at the new manager's current club and then the first year of his wages. Having gone through the process of finding a new manager in each of the last two seasons and seen both of those appointments proving to be unpopular with fans, I'm guessing there's going to be a big reluctance to have another summer of upheaval when we could still ending up making the wrong appointment.
They will know that the current manager hasn't lost the backing of his players and retains respect both at Bodymoor and in the football world in general. They will also know that football fans ARE pretty fickle and can be swayed by a run of decent performances and results.
I think they'll back their own initial judgement on McLeish at this stage, with their fingers firmly crossed.

As for my own opinion for what it's worth – I wouldn't sack him for the sake of it, if it meant fumbling blindly for a replacement. I don't see how that would benefit the players who have had not only changes of management to contend with but have gone from one extreme to the other and back in terms of footballing philosophies.
Sadly, and I am ashamed to say this, what I would hope for is that if they have already decided on a change and have his replacement lined up (and a deal agreed) with a clear plan of the way forward. Somehow I can't see that.

[PaulWinch again]

Seems to be a growing feeling in the past week that he'll go. I've got a feeling that when he does, the accompanying statement will direct a fair amount of reasoning to his non-acceptance by the fans, which will really wind me up, as will, no doubt, the stream of articles that will follow in the press.

I'd like him to leave after the Spurs game and, for a bit of fun, we take on Norwich without a manager. Just leave the players to it themselves. Just for a laugh.

I'm not fussed what he blames as long as he's gone come the end of the season.

[PaulWinch again]

It wouldnt surprise me at all if the board decided to keep him on IF we stay up hence why I am not getting too excited about him leaving

That'd be a big mistake, because on the whole the fans are completely lost now and I can't see how he'd win them back.

It would be pointless anyway, he's a Manager who is totally incapable of setting up sides that play anything other than negative.
The supporters will not put up with another season of drab, borefest football.

The only answer is to get rid.

Exactly, it's gone far too far and the board would be mad to test the fans patience further. They need to admit their horrendous error and set about rectifying it.

[KevinGage]

There seems to be a widespread assumption in this thread that Randy, the board, and the players are in agreement with the majority of the fans when it comes to AMc.  I've not seen/heard anything to suggest anything of the sort.

Well you won't, until he's actually gone.

He'll officially have the 'full support' of the board - right up until the moment they hand him his P45.

I repeat.  The premise is all assumption.

Prior to last Tuesday, everything pointed to him being our manager for the forseeable -  he was even making plans for next season, signing players and busy with agents trying to sort out other transfer deals. All of which suggested he had at least until the midway point of next year.

Now that's been parked.  The statement released by the club deliberately avoided any mention of McLeish in a medium>longterm sense. They would back him no further than beyond the three games.  They also "openly acknowledge the frustrations of Villa fans and share in them completely."     The frustrations of most Villa fans centre largely on the appointment of McLeish, his continued presence at the club and the decline he has overseen in next to no time.  If they are being genuine, how would they expect to move on and plan for the future with the root cause of the problem not being addressed?

[Damo70]

Randy Lerner's interview in The Times earlier in the season suggested the decision to get rid of Houllier had been taken quite a while before the end of the season due to his poor relationship with the players. I was convinced McLeish would still be in charge next season until last Tuesday night. I think the decision to get rid of him was made then based on both results and fans feelings and he will go the day after the last game. A previous poster mentioned the respect for AM at Bodymoor and in football. Maybe as a bloke but how many of the players would give him a glowing reference as a manager? And I wouldn't imagine his next job will be in the English Premier League .

[damon loves JT]

I think the decision to get rid of him was made then based on both results and fans feelings and he will go the day after the last game.

I think it will be a `Breaking News' strap at the bottom of the SSN screen an hour after the final whistle at Norwich.

[Concrete John]

I think the decision to get rid of him was made then based on both results and fans feelings and he will go the day after the last game.

I think it will be a `Breaking News' strap at the bottom of the SSN screen an hour after the final whistle at Norwich.

They won't act that quickly.  I'd say it'll be late May.

[prmort]

The decision maker/s will sit down and way up the pros and cons and decide to stand by the manager. They are fully aware of the fans feelings and will anticipate a big hit in season ticket sales – losing 10,000 sales would be the worst case scenario and that would cost around £5m.

It's not £5m though, it's £5m plus associated sales next season...and the next season etc..

He's got to go, no more excuses, just go.

[JUAN PABLO]

I think the decision to get rid of him was made then based on both results and fans feelings and he will go the day after the last game.

I think it will be a `Breaking News' strap at the bottom of the SSN screen an hour after the final whistle at Norwich.

They won't act that quickly.  I'd say it'll be late May.

they need to . hopefully in Injury time.

[Tom Sawyer]

He'll be Wolves bound I reckon. Experience in getting teams promoted, PL manager etc etc blah blah.

[moetvillain]

IF McLeish stays in the role, and gets some faces in he wants to replace out of contract's, alongside the continual bringing through of our youth team, and starts out well next season, how long until he will realistically been forgiven?  Pardue a London Mafia agent is now pretty much walking with the freedom of the toon.  McLeish with a team built mostly of youngsters (our youngsters), competing and say in a top 6-8 league position by Christmas.  Would that be enough?  However unlikely this reads, it would be more than enough for me to cheer him on....

[midgeavfc]

A pal was out with Faulkner at a bankers dinner and was quite open at the fact that Mcleish will be manager next year, his only target this year was to reduce the wage bill and survive. We are on target for both!!

Taking out the emotion and desire as fans we have there only aim is to make the club sustainable and not as gung ho as the MON period.

Ultimately if you like it, dislike it,believe it, dont believe it, if this is true then we have to accept we are to look forward to mid table mediocrity for a few years!!!

[Vanilla]

I still think it is premature to say that the club has definitely decided he is leaving. The rash judgement to immediately annul Houllier's contract at the end of last season with no viable replacement ready must be playing on their minds.

Also the Midlands club don't offer much potential for poaching this time. Hodgson is going to get the England job and Houghton is allegedly going to replace him at Olbion. That only leaves Conner at Wolves.

[David_Nab]

In that case PF should be out the door too for publicaly stating we were aiming at Europe.

It would be utter madness to keep him