Braintree v Torquay Sat 17th Feb 2024

[budegull1954]

Agree common sense needs to prevail - frustration for poor performances on the pitch are aimed at GJ, but CO is ultimately culpable for the whole thing top to bottom. He has a duty of care to everyone at that club that if they are no longer fit for purpose he should take them out of the firing line.

Agree with everything that is being said on this thread at the moment. The problem with finding a replacement for Gary is that CO and his team are not football people and probably wouldn't know where to look for a new manager. The last time they advertised the post it took a couple of months and we ended up with Gary Owers and Martin Kuhl. Possibly Aaaron Downes or Asa Hall are put in temporary charge and I'm not at all sure that would be great for the club either.

[Guildford Gull]

I get zero pleasure from watching GJ struggle post match, he obviously badly wants to correct things in the hope we'll make the playoffs and go up, it's a pride thing, and I get that, it can't be easy for him, no matter what line of work we're in, personal pride is important and integrity, once upon a time he was good for us, but those days have gone now, I even think for his well being and mental health he should walk away, why he needs all this aggro at this stage of his life God only knows.

I've got zero sympathy for Johnson. His team, his players, his tactics and his mess, which he never takes responsibility for. I suspect he blew the budget on sick notes like Hall, Dawson and Martin together with players who simply aren't good enough leaving little room for manoeuvre. Couple that with a chief scout who couldn't spot Messi if he saw him play and you have the current situation we are all having to endure.

He's probably the most arrogant manager we've ever had and if he had an ounce of pride or respect for the club he would resign. But no, he keeps going either in the mistaken belief he can turn things round or he wants to keep picking up his wages for grossly underperforming. Johnson out.

[brucie]

Its fairly obvious the budget was there - Dawson, Lapslie, Hall. Moxey. Stobbs, Collins. Ash and Jarvis would not have come cheap. Also we had several players on contracts from last season.

Johnson intimated that he didnt expect them all to sign so its clear where the money went.

As the poster says he is the most arrogant bloke ever - he never takes responsibility for anything. Never takes ownership of anything - its always the players, the officials, the supporters at fault - never his.

What is also clear is that the team is completely disorganised. With Downes and Johnson living so far away I doubt whether they are anywhere near South Devon more than two days a week.

I would take a guess that they are contracted to the end of the season - I might be wrong but I guess that he could be a on pay off if he is sacked before then.

Sacking him or not probably makes no difference - this team is getting nowhere near the play offs. He will be gone at the end of the season. Unfortunately its going to take the new man more than a pre season to sort this mess out.

Thats always presuming we still have a team next season.

[Wolborough]

The sooner Johnson is escorted off the premises the better for all.

[knightmaregull]

Any genuine owner would, if the pay off is the issue, put him on gardening leave and bring in a young untested but ambitious replacement, willing to work on the cheap on return for the opportunity and a play-offs financial bonus. Such an owner would see that whilst high risk, there's nothing to lose.

The pay off is 100% not what is stopping them sacking him here. He continues to be either part of the plan or a convenient scapegoat for deflection of criticism.

That said, what outsider in their right mind would want to come to TUFC these days?

[SuperNickyWroe]

Take a look at the table, check the last 12 results
And then tell me how far Johnson has taken us.

You were on about Owers coming back - nothing to do with Johnson.

[SuperNickyWroe]

It was no worse than what we have now.

Not saying that it is - But saying you want Owers back - Jeez, someone must be out to lunch.

[SuperNickyWroe]

As someone actually at the game, martin set up the move, Mox missed and Martin followed through, tried to get something on it but couldn’t get above it. He needed to be 6 inches taller to have a chance at putting that away

Thanks.
I stand corrected.

[Nick Potkins]

Its fairly obvious the budget was there.

Correct, there was some budget there. Do we know how our budget stacks up against say a part time time. We need to remember this league is made up for full and part time teams. Your can't compare.

Let's take Brad Ash against Ollie Pearce (at Worthing), the leagues leading scorer. We can't afford him, simple!

The following is for example only, it could be anyone of a number of part time teams in our league. I accept some may half a full time player.

Pearce £60k wage (he may earn more) plus £5k from Worthing (£100 a game). Taking him to £65k, would he join Torquay on say £40k.

Take this a step further and multiple by say 30 players and staff.
The Worthing bill is £5k x 30 = £150,000
Our bill is £40k x 30 = £1,200,000

[The Great Muta!]

So Gulls need to go part time??. apologies if I'm missing something here, that's how I interprete it?.

[AdrianC]

Re a couple of posts above, I’m sure the Worthing players are on far more than £100 a game, given their crowds over the last couple of years and local backers etc. There’ll be plenty of Southern / Isthmian league players on that and more.

I would think (my opinion with no evidence) that for Worthing’s star man it’s more likely £200 / £300 per game, so add that to his normal job we really have no chance.

Our chance of getting players like that would be if we were in the top two and the player thought my moving to us they’d be playing NL next year with a move to the EFL at some point, with us (not likely for a while) or another club.

[Taelee73]

Next season will see a big reset.

We could be in Nl, (don't laugh) NLS (more likely) or even the division below (it's got to be said until we're mathematically safe).

GJ has to be gone, whichever

Potentially we could have Hall, Moxey, Downs in the mix either as or with a new manager.

To have kept faith, we must have given Dawson a 2 year deal, Booth and Lapslie as well. Would have thought every other deal is up at the end of the season, Moxey, Hall, Jarvis.

Whoever takes charge, unless we hit the ground running, will mean at least another season in likely this division. sorry to be pessimistic, if we still have a club then not only this season, but next season will most likely be traumatic/a mess. At least a new manager should bring some feel good and hopefully fans back.

Can't see a win on Tuesday. Next Saturday 1600, bobbly pitch, who knows who'll be back/injured.

[Kenty in Weardale]

Hi all, Worthing fan here in peace.

Re finances; at step 3 a decent striker is getting around £400pw and at Worthing a reasonable guestimate on our wage bill is approx £7,000 per week and our break even is a gate of 1,300 per game.

At step 2 I firmly believe you (Torquay) on your gates could afford either the best part time players or the lowest paid full timers, which decision you make has of course to suit your ethos/model but I know which I see as being more likely to be effective.

Good luck for the rest of the season

[SWgull]

Not saying that it is - But saying you want Owers back - Jeez, someone must be out to lunch.

That is not what I am saying.

[Brewers boy]

Full time / Part time?
Do you pay players more for their skill or because they can train more often?