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royalgull wrote:i presume they must do, I didn't know what sort of contract Ling was on and from what ModGull has posted it seems they are well within their rights to part company now.

Again I have absolutely no issue with the decision, I think it's the right one for the club and a mixture of CP Gull and brucie's posts sum up my feelings perfectly, i don't see how Ling could have returned, what if he got 'ill' again?

Not going to keep on repeating myself but I just don't think we've hand'ed it brilliantly. The quote directly from Ling is that he has been told he was returning as manager, to then sack him having told him that is poor regardless if it's the right or wrong decision. No idea why they would have said he's coming back in all honesty, should have just waited till now and seen what happened and how he was and what direction they wanted to go. From a sheer footballing view I think we've done the right thing so lets move forward now.

Perhaps he asked? If he had been seeking confirmation previously (perhaps before it had been properly discussed), what could they have done?

been honest with him. Telling him he's coming back then sacking him is surely worse than saying look you've vacated the position so we can't give any guarantees either way until the end of the season.

Don't think the team captain should release a statement like that under any format in any circumstances....a sort of fitting end to a crap season for Mansell.....I exepect he is worried that Knill will be bringing his own captain in?

Interesting that so far Club Captain, Brian Saah, has kept quiet, much more proffessional

royalgull please stop with this 100% assurity that Ling was told he was 100% coming back as manager

Firstly i am sad that a man has lost his job and now finds himself unemployed and having to battle 'issues' as well and i really hope he can restart his managerial career with success in the future. I have called Martin a tosser and a few other things on here before in the heat of postmatch but it was always borne out of frustration, i've nothing against the man personally. My reasons for not wanting him as our manager were purely football based and nothing else. I mean no ill will to Martin.

Secondly i am delighted that we are to have new men at the helm to begin a fresh challenge together and i am looking forward to some entertaining football now and again and i cannot wait for the season to begin. New shirt, new manager, new players, league 2 once more, loads of northern clubs MY GOD I'M SO HAPPY!!! Absoultely the correct decision and the board have done well to get in Knill/Brass when needed and to let Ling go when required. Can't ask anymore than that.

Thirdly, i think it is an absolute disgrace that Ling was not afforded the decency of being told of this decision face to face. Call me old fashioned (i'm 37) but any respect i had for the people in charge of TUFC has now gone. If you are going to tell someone they are no longer wanted then tell them yourself face to face you pathetic weak specimens for human beings. This is something i feel strongly about and it happens a lot in football. It is an appalling way to conduct yourselves and i'm ashamed of the board for the manner of the sacking. Whatever we think about Ling's football, he gave 2 years service to the club and conducted himself properly and deserves a bit of respect. I don't know the ins and outs of what was said, to whom, when or anything to do with this decision and i don't want to as it's none of my business but when the decision was made they should have done things properly.


This sorry saga is all over now and we can all stop arguing about it. Lets forget it and move forward.

Saah isn't on twitter so easier to 'keep quiet' i suppose.

PlainmoorRoar wrote:royalgull please stop with this 100% assurity that Ling was told he was 100% coming back as manager

So the man himself saying it isn't enough evidence????

balls to what Ling has said, the mans arrogance oozes from his assurance that he can swan back in

Robiberto22 wrote:manse found out thru skysports news - again class

Pretty shocking behaviour from the board. It doesn't matter what business you're in, as soon as you've done telling the guy he's sacked you then tell the people who worked for him. The last thing any business needs is rumour and speculation being allowed to get in the way of facts.

Quite agree, when Ling was making stupid statements to the media at the end of last year, Ling fans were disputing those. No one knows what the truth is....Let the board sort out any problems, we have no control

The last thing any business needs is rumour and speculation being allowed to get in the way of facts.

Which, with the speed of social media, is what would've happened if the players had been told prior to a press release.
Lee Mansell has proven this by the speed at which he went out into the media world and gave his thoughts...

In all honesty, i think if Martin Ling didnt fall ill, we would still be sacking him anyway.

The performances during the autumn and winter were truly abysmal, and equally some awful results. The 4-3 comeback against Aldershot back in October only papered over the cracks at the time. The cup defeat to Harrogate was horrific. The christmas and New Year games, Plymouth and Wimbledon, were absolutely atrocious.

I believe if Martin didnt fall ill, he would of been sacked a while ago.

royalgull wrote:

They did to him by all accounts!!

To be fair, what the hell else do you say to a man that's unwell with stress? You're hardly going to exacerbate matters by giving him even more things to stress about.

vinny wrote:In all honesty, i think if Martin Ling didnt fall ill, we would still be sacking him anyway.

The performances during the autumn and winter were truly abysmal, and equally some awful results. The 4-3 comeback against Aldershot back in October only papered over the cracks at the time. The cup defeat to Harrogate was horrific. The christmas and New Year games, Plymouth and Wimbledon, were absolutely atrocious.

I believe if Martin didnt fall ill, he would of been sacked a while ago.

I am not so sure

The club had to release a statement saying he had been sacked, otherwise rumours would have been all across this fourm and potentially the board of directors would have had to deal with all the gossip.....especially with players clearly as trigger happy as Mansell around

The board have been decisive, made their decision and no doubt have Alan Knill lined up to take Ling's place.

I just cannot see what that has to do with a group of underperforming individuals who have been part of the problem.

The harsh reality for many of last seasons team is that the next time they meet Knill will be to be told that they are being released.

Perhaps many of those that are staying will have told on the quiet already anyway?

I am pretty sure the board would know already what Knills release plans are and they are sure to be put in place by the end of the week.