Laidleys plea to the board

[edge]

Couple of suggestions:

1. He's more senior at the club than they are so they might think he knows something.

2. They are unlikely to see any directors or shareholders in the course of their work so they are asking whoever is around.

If the papers were full of stories about my workplace being moved to another state during the course of my contract with them, I'd ask questions of anyone I could. There would also be an outside chance I'd be distracted enough for it to occasionally affect my work performance. But maybe you think I'm being oversensitive.

Do you think it's a coincidence that he says it after we are 0-3?

 

[Z_K]

Do you think it's a coincidence that he says it after we are 0-3?

It's the same issue whether we are 0-3 or 3-0. Players worried about board instability, AFL ownership and re-location isn't effected by results.

 

[edge]

It's the same issue whether we are 0-3 or 3-0. Players worried about board instability, AFL ownership and re-location isn't effected by results.

No but laidley jobs is.

 

[North Melbourne FC]

Are you serious??

He's their coach. A lot of them are 18 year olds. You think they would be approaching Graham Duff?

Zebra,
That question surprised me too.....

Seriously Edge, Zoomzoom, that was no deflection by JYD. Everyone is genuinely concerned where the club's heading. Any decisions/concerns affect the whole club.....from the board down to the playing group to the support staff and us, the paying members and non-paying supporters. The players have a right to ask...its their future and rightfully they asked their superior...JYD. Obviously (at least the way I see it), the Duff has not cleared the air and had a chat with the playing group as yet....

Constant interaction/communication is essential in maintaining integrity of the organisation and confidence of playing group.

 

[Z_K]

No but laidley jobs is.

I think he cares about the footy club and is worried about the attitudes of the players given what they are reading in the papers.

If he uses it as an excuse on Saturday night, I'll agree with you. Deal?

 

[mark73]

Do you think it's a coincidence that he says it after we are 0-3?

There could be a tincy bit of deflection in what he said but no. I've often been one to jump in and have a snipe because I think Laidley is an inept coach who has actually dragged the club down with some of his decisions, but he's no orphan. I heard dribs and drabs of what was said on SEN and it sounded more to me like a bloke whose been annoyed with this crap for some time but kept biting his tongue but decided enough was enough and to speak out now he's seen it's affecting his players. Nothing wrong with that. I'd do the same. People need to realise there isn't always a conspiracy theory or agenda. On another thread everyone bagged that Barrett but apart from being a journo, he's also a North supporter whoe probably just as pissed off and frustrated with the lack of direction and shambolic mess that currently engulfs our board, as we are.

 

[Mr Reliable]

Are you serious??

He's their coach. A lot of them are 18 year olds. You think they would be approaching Graham Duff?

Yeah, down at the TAB or at the 19th hole, just sidle up and say "hi, Mr Duffman, I'm Andrew Swallow and I'd like to know where we'll be located next year."

Answer: "Now look Anthony, I'm sick of saying this. My board has no plan for re-locating and leaving our base at Arden St. In fact, come to think of it, my board has no plans for anything as yet. So there's nothing to worry about."

 

[Michele]

Just heard a small grab from Laidley on SEN, pleading with the Board, shareholders to sort out the mess. He said that a lot of the young guys have been asking questions. Virtually begged for them to sort it out !

The time is drawing close where Duff and co. have to show there hand !

The saddest thing is that it has to come to this....this crap should have been sorted out in the off season not during the season. I guess it shows that some people think that Ego's are more important than the club.

........."Just heard a small grab from Laidley on SEN, pleading with the Board, shareholders to sort out the mess. ..............."

If Laidley said that - as quoted - he is an idiot.

Apart from Pagan leaving, I haven't and I don't bag the board, coach or players.

He has to show leadership and tell the players to ignore board level items and play footy.

Thank goodness he wasn't our coach in 1996.

You know..................when North was actually being merged......and then went on to win the Premiership.

 

[edge]

I think he cares about the footy club and is worried about the attitudes of the players given what they are reading in the papers.

If he uses it as an excuse on Saturday night, I'll agree with you. Deal?

I think we'll see how much he cares for the club later in the year. If we are say 3-9 or something like that will he fall on his sword and go or will he try and stick it out in the hope of turning it around and saving his job.

I still can't see how players would hope he has any answers in relation to what happening at board level. As I said before they live with the axe over there heads in many ways and I don't believe it is as big an issue for the players as it is for the fans. (And particulary the more passionate ones on bigfooty)

 

[countryroo]

Have not heard him once in the media come out all guns blazing and put a stop to this rot. Where's a Don Scott when you need one? I'm hoping RJ will be our Don Scott.

I was at the meeting last Sunday & I could have sworn I heard Duff, Rick Aylett, Ron Joseph, Mark Brayshaw & his brother say NORTH MELBOURNE IS STAYING AT ARDEN STREET, TAKE RELOCATION OUT OF THE VOCABULARY. WE ARE PLAYING 10 GAMES AT GC OVER NEXT 3 YEARS FOR $400,000 PER GAME, THERE ARE NO PLANS BEYOND THIS FOR GAMES AT GC. AS FAR AS HE IS AWARE NO SHAREHOLDERS WILL BE SELLING THEIR SHARES AND IF THEY DO IT WON'T GIVE ANYONE CONTROL OF NORTH MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB. ALL BOARD MEMBERS WANT NORTH MELBOURNE TO REMAIN AT ARDEN STREET!!!!

I travelled 5 hours to get there & had to leave at 1/2 time to travel 5 hours home again. As far as i'm concerned the negativity on here is unwarranted. Or are they lieing to the members?

 

[zoomzoom]

Crap. Utter crap.

He said that his players have been asking around about the board sh1t. You can bet they have been. Say what you like about the bloke as a coach, but he genuinely loves the footy club and cares about it's future.

How do you know the coach is not blaming the board? Unless if you are the coach....

 

[Ghostwriter]

How do you know the coach is not blaming the board? Unless if you are the coach....

Northboy knows everything, just ask him.

 

[DarwinRoo]

With supporters like zoomzoom who needs Duffman.

I dont see why Dean cant ask the same question that everyone on here is asking. The same people that are questioning him about the onfield performance are doing a lousy job at making us financially secure off-field. They too should be held accountable.

In my line of work we have a chain of command. You just dont go walking up to the CO and ask him if he has approved your leave application. You go to the guy above you and then he does the same.
The Coach should be the link between the Board and the players. You dont think Adam Simpson isnt asking if he needs to find a 3 bedroom home at Broadbeach or that he is right to stay in Moonee Ponds.

 

[Kangalicious]

Personally I think if Laidley feels compelled to say something about it publicly, it is an indication of just how bad things are. This is a bloke who must know his job is on the line - you wouldn't come out and publicly criticise your employer unless you were left with no alternative.

In my view, the club is at rock bottom. Under 19,000 members, no business plan (they told us that on Sunday), secret meetings with the AFL behind the board's back (Joseph and Brayshaw have both said publicly they didn't know, and I have heard that at least one other didn't know), a clear agenda to move the club north - and the group with the numbers on the Board content to sit and do nothing.

Someone asked earlier why Joseph and the Brayshaws don't act - simply, they don't have the numbers on the board, and there are shareholder directors (maybe not all of them) who don;t give two hoots what the members think. Remember, whatever you think of Joseph, Sunday's meeting was his idea, and he paid for the room himself (before the club got on board). And then he sat back and let Duff take the meeting and the credit. His only agenda was communication.

And the club's agenda? Have any of you seen the meeting written up by the club? Any mention on the website? Future plans? Next board meeting? Ideas for taking concerns forward?

No - just silence.

I may not like his coaching style, but I applaud Dean for speaking out. And I may not like his abrasive nature, but I applaud Joseph for having the guts to call a spade a spade.

And finally, I would like to remind the shareholders, that they may hold the power, but there are an awful lot of members for whom patience is running awfully thin.

Oops, rant. Not good for a chilled Friday evening!!

 

[GoNorth]

Didn't Adam Simpson come out in the papers a couple of weeks ago and also say that he wanted to know what was going on?

When I heard Dean's comments, I thought, 'Good on you.' Why shouldn't he voice his concerns at the on-going situation? It keeps getting brought up in the media so he has a right to comment on it.

 

[zoomzoom]

Does it matter whether Roos is going to relocate in 3 years time? Just get on with the job and coach. They are paid to do their job with current contract, and whatever happen in 5 years time, I am not even sure its going to be relevant to many of the players. Too much excuse, too little effort. Stop blaming and win the bloody game.

 

[DarwinRoo]

Does it matter whether Roos is going to relocate in 3 years time? Just get on with the job and coach. They are paid to do their job with current contract, and whatever happen in 5 years time, I am not even sure its going to be relevant to many of the players. Too much excuse, too little effort. Stop blaming and win the bloody game.

Maybe not to Dean Laidley but to 40 odd players, 19000 members and countless other supporters it bloody does.

This thing needs to be out in the open. Its a double edged sword. The board talk about relocation and it affects membership, we struggle for members so the board talk about relocation.

 

[King Corey]

No but laidley jobs is.

Shock, yet another newbie flies in with strong opinions about anyone who dares question that the GC is anything but great.

Uncanny, there's almost a pattern...

 

[Kangalicious]

Shock, yet another newbie flies in with strong opinions about anyone who dares question that the GC is anything but great.

Uncanny, there's almost a pattern...

Can I be quite clear that I am a newbie who is absolutely certain that relocation to the GC would not be great. On any level.

 

[edge]

Shock, yet another newbie flies in with strong opinions about anyone who dares question that the GC is anything but great.

Uncanny, there's almost a pattern...

Dude I haven't discussed the merits GC move at all in this thread.

 

[shintemaster]

I know for a fact (no names) that players were already discussing how many games we'd be playing at the GC over 3 months ago. Mostly young guys who haven't learnt to keep their mouths closed in as you never know who is listening. However, these are the men that have the most at stake as the core playing group for the next ten years. These things WILL affect performances. Maybe not a lot, but this is a sport that has a rating for 1%ers!

 

[trevagreene]

totally agree with you Shintemaster.
but certain members of the board, and shareholders are beyond any reasonable logic. Its reached a point, where everything is being ego driven, and the members, players, coach etc...are just minor nuisances to these people.
They dont care ! They are being driven by egos.
If they cared about anyone other than themselves and reputations this crap would have been sorted out in the off season, or better still, when the decision to play a "package of 3 home games" on the GC.

 

[King Corey]

........."Just heard a small grab from Laidley on SEN, pleading with the Board, shareholders to sort out the mess. ..............."

If Laidley said that - as quoted - he is an idiot.

Apart from Pagan leaving, I haven't and I don't bag the board, coach or players.

He has to show leadership and tell the players to ignore board level items and play footy.

Thank goodness he wasn't our coach in 1996.

You know..................when North was actually being merged......and then went on to win the Premiership.

I was completely with Laidley on this (assuming the quotes are accurate and in context) but you've shifted me on this one, the coach has to have to steel to keep the squad focussed regardless of distractions.

Like you say, Curlytop was a master at it.

 

[King Corey]

Can I be quite clear that I am a newbie who is absolutely certain that relocation to the GC would not be great. On any level.

Nah mate, of course there's plenty of legitimate posters (inc. newbies like yourself) with pro/tolerant/anti GC views. I'm pointing to the instamatic newbie users that seem to appear whenever there is any inference that the move could be negative in any sense.

Dude I haven't discussed the merits GC move at all in this thread.

True, I suspected that because Laidley's comments suggested instability because of the GC issues that you were part of the above newbie morphing user who appears just to defend the inner sanctum. If this was wrong my bad mate.

 

[NimChief]

Come on, we've been wanting somebody to get out there in the media, we've been wanting him to have a bigger profile.

He is spot on with his comments. We need to get our shit together asap. It's affecting everyone.

He's a rubbisg coach, but he isn't wrong here.