A simple statement such as “Media reports of Neil Balme appointment as our Head of Footy are incorrect, Adam Kelly is and will remain our Head of Footy.” Shuts it down and gives Kelly the backing his authority needed. Then if we bring in Balme as an advisor, happy days.
Agree, that’s all that was required.
my hypothesis is that we couldn’t say that because it wasn’t true.
I submit that Balme had been confirmed as Head of Football, even his nephew Ned, was speculating about it.
I suggest that Balme was indeed in agreement about becoming Head of Football (he wasn’t moving for a cup of coffee advisory role) but that arrangements hadn’t been sorted with Adam Kelly about what that would look like.
the deal was done, but the next step was to straighten out Kelly. Before that happened, it leaked.
the Club couldn’t deny it because it was true.
it got ugly, messy, and then Balme wanted no part of it because of the internal organisational mess created.
Between agreeing with Balme and having the tough conversations with Kelly, and perhaps Nicks, the cat got out of the bag. The subsequent mess led Balme to walk away
I can think of no serious other reason why the AFC & Balme said nothing to deny it for so long
it WAS true. Was being the operative word
my take anyway
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