An update from me… on the termination of John Coleman and Jimmy Bell’s contracts.
I am now in a position to share some of the fundamental details behind my decision not to renew the contracts.
Why?
A. Last year the player recruitment was terrible. Many performances were very bad, there were many injuries. We have been relegated from League One. During the season, Jimmy often complained that there were too many players involved and not enough quality.
It undermined my faith in them.
B. At the end of last season I met with John to discuss this current season. While I was at that meeting, Jimmy called another director and said ‘we’re going to be relegated again with that team’ or words to that effect.
C. The Council’s position was that they should be terminated. Their performance deserved it.
D. It was discussed and suggested that they deserved recognition for historically great work at the club, they deserved one last chance.
E. This was communicated to them verbally at a meeting involving myself, John, Jimmy and Dave.
The crux of it was to give them a chance. We would make a review around Christmas 2023 and if it looked safe we would extend their contracts for another season. The extension would only be for one season, but could be repeated indefinitely should we resume normal performance.
F. Despite this, Jimmy went on Radio Lancashire to tell the world that it was ‘their club, they built it and they wanted three or four year contracts.’
This was intentional and in my opinion it happened for one or more of the following reasons:
G. Calling me out in the interview with Andy Bayes was guaranteed to divide our club. I communicated this to our managers at the time and told them that they had ‘killed’ me as the owner of the club. A selection of fans would demand that I give longer, unsustainable contracts, others would say I should have quit sooner.
This divide has been evident from that day until now. Even after the contracts ended, the fanbase is still divided and more so than ever.
They had to retract the statement, giving owner and manager a unified platform to sing from the same hymn sheet.
They refused to do this. Even though months passed with daily opportunities to correct this problem, it never happened.
When?
It is sometimes said that I “got up on the wrong side of the bed and fired them.”
This was not true. The last day of February of this year was always noted as a backup date. The reason is that many players are almost out of contract, and the manager, whether John or Jimmy or someone else, would not have had time to set up for next season.
About ten days before the last day, I spoke at length with Coley. It was still a condition that a statement had to be made that would allow me to rebuild a united front for the club. It NEVER came.
How?
I messaged and texted John and Jimmy around 9am to tell them about the decision. I also informed them that the club would be making a statement shortly.
The reason it was presented to them in this way is that if I had discussed it with them (again) it could have gotten a mixed message. Both messages to them and those from the club could be used against the club, so it had to be simple, straightforward and seemingly cold.
Finally my comment.
I’ve worked with John and Jimmy and it’s been great and fun most of the time.
They performed poorly in our relegation season, I didn’t fire them like ANY OTHER OWNER would have done.
They made serious mistakes and yet I didn’t want it to end. They went out and probably divided our fan base forever, an action I did NOT deserve as I had looked after them exceptionally well during my time at the club.
I knew without flinching that our relationship was over. Despite having months and months to do this, they didn’t.
It was a combination of poor performance and the public disagreement that ultimately resulted.
Their performances led to losses of £600,000 last season, followed by losses of £1,000,000 this season. Losses for which I have a choice: finance the club or use administrators.
I have chosen to finance the losses because I still believe that Accrington deserves and desperately needs a great club.
But the continued funding of these losses will end at the end of this season.
I lost faith in them after almost two full seasons of poor performance.
I lost faith in them because they seemed to lose the fire in their bellies.
I lost trust in them because they divided our fan base, knowing full well that I was doing my utmost to resolve the issues. I’m off Twitter for a while because I knew how a lot of fans would feel. I’m not going to get into a shouting match.
If I want to continue working at the club, I have to be happy. Why would I put money into a club to be unhappy?
Now then.
All of the above does not detract from their achievements at the club. I fully respect their track record, I understand that fans who have been around them for decades have lost their heroes.
Their achievements should be appropriately recognized. Coley’s bar wasn’t called Coley’s bar for nothing. It’s still Coley’s bar.
I believe they are good at what they do and deserve decent jobs in the future.
I passionately believe in putting the club on a stable, long-term path. My job is to create a club that will last long beyond my time or that of any manager or player.
I’m still doing my best.
I knew this was coming. I put the club up for sale without receiving a single offer.
I’m caught between financing the club or taking it into management.
I have chosen to continue funding it ONLY if it can be put on a stable path, an outcome I know is achievable.
That’s what’s happening and where I stand.
Good morning, by the way.