Where We Stand

Where We Stand Right Now……

The name of John Parkhouse will be familiar to many Swans fans but it’s not relevant what position he holds within the supporter’s base as, first and foremost, he is a Swans fan. He is also a Swans fan who contacted us here at JackArmy.net after being disgusted by the attitude of our press over the course of the last week or so.

John was finding it hard to comprehend the stance that they had taken over the removal of Brian Flynn and Kevin Reeves and felt that he had a few things to get off his chest. This is what John had to say to us

1. Do you agree with the decision to let Flynn & Reeves go?

Yes.

2. On what basis

Like all fans I am well aware of how much we are in debt to Brian Flynn and Kevin Reeves for the survival of the club. The management team, together with the players created a miracle and kept us from falling into oblivion. But that was then.

It would appear that there were irresolvable issues between the club and the management. Clearly one of the issues was the fact that both Flynn and Reeves were still living at home and were spending long periods of time away from the Vetch.

There were some other issues I was made off in my role as Trust Chairman but I’m afraid that it wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss them.

3. What has been your viewpoint on the performances over the past few months

On the pitch:

I think we were very lucky to get a good run at the beginning of the season. Sadly we lost ‘key’ players due to injury and we then looked like a one man team. Flynn seemed to be determined to stick with certain players when I would have liked him to utilise others than were in the squad.

I also thought that our marvellous Cup run ‘masked’ a lot of problems that were beginning to develop within the club.

Off the pitch:

Over the past year it looks like sound business practices have been brought into the club to ensure that non-playing costs have been kept to a minimum. Incentive such as 12 tickets season tickets, have been developed to help the fans.

A very ambitious wage budget was set at the beginning of the year and thanks to the fantastic attendance levels, and good cup run the club were able to increase the budget level. This ensured that we were able to retain some of our best players by increasing their terms. This also allowed the club to bring in the likes of Tate and sign Roberts and Connor.

I was ‘gutted’ that we lost Duffy, but you can’t blame the guy for taking his chance. It’s obvious that he has got a brilliant future and he is lucky that he has a lovely family to ‘keep his feet on the ground’.

4. Much has been written/said regards the players fitness and discipline – do you believe much of this or do you believe it to be nothing more than rumours

I am very hesitant in answering this question honestly because I wouldn’t want my view to be taken out of context or imply that all the players are guilty of a lack of fitness and discipline. To name names would be wrong of me, but it’s quite easy to recognise the players that are taking their role seriously, sadly, I like others, have seen others that don’t.

Fitness:

The players fitness levels of certain players has been one issue I have taken up with the Directors on more than one occasion. It’s very clear to me that the training arrangements at the club have not been adequate. To my mind this has been down to the lack of consistency of any day-to-day supervising / monitoring of the players, some of whom tended to spend long periods of time away from the ground.

It’s obvious that some of the players are overweight, and this far into the season I would suggest that this situation is totally unacceptable.

I cannot believe that if there had have been an adequate training regime that we would have been subject to the number of injuries, especially ‘hamstring pulls’ that the players have suffered.

To be honest you only have to watch some of the players ‘warming up’ prior to a match or in training to realise there is something wrong. I have children that train with me that can do a better warm up!

Discipline:

What has disturbed me somewhat is the apparent lack of ‘bottle’ on the pitch at times. Perhaps it is to do with too much ‘bottle’ off the pitch!

I, like others, are aware that there is a certain element of the players who enjoy a drink. What amazes me is while everyone needs to get out and relax, some of the players tend to take this too the limit. On Wednesday evenings you will regularly see the same players out drinking in the wind street and later in the Night clubs. But what has been more disturbing to me is to see the players out on other nights as well. One example which sticks in my mind was a recent Friday night when I witnessed some of the players out. Some of whom could hardly stand! There wasn’t a game the following day but the players had told me they had a training session on the beach the following morning!

5. Where do you think Brian Flynn went wrong

I think the fact the both Brian Flynn and Kevin Reeves didn’t move to the area has caused a lot of problems. If one of them had been based local then perhaps some of the problems would not have occurred. By only spending part of the time at the club they both put too much trust in the players to behave responsibly in their absence.

There are a few young players at the club who have never spent a great time away from their home. It can’t be easy for them, especially those without family accompanying them. But at the end of the day they are professionals and should act appropriately.

Again, I would like to state that I have had the privilege to have talked at length to some of the younger players (two in particular), regularly, and I have been very, very impressed by the way they have conducted themselves when they have been out. They are a credit to their families and the club!

Again, hindsight is a wonderful thing and perhaps more should have been done to monitor or even ‘baby-sit’ some of the players.

I also felt that Flynn seemed to be tactically naive at times.

6. Do you feel that some of the criticism that the board has come in for has been justified or unfair?

Yes. If I am to believe the press, Flynn and Reeves ‘travelling arrangements’ were accepted at the outset by the club. Clearly, in my opinion, this was wrong. Huw Jenkins was reported to have said that Flynn would have a job for life after saving us from relegation. With the benefit of hindsight I believe this was wrong but what fan of Swansea City wouldn’t have said that at the time?

7. What is your view on the current Board?

A bunch of amateurs! Honestly they are! BUT only because they don’t get paid anything for all the considerable time they put in.

As I stated earlier, they have put the club on a strong financial footing. The CVA will be paid off this month, they have ensured that the club is in a healthier situation now than it has been for a number of years. In today’s climate I would think that is nothing sort of a miracle in itself.

I guess by now that I will be accused of being a ‘lacky’ of the Board. Nothing could be further from the truth!

I have been very critical of the board in some of the decisions they have made, in fact, there are some ongoing issues between myself and one of the Directors at present.

8. The newspapers seem to take many quotes out of context regarding this situation – do you feel that they are reporting fair or being slightly biased towards Brian Flynn on this front?

I can’t believe the response from some of the media. Ironically some of the reporters responsible for the pro Flynn bias have talked to me often and have been very, very critical of Flynn’s tactical awareness. But I guess they must have being given a certain ‘direction’ to follow. The Trust statement was written by the Supporter’s Trust Board using a quote from Leigh Dineen, it was very clear and concise – giving out what I thought was a simple straight forward message, however I was amazed to read how it had been taken out of context.

9. Did you expect promotion this season

No, well not automatically. I just prayed that after the last season we would end up in the top ten. My worries were twofold, firstly to survive – that is, pay the CVA off and hope that the crowds would come through the turnstiles. Secondly to watch some good football, hopefully be in the top half and have a good cup run.

10. What are you hopes for the immediate future

I would like to think that the fans and players would put all what’s happened lately in the past and get on with the job of getting this club out of this division. It’s understandable that some of the players have legitimate concerns and it must be very unsettling for them. I am sure that Alan Curtis will be looking to provide the players all the support he can.

We in turn – the fans must also give the club the support it needs and deserves.

It took 20 years or so to run this club into the ground. I know the Trust’s intention is to rebuild the club into something the supporters and community can be part of and proud of. It’s not going to happen overnight but I feel we have all the ingredients to make it happen. A pro-active Board, a pro-active Supporters Trust and the best fans in the world!

11. Finally, is there anything else you would like to say?

Yes, I would like to remind the players of what Swansea City FC is all about. I remember having a chat with some of the players last year. We were bottom of the league, certain relegation material! And they told me they couldn’t get over the response from the Vetch faithful. They were expecting the crowd to go against them and couldn’t believe how positive we were as fans and how the gates increased.

All I could say was ‘that’s the Jack Army for you’.

I was fortunate to witness some of the celebrations with the players the evening after the Hull game! They were part of the Jack Army, no one could doubt that!

Recently, the players have been reported in the press as saying they have let Flynn down, yes I think some of them had. They had believed that the season was over. To be honest some of them were taking the pi$$.

This must stop! Some of you have let us – the fans down, you have taken the pi$$ out of us. You are well paid professional players who we expect to behave in a certain manner. Not only on the pitch but off it.

Get yourselves fit, get yourselves motivated, lets finish the season on a high, regardless of whether we reach the play offs or not!

Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?