Cherries: Mitchell insists Groves is going nowhere, despite protests (From Thisisdorset)

lostinessex wrote:
This is just lazy and sloppy journalism.

This is exactly the same story as the one posted on Saturday evening but with a new headline and twist to sell papers.

At least try to be accurate in your reporting before publishing, Echo.

I really thought you were getting better until now.

cherries_matty wrote:
Whilst I've not read the club's Business Plan, I'm fairly sure that it would talk about us being a Championship club or at the very least challenging to be so. Does EM really thing that Groves is the man to help him deliver this objective within his plan?

Yes, we're talking about people's lives here but we're also talking about a business and a competative football club. Whilst I don't like seeing anyone sacked, for the good of the club EM has to do the right thing here.

N Smith wrote:
No need to worry EM isnt the man with the final say after this weekend and his dictatorship is about to come crashing down on him.

chawtoncherry wrote:

cherries_matty wrote:
Whilst I've not read the club's Business Plan, I'm fairly sure that it would talk about us being a Championship club or at the very least challenging to be so. Does EM really thing that Groves is the man to help him deliver this objective within his plan?

Yes, we're talking about people's lives here but we're also talking about a business and a competative football club. Whilst I don't like seeing anyone sacked, for the good of the club EM has to do the right thing here.

My gut reaction is to go with all that has been said above. But then EM has put a lot of his money into the club that he won't want to lose. To shout the man down as was done on Saturday is out of order and pointless. He knows full well that a lot of us think that the problem lies with the manager. Is he really going to bend just because a few mindless idiots will not let him have his say?

thesouthend wrote:
Why no mention of the real story: The bust up in Mitchell's box and Dave Roberts role in that? The problem with The Echo is they're scared to tell the truth for fear of another ban, complete waste of time.

GerryLincs wrote:
I dislike saying that I told you so - but this is a re-run of the situation at Grimsby. Does Groves have the support of the dressing room? He lost that at Grimsby. It took a 6-0 loss at Oldham for the Grimsby board to remove him. What is it going to take at AFCB? Groves cannot put a team together - surely this much is obvious.

ParkstonePete wrote:
The man is beyond belief.

Surely now it is time for a complete boycott of DC until not only Groves has gone but the cancer on Mitchell also.

pragueboy wrote:
Reading between the lines he is saying he will give Groves a chance to sort it out and if he doesn't he will sack him. That is fair enough in my book. You would expect us fans to act and react on our passions and that's ok but for a football club chairman it is about making rational decisions after exhausting all the possibilities without letting your emotions get in the way.
I am not saying you would associate EM with making rational decisions but i think the guy gets a bad rap. He is not the most articulate man, he is a builder from Dorset after all and not a politician and he really should employ a PR person to make statements on his behalf, afer being advised, i think everyone would agree with that. But who else over the years has been able to secure the level of investment for the club that he has?
Just becuase things are crap now at least we are crap with potential where most of the time before we were crap without any.
As for people staying away from DC you are not a true fan. Why dont you just buy a Man U shirt and go to the pub to watch the football on a Sunday with your carvery?
It will take time but it will happen. Until then support your local team no matter what.

pragueboy wrote:
Reading between the lines he is saying he will give Groves a chance to sort it out and if he doesn't he will sack him. That is fair enough in my book. You would expect us fans to act and react on our passions and that's ok but for a football club chairman it is about making rational decisions after exhausting all the possibilities without letting your emotions get in the way.
I am not saying you would associate EM with making rational decisions but i think the guy gets a bad rap. He is not the most articulate man, he is a builder from Dorset after all and not a politician and he really should employ a PR person to make statements on his behalf, afer being advised, i think everyone would agree with that. But who else over the years has been able to secure the level of investment for the club that he has?
Just becuase things are crap now at least we are crap with potential where most of the time before we were crap without any.
As for people staying away from DC you are not a true fan. Why dont you just buy a Man U shirt and go to the pub to watch the football on a Sunday with your carvery?
It will take time but it will happen. Until then support your local team no matter what.

pragueboy wrote:
Reading between the lines he is saying he will give Groves a chance to sort it out and if he doesn't he will sack him. That is fair enough in my book. You would expect us fans to act and react on our passions and that's ok but for a football club chairman it is about making rational decisions after exhausting all the possibilities without letting your emotions get in the way. I am not saying you would associate EM with making rational decisions but i think the guy gets a bad rap. He is not the most articulate man, he is a builder from Dorset after all and not a politician and he really should employ a PR person to make statements on his behalf, afer being advised, i think everyone would agree with that. But who else over the years has been able to secure the level of investment for the club that he has? Just becuase things are crap now at least we are crap with potential where most of the time before we were crap without any. As for people staying away from DC you are not a true fan. Why dont you just buy a Man U shirt and go to the pub to watch the football on a Sunday with your carvery? It will take time but it will happen. Until then support your local team no matter what.

pragueboy wrote:
Reading between the lines he is saying he will give Groves a chance to sort it out and if he doesn't he will sack him. That is fair enough in my book. You would expect us fans to act and react on our passions and that's ok but for a football club chairman it is about making rational decisions after exhausting all the possibilities without letting your emotions get in the way.
I am not saying you would associate EM with making rational decisions but i think the guy gets a bad rap. He is not the most articulate man, he is a builder from Dorset after all and not a politician and he really should employ a PR person to make statements on his behalf, afer being advised, i think everyone would agree with that. But who else over the years has been able to secure the level of investment for the club that he has?
Just becuase things are crap now at least we are crap with potential where most of the time before we were crap without any.
As for people staying away from DC you are not a true fan. Why dont you just buy a Man U shirt and go to the pub to watch the football on a Sunday with your carvery?
It will take time but it will happen. Until then support your local team no matter what.

ChilledCherry wrote:
It does seem that the performances are so poor and fan opinion so united that the end is surely nigh? By the sounds of it, there is no fight in the team. When players start giving up, the manager will not last long in his job. I'm confused as to why. Why don't these good players play well? Why don't they at least get stuck in and show some passion when things aren't going well? Sometimes a bit of graft will go a long way and start to turn performances, and results around. For those who have had to witness recent "performances", do you know why the players have given up?

simong wrote:
Maybe the dog should take over as manager, he couldn't do any worse and let's face it, it's probably the only one in the Mitchell clan who isn't on the board or taking a salary !

ChilledCherry wrote:
So it sounds like a complete lack of organisation then really. Questionable team selection and tactics mean the players aren't sure how they're supposed to play. Maybe the squad is too big as well, and it being chopped and changed too much.

So my last question is... who do we get in? When Groves goes, fair enough - he's had long enough to prove he can do his job and performances are getting no better. But who do we get in? I'm not sure who's available and would want it. Any ideas anyone on who could turn this round for us?

RICHSKI wrote:
Never have I known my club so devided. The board are fighting. The players are devided. The fans don't know wether to go and support the players or not.
It is time for some real truth to come out. People claim that Mr Mitchell has put none of his own money into the club. Can anyone prove it? Can anyone prove he has put money in? Can anyone prove who is responceable for the new players and the alledged high wages? Is there a web site we can see the company trading figures? If someone can produce this it will prevent about 50% of arguements on here then maybe it would start to reunite our club one way or another. The reason Mr Mitchell has support is "reasonable doubt".
The most important reltionship at a club is that of the fans to the players and visaversa. After all without either there is no club. So ask your self do you support the players? If they do not feel supported by their management team and the supporters drift away who are they playing for? Think about your job,you do. We all preform at our best when we feel wanted. Yes, the money should motivate and maybe with some it does but we all need to feel appreciated. Stick with the players coz they will be here long after the manager has gone. I hope.

lockandload wrote:
Jesus Guys, When will you people get it?
AFCB is a family club. The Mitchell family club. Its not about Groves, its all about Brooks who is hiding in the background and may in a crazy world become the next manager.

The answer????

Total Boycott at next home match and that means season ticket holders.
Talk is cheap. We need Direct Action and when theres 1000-1500 people at the next home match, it will be slashed all over National news.

Square Old Codger wrote:
Then the slow death of the Club will continue. Loyaty to an employee is admirable - but Eddie wasn't too charitable to the great Joe Roach a man who made an enormous contribution to the Club, he forced him out quickly enough to promote his son-in law. We have now lost over 40% of the Club's supporters of just two years ago, Saturday saw the home gate down to some 4,500 and this against attractive opposition. It should be apparent to the meanest intelligence that Grove has lost the confidence of the majority of the Club's supporters and I believe the players as well .Mr Mitchell very clearly holds the supporters views in comtempt! But as support for the Club continues to diminish and the drift away from the Club continues he is likely to find himself in a near empty ground. We all know that he isn't too good at finances - but even he must see that gates of 50% of the breakeven point are not sustainable and we are almost down to that level now. . Perhaps we should do a "Blackburn" and arrange a couple of matches to totally Boycott , that might bring matters to a head.

afcb-mark wrote:

pragueboy wrote:
Reading between the lines he is saying he will give Groves a chance to sort it out and if he doesn't he will sack him. That is fair enough in my book. You would expect us fans to act and react on our passions and that's ok but for a football club chairman it is about making rational decisions after exhausting all the possibilities without letting your emotions get in the way.
I am not saying you would associate EM with making rational decisions but i think the guy gets a bad rap. He is not the most articulate man, he is a builder from Dorset after all and not a politician and he really should employ a PR person to make statements on his behalf, afer being advised, i think everyone would agree with that. But who else over the years has been able to secure the level of investment for the club that he has?
Just becuase things are crap now at least we are crap with potential where most of the time before we were crap without any.
As for people staying away from DC you are not a true fan. Why dont you just buy a Man U shirt and go to the pub to watch the football on a Sunday with your carvery?
It will take time but it will happen. Until then support your local team no matter what.

Why would anyone with 10% of a brain pay good money to watch the rubbish being dished up week in week out. The home crowd Saturday was less than 4200 I predict the next home game to be less than 4000 and continue to drop until this trio are sacked or moved aside back to what they did before. The only reason there are still 4000 is because the majority of these have paid up front, but even some of them are staying away. Now that says it all.

lockandload wrote:
Jesus Guys, When will you people get it?
AFCB is a family club. The Mitchell family club. Its not about Groves, its all about Brooks who is hiding in the background and may in a crazy world become the next manager.

The answer????

Total Boycott at next home match and that means season ticket holders.
Talk is cheap. We need Direct Action and when theres 1000-1500 people at the next home match, it will be slashed all over National news.

s.u.epope@hotmail.co
m wrote:
maybe they should look at the way they play the game something is not working

The Curmudgeon wrote:
Having now watched our chairman in action on Saturday evening, enough is enough...if this is how the club is being represented in public then I am surprised the rest of the non Mitchell Board Members have not resigned and Max Demin and Harry have not walked away, let alone our manager...the language was appalling, his manner slurred and his comments just inept...if this is our leadership from the top then after 10 years of being a season ticket holder my time is up and I'll take SOC's advice and go and watch the rugby..! Harry, do you really want to be connected with this fiasco..?

hotdog350 wrote:
One thing we are all united in , is a great sadness at where OUR club is heading under the leadership of The Mitchell Family.
We will lose tomorrow, theres no doubt.
AFCB has become the dying animal with the Vultures circling. We are now fair game to everyone in league 1. Yes Eddie , Groves/ Brookes come as a package and go as one so don't try that one cos it wont wash anymore.
If EddiE still refuses to sack his mate and brother inlaw then We have to take ACTION. e.g BLACKBURN.

The next Home game MUST be a complete Boycott.
If we want to save Our club , We must take this decision. No More Excuses.

As a footnote : What a scared little man Tom Mitchell was on saturday. He didnt even wait until the end of the match and was seen walking at speed across the car park while the game was still on.

willsti wrote:
Not easy for Mr. Mitchell.
Loyalty is commendable.
Especially since the season is only 2 months old.
Like it or not, sacking might help, but sacking might make no difference, too.

What is accomplished by being rude and nasty to him?
Why not just give the club what it needs most when it's struggling - SUPPORT.

willsti wrote:
Not easy for Mr. Mitchell.
Loyalty is commendable.
Especially since the season is only 2 months old.
Like it or not, sacking might help, but sacking might make no difference, too.

What is accomplished by being rude and nasty to him?
Why not just give the club what it needs most when it's struggling - SUPPORT.

norwood70 wrote:
I notice that Colchester, who sacked their manager last week, recorded their first win of the season on Saturday!

chawtoncherry wrote:

cherries_matty wrote:
Whilst I've not read the club's Business Plan, I'm fairly sure that it would talk about us being a Championship club or at the very least challenging to be so. Does EM really thing that Groves is the man to help him deliver this objective within his plan?

Yes, we're talking about people's lives here but we're also talking about a business and a competative football club. Whilst I don't like seeing anyone sacked, for the good of the club EM has to do the right thing here.

My gut reaction is to go with all that has been said above. But then EM has put a lot of his money into the club that he won't want to lose. To shout the man down as was done on Saturday is out of order and pointless. He knows full well that a lot of us think that the problem lies with the manager. Is he really going to bend just because a few mindless idiots will not let him have his say?

Piston_Broke wrote:

chawtoncherry wrote:

cherries_matty wrote:
Whilst I've not read the club's Business Plan, I'm fairly sure that it would talk about us being a Championship club or at the very least challenging to be so. Does EM really thing that Groves is the man to help him deliver this objective within his plan?

Yes, we're talking about people's lives here but we're also talking about a business and a competative football club. Whilst I don't like seeing anyone sacked, for the good of the club EM has to do the right thing here.

My gut reaction is to go with all that has been said above. But then EM has put a lot of his money into the club that he won't want to lose. To shout the man down as was done on Saturday is out of order and pointless. He knows full well that a lot of us think that the problem lies with the manager. Is he really going to bend just because a few mindless idiots will not let him have his say?

How many times do people need telling - Edmund Mitchell has not put any money of his own into this club whatsoever, apart from the £50 he paid for his 50% share.

Piston_Broke wrote:

simong wrote:
Maybe the dog should take over as manager, he couldn't do any worse and let's face it, it's probably the only one in the Mitchell clan who isn't on the board or taking a salary !

Actually, I believe he is salaried. He works in Security, along with EM's henchman Roberts.
How ironic would it be now if we finish a point behind Pompey and get relegated. Then, we could say that Wes Thomas was to blame!

pauls55 wrote:
Quite ironic on Saturday that the longest and loudest applause was for John Bond, how we need his brand of old fashioned no nonsence attacking football instead of Groves' blunt diamond.

matt68 wrote:

Square Old Codger wrote:
Then the slow death of the Club will continue. Loyaty to an employee is admirable - but Eddie wasn't too charitable to the great Joe Roach a man who made an enormous contribution to the Club, he forced him out quickly enough to promote his son-in law. We have now lost over 40% of the Club's supporters of just two years ago, Saturday saw the home gate down to some 4,500 and this against attractive opposition. It should be apparent to the meanest intelligence that Grove has lost the confidence of the majority of the Club's supporters and I believe the players as well .Mr Mitchell very clearly holds the supporters views in comtempt! But as support for the Club continues to diminish and the drift away from the Club continues he is likely to find himself in a near empty ground. We all know that he isn't too good at finances - but even he must see that gates of 50% of the breakeven point are not sustainable and we are almost down to that level now. . Perhaps we should do a "Blackburn" and arrange a couple of matches to totally Boycott , that might bring matters to a head.

walsall attractive opposition!!

The Renegade Master wrote:
Mitchell has once again given Groves & Brooks the dreaded chairman's vote of confidence. That hopefully means unless the team win the next two away games in style, which is not going to happen, it's almost certain they will be gone in a week's time and not a moment too soon. The fans knew those clowns weren't up to the job in the first place, but oh no, know it all Mitchell knew better than everyone else and appointed them anyway. If it costs you a lot of money to sack them now Eddie it's YOUR FAULT!
I have to mention the foul language Mitchell was using outside Dean Court on Saturday which is available for all to see on YouTube or the AFCB Vitals site. He said our current situation is "sh*t" and the team were "f***ing rubbish". Is that the way a chairman of a League One football team should behave in public and in front of children too? I think not. If he had an ounce of integrity he would issue an apology for his shameful behaviour and step down immediately. Then perhaps he could appoint someone like Jeff Mostyn as the club's figurehead. At least he knows how to conduct himself in a civil manner!
Finally, the team. They are all talented professionals who have been expensively assembled, yet it seems that have no idea how to play together! They lack passion, determination, creativity and team spirit and that's the managers fault. He is either a lousy tactician or communicator or both, or the players simply cannot stand him and want him gone and are playing like a pub team on purpose until he's sacked. Whatever the root of the problem it MUST BE sorted out very soon before the club are deep in a relegation battle!

GROVES, BROOKS & MITCHELL(S) OUT!
GROVES, BROOKS & MITCHELL(S) OUT!
GROVES, BROOKS & MITCHELL(S) OUT!

lockandload wrote:
Next Home Match Must be a LOCKDOWN.
The season ticket holders who Eddie takes for granted need to take action.

one word "BOYCOTT" next home game

Afcbpete wrote:

hotdog350 wrote:
One thing we are all united in , is a great sadness at where OUR club is heading under the leadership of The Mitchell Family.
We will lose tomorrow, theres no doubt.
AFCB has become the dying animal with the Vultures circling. We are now fair game to everyone in league 1. Yes Eddie , Groves/ Brookes come as a package and go as one so don't try that one cos it wont wash anymore.
If EddiE still refuses to sack his mate and brother inlaw then We have to take ACTION. e.g BLACKBURN.

The next Home game MUST be a complete Boycott.
If we want to save Our club , We must take this decision. No More Excuses.

As a footnote : What a scared little man Tom Mitchell was on saturday. He didnt even wait until the end of the match and was seen walking at speed across the car park while the game was still on.

Yep, the chant is not Groves out anymore, it has to be MITCHELL OUT!! and the rest can follow....

Frankiesbackfromholl
ywood wrote:
Mitchell what are you trying to prove and to who? Groves record speaks volumes and yet to still wonder what is missing? My eight year old said it right on Saturday, "Dad they need to work harder for the win", now even he can see where it's going wrong!! we were never first to the ball again, we gave them far too much time on the ball, we played the wrong formation for this league, for some bizarre reason we are now hoofing it forward, we played players who were not match fit, shall I go on? Flippin heck it doesn't take much to see where it's going wrong so what on earth Groves is seeing is beyond me!! Why even with our run of bad results does he stick with his diamond? why does he keep fiddling with the starting line up? the difference on Saturday was very clear, Walsall were a team we weren't, we looked like a Sunday pub side, 11 men running round after the ball with no direction or knowing what their jobs were!!! both goals could have been prevented if only we wanted to win the ball, I lost count of the number of crosses they got into our box which should have been closed down, what was Cook doing out on the right? Zubar who has been missing all season was our best player, why he's been on the bench again I can't fathom!! Tubbs got 5 minutes at the end, what the.... So please Mr Mitchell why spend so much on this squad which is calling out for a manager who can lead from the front, and leave it to a man who has lost his way? this is one of the daftest decisions I can ever remember happening at the club, then there is all these Harry stories, honestly your loyalty is note worthy but come on enough is enough!!

lionheart wrote:

Piston_Broke wrote:

simong wrote:
Maybe the dog should take over as manager, he couldn't do any worse and let's face it, it's probably the only one in the Mitchell clan who isn't on the board or taking a salary !

Actually, I believe he is salaried. He works in Security, along with EM's henchman Roberts.
How ironic would it be now if we finish a point behind Pompey and get relegated. Then, we could say that Wes Thomas was to blame!

I was under the impression that Dave Roberts was a director along with messrs Sly and Mostyn and Rob Mitchell, the Sales/Promotions executive from AFCB-no relation.

My understanding is that Max Demin is not a director. His company, is the 50% shareholder and his Swiss attorney is the nominee director.

CC C-siders wrote:

Frankiesbackfromholl

ywood wrote:
Mitchell what are you trying to prove and to who? Groves record speaks volumes and yet to still wonder what is missing? My eight year old said it right on Saturday, "Dad they need to work harder for the win", now even he can see where it's going wrong!! we were never first to the ball again, we gave them far too much time on the ball, we played the wrong formation for this league, for some bizarre reason we are now hoofing it forward, we played players who were not match fit, shall I go on? Flippin heck it doesn't take much to see where it's going wrong so what on earth Groves is seeing is beyond me!! Why even with our run of bad results does he stick with his diamond? why does he keep fiddling with the starting line up? the difference on Saturday was very clear, Walsall were a team we weren't, we looked like a Sunday pub side, 11 men running round after the ball with no direction or knowing what their jobs were!!! both goals could have been prevented if only we wanted to win the ball, I lost count of the number of crosses they got into our box which should have been closed down, what was Cook doing out on the right? Zubar who has been missing all season was our best player, why he's been on the bench again I can't fathom!! Tubbs got 5 minutes at the end, what the.... So please Mr Mitchell why spend so much on this squad which is calling out for a manager who can lead from the front, and leave it to a man who has lost his way? this is one of the daftest decisions I can ever remember happening at the club, then there is all these Harry stories, honestly your loyalty is note worthy but come on enough is enough!!

Well said.
Zubar is one of the best players we have - not that PG/SB would be able to recognise that.
There is no team play; no structure. Strikers that can't hit the target - even without a keeper they can't score.
The players need to take on some personal responsibility because they will, and should, also be judged on their incompetent performances.
Most of the time it's the basics - pass to a man in position, not get rid of it.
.
Interesting to read the boycott comments, as it seems most on here don't go or have boycotting for years. They'll be sorely missed!!
Perhaps they will propose a whip round to raise a buy-out fund!
.
Thanks to EM for the massive improvements to the ground and making funds available to bring in new players - which most seem to appreciate. When it comes to football management you have been let down . The club needs someone at least with a a passion for football and AFCB (Eddie Howe) and/or experience of successful management (Cottrill).
UTCIAD

Piston_Broke wrote:

lionheart wrote:

Piston_Broke wrote:

simong wrote:
Maybe the dog should take over as manager, he couldn't do any worse and let's face it, it's probably the only one in the Mitchell clan who isn't on the board or taking a salary !

Actually, I believe he is salaried. He works in Security, along with EM's henchman Roberts.
How ironic would it be now if we finish a point behind Pompey and get relegated. Then, we could say that Wes Thomas was to blame!

I was under the impression that Dave Roberts was a director along with messrs Sly and Mostyn and Rob Mitchell, the Sales/Promotions executive from AFCB-no relation.

My understanding is that Max Demin is not a director. His company, is the 50% shareholder and his Swiss attorney is the nominee director.

Dave Roberts may well be a director of AFCB, and I believe he's been EM's sidekick/site foreman/enforcer at most, if not all, of the 7 insolvent building companies. He knows as no more about running a football club as the rest of the cronies & relatives.