We have received the following letter from Keith Bell for publication. Its fairly clear which side of the Murray Fence that Keith comes from but if Mr Murray opts to reply, we promise to print his answers in full:
December 4th 2005
Ten Questions for Bob Murray.
- If a potential buyer was to show interest in SAFC, how much would you be looking to sell up for? [ie. Are you looking to make money when you leave?]
- You stated recently that “I have put my hand into my pocket on numerous occassions and never been thanked”. What is the total of your personal financial input into Sunderland AFC?
- You once categorically stated that “If Peter [Reid] goes I go”. Why did you not leave when Reid went?
- You also recently stated “I don’t pick the team or play in it”, which to me is a direct criticism of Mick McCarthy. We are now in December with five points and the manager’s overall personal Premiership points tally is roughly 5 out of 80. Are you considering sacking him at any stage of this miserable nightmare of a season?
- You moved to Jersey in the Channel Islands to live. Do you feel this equates to giving SAFC your full attention?
- You are still involved in other businesses, ie Omega PLC [Kitchens and bathrooms] and Sterling Capitol PLC [Propery developers who have developed a lot of Leeds in recent years]. Where do SAFC fit in your list of priorities?
- Statistically you are the worst Chairman in SAFC history. Next May we are going down for the sixth time under your hapless stewardship. What say you to this damning statistic?
- Is it true or false that Peter Reid and Bobby Saxton had to sign confidentiality agreements when they left Wearside, and if it is true, why did you insist on them doing so?
- Do you accept that you are the common denominator in years of failure?
- You are offereing cheap tickets. Can you see that people would pay top dollar for some quality on the pitch, for ambitous policies and success, words that seem alien to you?
Yours in hope that you will have the guts to answer these reasonable questions,
Keith Bell
