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Speakman gone


Antidotes said:
Could tell in the summer it was Ghisolfi organising everything on the signings front so not too surprised tbh. Done an unreal job though getting us promoted on the budget he had
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He was moved from Sporting Director to Technical Director in the summer. Just find it a bit strange how an Assistant Manager and Technical Director leave mid season.
 
T_Bone said:
I think there’s more to this than meets the eye. I’ve been critical of Speakman in the past and although he appears to have done a good job overall he was responsible for bringing some flops to the club. He didn’t endear himself to me when interviewed with his buzz word parlance.
He will get employment if he wants it and I’m sure his reputation in the game is very good. I wish him well.
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Think you’ve got to remember he was working with a low budget, especially in the Championship and by Championship standards. Competing season after season with 3 clubs with PL players and PL parachute money. Every club signs flops, nobody in world football has a 100% success with transfers, the important thing is he got more right than wrong and helped assemble squads to twice get the club promoted, second time against the odds.

Similar with his managerial appointments - Beale and Johnson he got wrong, but Mowbray and, more importantly, Neil and Le Bris he got 100% right.
 
andysafc24 said:
He was moved from Sporting Director to Technical Director in the summer. Just find it a bit strange how an Assistant Manager and Technical Director leave mid season.
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Timing of Speakman going probably ties in the with work in the January transfer window concluding. If there’s someone else coming in as a replacement to work with Ghisolfi it gives them the maximum amount of time to get up to speed with the club and the project.
 
The Situation said:
For context, the below was the first starting 11 named when he walked in the door:

Burge

McLaughlin
Flanagan
Wright
Hume

Scowen
Leadbitter
Power

Maguire
Grigg
McGeady

I'm sorry like but there's not even room for debate on this one - anyone who doesn't think he has done an exceptional job is simply an idiot.

Thank you for everything Kristjaan. You will always be very fondly remembered here for the crucial role you played.
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Christ thats a depressing team 😅 Thanks for the memories speakman
 
ranks39 said:
This was probably the plan all along, a lot of us asked what Ghisolfi's appointment meant for KS and it was probably just a temporary arrangement. He's done brilliantly for us and should have many opportunities to go in at another club looking to do similar - he should have his pick of the bunch.

Thanks to KS, he wasn't always popular but he was steadfast in his belief in the right way to do things and for that, he should be remembered as one of the central figures at the club from our rise from L1 to PL. All the best.
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I think it makes sense for sporting directors to have a cross over period which is what has happened here
 
Quick and unceremonious departure. Likely more to the story, but it’s not like his departure should be a complete surprise. He had a really good run here. Very grateful for his considerable (to put it mildly) contribution. I wish him all the best.
 
Departure with immediate effect, and Speakman didn’t have his statement ready, or included by the club. Something’s happened.

He did a great job. I met him a few times via fans’ group meetings. He gave us a lot of time but sometimes the attitude, especially with his pal Oscar from the media team, was a bit condescending. They knew more than we did and it sometimes came across like that.

I wish him all the best but am excited by what hopefully comes next.
 
Bloody hell. Haven’t looked at any footie today so bit of a surprise..

What an outstanding job he has done, he certainly won’t be short of offers. I spoke to him at length at Gatwick airport last season after we beat Portsmouth away. He was really good, took the time to talk all things SAFC and came across as really wanting to do a great job and get us back to the prem.

Thank you KS, superb stuff. All the very best lad.
 
Been quite a few people on here asking for his head to roll in the early days and all of them entitled to their opinion but for me he’s done a cracking job in an environment that has bought into his methods and given him the time to succeed. Nobody is perfect at any job but he can safely say he nailed it here! Well done sir!
 
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