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Albion skipper 'surprised' and 'bemused'
7:00pm Friday 9th May 2008
Albion skipper Nicky Forster has described the departure of manager Dean Wilkins as "surprising" and "bemusing".
Forster and several of his team-mates found out about Micky Adams' shock re-appointment via a series of text messages as they sat on a plane on a Gatwick runway.
They had just returned late on Thursday night from a two-day break in Spain as news broke that Adams was taking over and Wilkins has been offered the post of first team coach.
Forster said: "We didn't land until midnight. There were ten of us on the plane and all of our phones started bleeping, so we wondered what was going on.
"When we checked our messages we thought it was a joke but it soon became apparent it wasn't and there was momentarily disbelief.
"I still think it is surprising. We made good progress this season but it shows everyone is expendable, especially in football.
"The timing seems a little strange, because changes normally come about when a manager has done particularly poorly.
"I don't think the gaffer has, so in that respect it's a bit bemusing, but I am sure there are reasons.
"I just hope the gaffer takes the job of coach or gets back into football. I am sure a lot of the players wish him the best."
Forster, top scorer with 19 goals, is looking forward to working with Adams. "Our paths have not crossed but he has obviously done a fantastic job here in the past and is highly revered by the fans," said the 34-year-old marksman.
"In that respect I am sure in some quarters it will be a very popular decision but he needs to be given time to settle in."
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mark, brighton says...
7:49pm Fri 9 May 08
still in shock, walsall says...
8:00pm Fri 9 May 08
"You ten players go into that room, the other ten just wait here"
Door shuts -
First room 'Well done lads, good season, your of to spain for a couple of days - enjoy yourselves.
The second room - 'Sorry lads I'm afraid your contracts will not be renewed, good luck' -
A third room - secret meeting - 'Once he has done it, we wait to late at night and sack him, then we wait to late at night and break the news so we miss all the media key deadlines'.
Benny Dorm, Spain says...
10:00pm Fri 9 May 08
Sh1t-even the Argus got this story in the first edition today. Hard to believe I know but they did so deadlines must have been hours away.
me, brighton says...
11:26pm Fri 9 May 08
Benny Dorm wrote:not difficult seeing as the argus only have one edition nowadays......
So Still in Shock-is 8pm so late at night that the news misses all of the media key deadlines? Sh1t-even the Argus got this story in the first edition today. Hard to believe I know but they did so deadlines must have been hours away.
Trun, sompting says...
12:26am Sat 10 May 08
rich brighton, brighton says...
8:04am Sat 10 May 08
Kevin D, Hove says...
9:48am Sat 10 May 08
mark wrote:I strongly agree, Mark, but it will have to be a big taxi. Perhaps a people carrier? It's an absolute disgrace that we are probably/certainly going to lose Wilkins but keep the useless White. It looks like Knight is losing the plot, like Thatcher and Blair.
can someone explain how the club that just lost 2.8 million will keep wilkins chapman and white as first team coaches? white does not have the paperwork to coach the kids, as he is not qualified!! suggest taxi for white and take loft with you.
Joel Edmondson, Worthing says...
10:55am Sat 10 May 08
Get back to your Diana, Elvis and 9/11 conspiracies and leave them out of football.
Personally I think they'll have been Wilkins decisions, looking at who has gone.
The big 'surprises' i suppose are: Cobbs, Rents, Butters and perhaps Mayo considering the fact he's played a fair bit recently.
Rents - Wilkins never really rated in my opinion.
Mayo - I am not surprised he's stayed on, only played because Richards was out and he doesn't rate rents.
Butters- getting too old now. Probably couldn't justify the relatively high wage.
Cobbs - never got a chance, getting on a bit so gone.
WHy would Knight offer him First Team Coach if he wanted to do that to him?
You may say because he doesn't want Wilkins to sign it. But I would disagree. I would have said it would have been easier for him just to get rid of Wilkins completely.
jeff woad, Padua says...
11:21am Sat 10 May 08
Lisa, Saltdean says...
12:15pm Sat 10 May 08
Tommy, Hove says...
12:17pm Sat 10 May 08
Brian, Hartley says...
12:56pm Sat 10 May 08
Dr Bandler, Hove says...
3:08pm Sat 10 May 08
Donny, Brighton says...
10:14pm Sat 10 May 08
jeff woad wrote:This is a bit of Dick Knight spin, he's under pressure to deliver and quickly as the footballing public of Sussex are increasingly being offered alternatives (3 Sussex sides in the Conference). Adams hasn't done a whole lot recently, a kick in the teeth for DW - yes. But he could always go and be Dick Knight's nephew's number 2 at Lewes (no funny business there too!!)
As we know, Knight is essentially a PR merchant. This appointment is for the popular vote, (knowing as he does that his popularity has been in decline). In football terms it makes no sense at all; DW has been developing well and his team\\\'s progress reflects that. Now it\\\'s back to square one. MA will need to find another Bobby Z because without him we were ordinary and wouldn\\\'t have won a thing. Remember?
wemman, Shropshire says...
7:13am Sun 11 May 08
Good old Andy Naylor -always trying to stir it up with his 4th rate journalism.
Wilkins did an adequate job, but I can't say that their play have ever been exciting under his stewardship. Will we move forward with adequacy? No. Micky's the man to do it 'Nuff said
Prince Regent, Central Brighton says...
8:30am Sun 11 May 08
We need an experienced manager to get the best out of what is now a promising squad of players and to devise a pattern of play that suits them.
This sound like good news re progress on Falmer...we're gearing up for it now.
God, Everywhere. says...
5:34pm Sun 11 May 08
Anyway, an Adams and Wilkins managerial/coach combination seems like a positive move for the club.
Come on Deano we still love you...sign the contract.
The Almighty, says...
10:12pm Sun 11 May 08
Adams & Wilkins will return the Albion to the Championship
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dickie, acton W3 says...
7:14pm Fri 9 May 08
will adams try to accomodate playmakers or just sign players to hoof it to Zamurray?