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Reds must open up to the fans
Crawley 1 Weymouth.1.
The sight of John Hollins back at Broadfield Stadium gave a timely reminder of the importance for Crawley to come clean about the club takeover.
Hollins returned to Reds with his Weymouth side for the first time since he was sacked as boss in 2006.
His year in the hot-seat coincided with the darkest period in the club's history.
The Chelsea legend had to endure a series of crises off the pitch, including administration and near-liquidation, as well as a relegation battle.
Reds lost a large number of fans during that rocky spell, mainly due to the way they were treated at the time.
The club repeatedly failed to inform them of what was going on and many became frustrated and disillusioned.
The less supporters were told the more cut off and insignificant they felt and many ended up finding other things to do with their time on a Saturday afternoon.
Fast forward two years and the club have started a new era following the buy-out by consortium Prospect Estates Holdings Limited three weeks ago.
Reds appear to be on a more secure financial footing and there are no worries about relegation.
But the fans are still feeling left out in the cold because of a continued lack of information.
The club has refused to reveal much detail about the consortium and the longer the supporters have waited the more suspicious and concerned they have become.
There was another poor attendance for the game against Weymouth - 943 including 152 from Dorset - and the gates will not improve until someone talks.
The new owners need to come out and speak to have any chance of bringing back the former fans and to ensure they do not lose any of those who are still turning up.
It is the only way to get rid of the uncertainty and distrust that has surrounded the club since Hollins was in charge.
Chairman Victor Marley instructed in a statement last week that no comments would be made about the takeover from anyone within the club "until we are in a position to talk factually".
Assistant boss Paul Raynor, therefore, could not shed light on what is going on when he was sent out to field questions from the media on Saturday.
He said: "I just concentrate on the football side of things and I let other people talk about takeovers and who is joining consortiums.
"We just concentrate on what we do on the football field and it was a good performance."
Hollins admitted his spell at the club was "hard work" and "difficult" but enjoyed the return to his old stomping ground.
His side were far happier with the point than Reds as they battle to beat the drop.
They took the lead with a wonder goal from captain Simon Weatherstone on 24 minutes. The midfielder smashed home a dipping volley from 30 yards after a long throw was headed clear.
But Crawley controlled the rest of the game and could have added three more goals to the scrappy one they scored five minutes before half time.
Kieran Murphy hooked a scuffed volley into the bottom corner for his first for the club following a free kick.
The strike came moments after captain Tyrone Thompson put a close-range chip wide after being released free on goal.
Mustapha Carayol wasted an equally good opening ten minutes into the second half when he shot straight at keeper Steve Henderson, before Thompson was denied by the Terras stopper with another attempted dinked shot in the last minute.
Hollins said: "I came to take points off Crawley and I've managed it, like I have done at all my former clubs.
"We need to pick up any points we can so I'm pleased. I thought we played very well and worked hard."
Crawley have often been left reflecting on unsuccessful penalty appeals this season and there was another seconds after Thompson's last-gasp miss.
Midfielder Dannie Bulman raced onto the rebound and was bundled over by defender Scott Doe as he was about to shoot.
Raynor said: "To everyone it looked like it was a penalty. The defender got on the wrong side, Dannie Bulman was about to put it in with his left foot and the guy pushed him with two hands in the back. But we're Crawley Town and we don't get too many of those do we?"
Crawley: Bayes, Wilson, Stevens, Murphy, Krause, Thompson, Pinault, Bulman, Hall, Cook, Joseph-Dubois (Carayol 35).
Subs not used: Thomas, Blackburn, Carter, Raynor.
Weymouth: Henderson, Blackburn, Bailey, Convery, Robinson, Weatherstone, Doe, Critchell, Challis (Douglas 75), Coutts (Crittenden 67), Beavon.
Subs not used: Stewart, Roberts, Anzite.
Booked: Beavon (57) foul.
What do you make of how Crawley are handling the takeover bid?
6:01pm Sunday 13th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Michael, Hove on 7:06pm Sun 13 Apr 08
Tom Gurney, you work for the Argus and not the Mail.
You don't hold any respect for anyone to care about you ill informed opinions.
PLEASE can you cover what actually happens on the field!
Tom Gurney, you work for the Argus and not the Mail.
You don't hold any respect for anyone to care about you ill informed opinions.
PLEASE can you cover what actually happens on the field!
Posted by: Crawley Fan, Crawley on 8:57pm Sun 13 Apr 08
The problem with Crawley fans are that they expect to have any information at all.
Who owns what, when something was paid or not, who does what. Nowhere above the turnstile entrance does it say entrance to the game and the right to know all the ins and outs of the finances of the club.
Crawley fans need to get back to watching the football and worrying less about what bill is paid or not. It has nothing to do with them the club are a private business!
The problem with Crawley fans are that they expect to have any information at all.
Who owns what, when something was paid or not, who does what. Nowhere above the turnstile entrance does it say entrance to the game and the right to know all the ins and outs of the finances of the club.
Crawley fans need to get back to watching the football and worrying less about what bill is paid or not. It has nothing to do with them the club are a private business!
Posted by: mickf, USA currently on 1:40am Mon 14 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Michael[/bold] wrote:
Tom Gurney, you work for the Argus and not the Mail. You don't hold any respect for anyone to care about you ill informed opinions. PLEASE can you cover what actually happens on the field![/quote] Supporters have no right other than to withdraw their support, by not paying to enter the ground (which is basically what Tom Gurney is saying) . And if they choose to do this because they feel the club is badly run (a given these last few years), dont let Vic Marley or any club official complain about the lack of support. You reap what you sow. Also Tom Gurney seems to be the only current reporter with any balls!
Michael wrote:
Tom Gurney, you work for the Argus and not the Mail. You don't hold any respect for anyone to care about you ill informed opinions. PLEASE can you cover what actually happens on the field!
Supporters have no right other than to withdraw their support, by not paying to enter the ground (which is basically what Tom Gurney is saying) . And if they choose to do this because they feel the club is badly run (a given these last few years), dont let Vic Marley or any club official complain about the lack of support. You reap what you sow. Also Tom Gurney seems to be the only current reporter with any balls!
Posted by: Arthur from Tilgate, Crawley on 8:52am Mon 14 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Crawley Fan[/bold] wrote:
The problem with Crawley fans are that they expect to have any information at all. Who owns what, when something was paid or not, who does what. Nowhere above the turnstile entrance does it say entrance to the game and the right to know all the ins and outs of the finances of the club. Crawley fans need to get back to watching the football and worrying less about what bill is paid or not. It has nothing to do with them the club are a private business![/quote] You wrote the same last week when Tom said the same thing.
If we didnt worry about what went on off the pitch then there maybe no football to watch at all.
Those off the pitch activities have cost us 19 points, so I think the fans do have a cause to worry.
If these new owners arent the real deal and dont pay debts then we could be looking at Ryman Div one football soon. Is that what you really want to happen?
Crawley Fan wrote:
The problem with Crawley fans are that they expect to have any information at all. Who owns what, when something was paid or not, who does what. Nowhere above the turnstile entrance does it say entrance to the game and the right to know all the ins and outs of the finances of the club. Crawley fans need to get back to watching the football and worrying less about what bill is paid or not. It has nothing to do with them the club are a private business!
You wrote the same last week when Tom said the same thing.
If we didnt worry about what went on off the pitch then there maybe no football to watch at all.
Those off the pitch activities have cost us 19 points, so I think the fans do have a cause to worry.
If these new owners arent the real deal and dont pay debts then we could be looking at Ryman Div one football soon. Is that what you really want to happen?
Posted by: Michael, Hove on 10:47pm Mon 14 Apr 08
Oh please! Tom Gurney have balls? He is a reporter behind a computer screen.
As an avid reader of the Argus, the point I was making, was my level of disappointment with regards to recent match coverage. The 6-1 victory over York City was fantastic. The Argus’ printed coverage was disappointing!
We all know the situation with off-field problems, but does every single match report of CTFC, really have to be hijacked with Gurney’s personal opinions? Another day. Another article is fine!
Henry Winter is at the top of profession and has earned his respect with well written & balanced columns. I mean no disrespect, you are no Henry Winter, by the level of intelligence in your writing, you never will be either Tom.
Stop using our CTFC coverage as an attempt to make a name for yourself. Stick to the on-field action please!!!
Oh please! Tom Gurney have balls? He is a reporter behind a computer screen.
As an avid reader of the Argus, the point I was making, was my level of disappointment with regards to recent match coverage. The 6-1 victory over York City was fantastic. The Argus’ printed coverage was disappointing!
We all know the situation with off-field problems, but does every single match report of CTFC, really have to be hijacked with Gurney’s personal opinions? Another day. Another article is fine!
Henry Winter is at the top of profession and has earned his respect with well written & balanced columns. I mean no disrespect, you are no Henry Winter, by the level of intelligence in your writing, you never will be either Tom.
Stop using our CTFC coverage as an attempt to make a name for yourself. Stick to the on-field action please!!!
Posted by: Crawley Fan, Crawley on 11:53pm Mon 14 Apr 08
Worrying is one thing Arthur. Some fans though have demanded access to everything from the club bank account to knowing how much each director owns etc. That is no fans business.
Being worried should not be confused with being bloody nosy.
Worrying is one thing Arthur. Some fans though have demanded access to everything from the club bank account to knowing how much each director owns etc. That is no fans business.
Being worried should not be confused with being bloody nosy.
Posted by: mickf, USA then Crawley not Hove on 11:55pm Mon 14 Apr 08
You seem to have as much of an axe to grind with The Argus as you perceive Crawley fans have with the our superb leadership. Was Henry Winter always top of the tree, no he had to work his way up. Somebody needs to ask the questions, Tom Gurney is, which is more than our lapdogs do. Anyway you are from Hove so you dont count!!
You seem to have as much of an axe to grind with The Argus as you perceive Crawley fans have with the our superb leadership. Was Henry Winter always top of the tree, no he had to work his way up. Somebody needs to ask the questions, Tom Gurney is, which is more than our lapdogs do. Anyway you are from Hove so you dont count!!
Posted by: Gifted Viewer, Near Crawley on 10:38am Tue 15 Apr 08
If I was a Crawley supporter I would be worried.
You have a manager with a proven track record of using corruption in football and now a secret consortuim from Boston, with Evans stap dad!!
I cna see more points being taken away very soon
If I was a Crawley supporter I would be worried.
You have a manager with a proven track record of using corruption in football and now a secret consortuim from Boston, with Evans stap dad!!
I cna see more points being taken away very soon
Posted by: James, Crawley on 11:07am Tue 15 Apr 08
I agree the reporting on the matches should focus on the match & play. By all means report anything else off field but in a separate article. I would suggest to all those complaining about the running of the club. If you can do a better job, put your money in. Offer to invest & buy a stake, take an active role & have a say. CTFC is a business, if you want to have a say in how that business is run & be privy to information then become a shareholder. It is easy to sit on the sidelines criticizing others when you have none of the responsibilities. People seem determined to write off the new owners and kill off the club before they have even had a chance, which I do not understand! I am looking forward to a new season & a new start with renewed support from local business & fans alike, concentrating on the football now the Majeeds have gone. In my opinion the club deserves a chance, it is bigger than any one individual.
I agree the reporting on the matches should focus on the match & play. By all means report anything else off field but in a separate article. I would suggest to all those complaining about the running of the club. If you can do a better job, put your money in. Offer to invest & buy a stake, take an active role & have a say. CTFC is a business, if you want to have a say in how that business is run & be privy to information then become a shareholder. It is easy to sit on the sidelines criticizing others when you have none of the responsibilities. People seem determined to write off the new owners and kill off the club before they have even had a chance, which I do not understand! I am looking forward to a new season & a new start with renewed support from local business & fans alike, concentrating on the football now the Majeeds have gone. In my opinion the club deserves a chance, it is bigger than any one individual.
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