Paul Sturrock

[shrimperjon]

Well done PS, worked miracles under extremely bad circumstances, never moaned, a lovely guy who carried on working through his illness. A sad day for all concerned. Best wishes for the future.

 

[Strykr]

I agree with him leaving, I agree with the concept of letting a new manager assess the squad in competitive matches, I disagree with the timing though. Seems very harsh, and disrespectful. Im not a massive Sturrock fan, thats only based on his football though, he seems a genuine decent bloke, and saved our bacon when we most needed it saving. Thats what i'll remember him for.

Not sure how i feel about Phil Brown at all, and cant see his ginormous ego meshing with Ron Martins, or playing Accrington Stanley on a cold January evening. I too would like a young up and coming manager really, but RM likes his "names" and im not about to condemn anyone before they've started the job! I just hope we dont give him a silly 4 year deal or something then sack him after two months.

Orange away strip next year?

 

[Boreham Shrimper]

If you want to sack him, fine*. Do it at the end of the season.

If you want to sack him and give the new man a few games*, fine. Do it in two weeks after Wembley.

Doing it now is ridiculous, it makes us look awful. We haven't got much, only our reputation. Now that's gone too.


* - I suspect that we'll only discover how good a job Sturrock did next season. Brown is a decent, experienced manager with two seasons PL experience. He's a big name for a 4th division club. But this is not an easy job. He'll have his work cut out.

** - A full pre-season is good enough for most new managers. I don't see how the gain of playing a handful of dead rubber L2 games with a squad of players who have all but checked their bags in for their holidays outweighs showing a bit of dignity.

Agreed, and many of the players whose contracts are up at the end of the season will likely be off anyway. I'm not sure that any new manager would learn very much by watching us play the remaining games that we have left, nor that we should bizarrely be asking Sturrock to be "guest manager" at Wembley. If he wins the thing, particularly after some poor performances under Brown over the next couple of weeks it'll be very interesting to see the fans' reaction that's for sure!

Of course there were rumours that Sturrock was leaving at the end of the season but going by Blair's tweets, he and his family don't seem at all happy with the way he has been treated.

 

[shrimpled]

Top man and my endless respect for a thoroughly good job Paul. As mentioned above, a very important manager in our history and absolutely the right man at the right time. Our away performances over the last couple of years have been superb and of course taking us to Wembley is the real highlight. I'm pleased that you will quite rightly have the honour of managing the side on the day, although I wish that if this had to happen it would have happened after the final. Also, you signed some cracking players for the club (Hall, Corr & Clohessy stand out, as does Bilel for his talent alone) as well as helping to bring through a few home grown youngsters such as Woodyard, Bentley and especially Ferdinand. You leave with my very best regards for the future, and my thanks for your sterling work of the last few seasons.

 

[BrettieAngell]

After watching us lose 2 Finals I am gagging for us to win this time!

Anyway I don't agree with the idea of Sturrock managing the team for the Final, it's bizzare and I just can't see how it's going to work.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Thanks for doing a decent job under what was initially very difficult circumstances.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Kept us in the league, stabilized us and gave a platform to build on. Genuine, lovely guy who I have the utmost respect for. Did very well to tolerate RM, restricted with numerous embargos, injuries and failed floodlights.

All the best Paul and thanks for everything.

 

[Tinks]

Oooh reckon there could well be a clash of ego's in the club in the forecoming future

 

[Magnum PI]

Luggy. I'm really sad to you go. A true gentleman and a great football manager. But for some ridiculous injuries this season there is no way we wouldnt be in League One next season. Good luck; and wishing you the best of health for the future.

 

[JStevo96]

Thanks Paul Sturrock for all that you've done for this club!

 

[ms brush]

All the best of luck for the future Sir. You will be very much missed by those of us who really appreciate just how tough it has been with no money, few resources but a lot of management talent, good people skills and hard work! Just a shame our idiot chairman doesnt see things the same way. Think of this, not as a failure, but as a fabulous success - and the misfortune of having a spectacular numpty as a boss! There wont be many people who can go from 3 players to a Wembley final in 3 years...

 

[Boreham Shrimper]

Really sorry that this didn't work out, particularly after the points tally that we accrued last season which in any other season would have seen us promoted. More importantly, Sturrock pulled our football club back from oblivion and entirely built a squad from scratch. In the grand scheme of things, this was a remarkable achievement. Of course our form in recent weeks has not been good enough and with constant rumours about his departure for personal reasons at the end of the season, I can't say that this is a surprise. It is however disappointing, particularly the timing, but he leaves with my gratitude and I am looking forward to being able to show my appreciation at Wembley on 7th April, when he will no doubt be wearing his trademark kilt. :thumbsup:

 

[OldBlueLady]

Thanks for giving us our club back 3 years ago when it looked as if we would be heading straight into non league. Thanks for persuading some very impressive and exciting players (along with Tommy Widdrington) to pull on the blue of Southend and getting some stability in your first season. Thanks for all the excitement of last season, for getting what should have been an automatic promotion points tally. Thanks for delivering us our first ever Wembley cup final this season.

Above all, thanks for always being a gracious and honest manager, and for putting up with some pretty horrendous circumstances in the background.

ShrimperZone will be a sadder place for the moving on of the wee birdie. Wherever and whatever you end up doing, I wish you health and happiness, and will be forever grateful for your endeavours on our part.

 

[bazzashrimper]

I always felt this was the likely scenario following the results in the last 3 home games. Looking from the outside, with no knowledge of any 'difficulties' from within and it appears the correct decision - we have been poor at home for a while and crowds are dwindling. I don't know the details, but it's clear there were some real difficulties within and as such probably made the job 100 times more difficult than it looks from a far.

Overriding all of this is that seeing Mr Sturrock over the last 3 years, it's obvious what a gentleman we have just released from the club. A true football person, who is full of commitment and honesty. I feel a sense of sadness tonight, not for the club, but for the honest Paul. Thank you for your hard work and integrity, and I hope you find a like minded chairman to work for soon.

 

[OldBlueLady]

As has already been said, there are enough threads around to vent this kind of stuff on. This thread is for those of us who wish to express our thanks. Bad form :thumbdown:

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Embargos and a horrendous injury list this season. You have no clue fella. This is a thread in appreciation of Sturrock, go moan elsewhere.

 

[tommy tucker]

Cheers Paul sturrock Im sorry you had to put up with all the crap that has been thown your way by that thing called a chairman .Shame you cant take that Arse**le with you .So we can has someone who can tell the truth to the fans .instead of using others to hide behind .

 

[philtalkin]

Wasn't always pretty, but you had your hands tied from the moment you walked through the door to the day you left.

Not many managers could have achieved what you did and I think in years to come, you will be fondly remembered.

For all the Sturrock haters, as soon as the new manager is announced, nail you colours to the mast. I hope the new manager is successful but the way the club is run, it will be a difficult job for anyone. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I hope we are not making a big mistake.

 

[eastling]

Can only agree with sentiments above. A manager who quietly went about his business and gained respect from opposition and home fans alike with his views on fair play. Good luck in the future Luggy!

 

[rhrussell]

I for one am very sad to see any manager getting the push, and the players at this club need to look at themselevs,
Paul has done a fabulas job with no team, players wanting away, gets 81 points in any other day we would be in league one now, embargoes at the beining of this season, injuries to key playes, and yet we are only 6 points of the play offs, RM does not appreciate honest endeavour by one man, its a team game look at yourself RM. Good luck in the future Paul I hope you get another club quickly with more apreciative owners.

God help your replacement and if its who is rumored what has he acheive, ????? Mistake RM