Paul Sturrock

[superblue24]

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.

Could actually be a great move. I agree with you and am a little surprised. But, if this is Paul Sturrocks swan song in management, full stop (which I think you'd agree it could well be), then wouldn't you expect the players to all be wanting to play out of their skins to give PS a well deserved send off for what has been a fine career.

Whoever comes in is unlikely to be phased at not managing the side in the final seeing that a) the trophy is not massively sought after, and b) would be a bit of an empty trophy anyway as he wouldn't have led the team into the final.

But I agree it is strange and difficult to figure out how it might all work.....

 

[lobalong]

Thanks Luggy ... good luck in the future

 

[shrimperjon]

What I'm not getting is so few people think that PS in charge for Wembley is a bad idea. I agree the timing is awful and PS did deserve the chance to lead us at Wembley, but its such a bad idea. So new manager has side for fortnight and two matches. New ideas, new formations and tactics and then PS takes over for one game, the players are going to be o confused. Sentiment is one thing but this idea is ludicrous.

 

[Col.U. Mad]

To actually get a challenging side from the little he inherited last season was unbelievable.
This season Southend should have stormed the league with the backing and players that they had. (Unfortunately just a few too many ME ME ME players).
I liked PS immensley especially with the crap hand he was dealt.
Enjoy ya retirement and good health

 

[BrettieAngell]

What I'm not getting is so few people think that PS in charge for Wembley is a bad idea. I agree the timing is awful and PS did deserve the chance to lead us at Wembley, but its such a bad idea. So new manager has side for fortnight and two matches. New ideas, new formations and tactics and then PS takes over for one game, the players are going to be o confused. Sentiment is one thing but this idea is ludicrous.

Agreed, doesn't make any sense at all.

 

[teabee1]

Although the players have seemed a bit confused of late anyway!

 

[Austin the Shrimper]

It says he will lead the team out at Wembley.. That is all. I would imagine the new boss will still take charge of tatics and decisions.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Only heard the news via a text from a mate an hour ago, only just read the statement. In shock. I was outraged when Martin sacked Tilly and I'm outraged now. Just **** off Ron.

 

[BARNETBLUE]

Its my view that in time Paul Sturrock will be seen to have been one of our best managers and I am delighted to be able to add my own small vote of thanks to him here. Good luck and good health Luggy!

 

[dusterman]

Cheers Paul, you're a top bloke and we'll know just how good you were in the near future, i'm sure of that. Thanks for Wembley and being a legend that took us to the brink of League 1.

You will be sorely missed by us and i'd imagine most of the players.

All the best big man and good luck with whatever you do :thumbsup:

 

[davidovolic]

Thank you Paul for the great job you've done over these three years under difficult circumstances you've had to endure. You stabilised us in your first year having had to completely rebuild the squad, unlike Stockport who were in a similar situation to us but went down; you achieved our second-highest points tally last season which in the vast majority of seasons would have got us promoted; and this year you've managed to keep us challenging for promotion until March while also giving us all a day at Wembley that we'll remember forever, despite the transfer embargoes, late payment of wages and injury crises.

Thank you for persevering with our joke of a chairman who made you keep silent on the transfer embargo last October and pretend you simply 'hadn't identified the right players yet'. And thank you for always remaining dignified and committed to the club in the face of these restrictions and the unfair criticism you received. Our chairman may not appreciate what you have done, but I'm sure the majority of fans do and will remember what you achieved. All the best for the future, you deserve it

 

[WightShrimper]

A manager among managers. Thank you for your achievements here at Southend, and whatever else may be written about you, please remeber that a large number of us fans hold you in the highest regard. Good luck for the future.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Thanks you Paul for steering us to midtable in that first season, when by rights we should have been relegated. Thanks for leading us to a record breaking points total in your 2nd season that in any other year would have seen us promoted. Thanks for bringing in some fantastic players at a time when our name was mud. Thanks for getting us to our first ever Wembley final. Cheers Luggy :thumbsup:

 

[Andyhsufc]

Sad to see Sturrock go; he is a good man and as Ron acknowledges, his first season here was difficult. However, with the players at his disposal we should be doing better. Injuries explain some of the decline this season but no excuse for the three recent results at home. Not Ron's greatest fan by any measure but he has taken the right decision at the right time, in order for Brown to decide who he wants to keep and move on. I am expecting wholesale changes and a move back towards how we played originally under Sturrock. Not pretty but it stands a fair chance of getting us promoted. Not quite sure why Sturrock is leading us out at Wembley; feels like we are patronising him.

 

[Mick]

To actually get a challenging side from the little he inherited last season was unbelievable.

What he inherited last season was what he created the year before!

 

[getintoem]

I echo all the good things others on this thread have mentioned. You took on a very tough job three years ago and surpassed the expectations of some of us. I greatly admire the way you have conducted yourself in circumstances that many people on here understand are far from easy and the integrity you have shown in not publicly displaying frustrations with off the pitch occurrences. It was refreshing to hear a manager admit to sometimes getting it wrong and to be open and honest with the fans.

In any sport one needs a slice of luck as well as skill and experience. Sometimes you can make your own luck but even that isn't always enough and I feel that you have not had the best of fortune at Southend. The squad you have assembled is good enough to win promotion from League 2 (if they can remain fit) so if your successor keeps most of them he will probably reap the benefit of the foundation you have laid.

You are a credit to any football club and I am sorry to see you go. I wish you the best of luck with whatever the future holds for you.

 

[Napster]

I wonder if the last article penned by Sturrock was a final hurrah.

 

[40yearsafan]

One of the top managers I've seen in over 40 of watching the Blues. Thanks Paul, and all the best for the future.

Hope every Blues fan provides a great send off at Wembly. I fear his will be a hard act to follow.

 

[Col.U. Mad]

What he inherited last season was what he created the year before!

you knew what I meant :stunned:

 

[madaboutblues]

It took me quite a while to come round to having Paul Sturrock as the manager of Southend. I was a staunch Tilly fan and felt completely gutted when he was sacked.
However, I have to say I had exactly the same feelings when I heard the news this afternoon. Paul Sturrock is a gentleman among gentleman. He gave us at Southend the benefit of his vast experience, pulled us back from the possibility of non-league football and got us a team when we had one player left who wanted to play for us. He then got us one point away from being promoted last year and now has taken our beloved team to Wembley.
Thank you for everything Mr Sturrock, I wish you the best of luck and good health for the future.