Paul Sturrock

[Angell Delight]

Is it over ? under PS I thought it was. But and yes it's a big, but 21 more points to play for. You never know.

We need to win 7 out of 7. Can we do that? No, certainly not in my opinion.

 

[Jam_Man]

You can moan about Ron and financial problems all you like but at the end of the day he has supported Sturrock in the transfer market and allowed him to build up a squad. Take last January for example, Ron gave him a bit of money to spend and we bought Dave Martin and Benyon... Sturrock did a great job in his first 2 seasons, rescuing us in his first season and coming within 1 point of automatic promotion last season. However this season results and performances at home have not been good enough. Football's a results business and 1 point out of 3 home games against 3 teams near the bottom is just unacceptable I'm afraid. This isn't some Venky-esque knee-jerk reaction. Ron's given Sturrock effectively 2 seasons to get promotion and it's not been achieved. If you look at the squad on paper it should be higher in the league than it is. Admittedly injuries have played their part but Ron has allowed Sturrock to get loans in when this has happened. I agree it should've been left until after Wembley. We now have a strange situation whereby the new man will have 2 games and then the sacked manager will come back for one game - has that ever happened in before? It'll give a slightly sombre edge to the occasion and it's a bit of an awkward situation, will the new man still be there? We like to do things differently at Southend... but at least this gives time for the new man to get to know and assess the squad before the summer. I've got a lot of respect for Sturrock as a man and as a manager and I'm grateful for what he's done here but maybe the time's right for a change. Can't say I'm particularly enthused about the prospect of Phil Brown (you have to question someone who's been out of work for 2 seasons) but let's get behind him hey. Ron's here to stay whether we like it or not. And despite the shocking punctuation, most of what he said in his "statement" is actually fairly accurate.

Martin wasnt Sturrocks signing, not sure about Benyon.

Agree with what you say though.

Its a shame it hasnt worked out and Sturrock has often had to do the job with one hand tied behind his back but even so we should have done better over the last 3 games and our inability to show any sort of consistency in the past 2-3 months has cost him unfortunately.

 

[southend4eva]

Was gutted by this news when I first heard it. But I felt the statement released by RM to be fairly convincing, sincere and mildly comforting. Though personally, I would have like him to have given him another year.
Really proud of PS and his achievements. Glad he gets the chance to lead the boys one more time. Brilliant strategy by Ron. Though makes me feel rather cynical, but still nice touch and hopefully gets us the bacon.
Thanks Paul. You really bought the club back from the brink and I'd hate to think where we would have been under a lesser experienced and poorer networked manager.
All the best mate, I'd be shocked if you weren't back holding the reins somewhere soon.

 

[Jam_Man]

Your thread title suggested three questions but you didn't go on to talk about the new manager, so I'll suggest the following. For me, there are 4 crucial calls that Ron Martin is making:

1) The decision to part company with Sturrock
2) The timing of the decision
3) The appointment of Phil Brown (if that's what is happening)
4) Sturrock leading the team out at Wembley

I'll set my stall out by saying I'm a huge fan of Paul Sturrock as a man and a manager. I'll also say I don't have a great deal of kind words for Ron Martin - I occasionally respect him and what he is trying to do but think he has fatal flaws in his stewardship of this club.

With that said, I think he has at least 3 of the calls above correct, and maybe even all four.

1) The decision to part company with Sturrock
Paul has done amazingly well and I argued the case only a couple of days ago for the injuries being a crucial blow to our campaign and an almost acceptable excuse for this season's failure. I also however accept the views of the many others who have seen us fail to push on from last year and who feel a change is needed. While I still have a lot of time for Paul Sturrock and what he has done for this club, it has been getting harder and harder to argue a case for keeping him at the expense of not letting someone else come in to pick up the reigns. We're certainly not out of the mix yet and a fresh impetus may be just what's required right now.

2) The timing of the decision
If the decision is to be made, it HAS to be now and Wembley can't be a factor in our thinking behind the timing. Not only are we, right now, deep in a slump in form, but action at this time gives us a potential opportunity to turn things around THIS season as well as think about planning for next. Some have argued that Sturrock deserves to take us to Wembley - I agree, he does, but our goal has never been to win a Cup Final but to get out of this League. If I had the choice, like many I believe, it's all about promotion. The JPT trophy offers a great experience but the trophy itself just is a nice-to-have. Therefore, if we're mixing it up, we need to mix it up NOW.

3) The appointment of Phil Brown (if that's what is happening)
For me, the jury will be out until he comes in and shows me what he's made of. I'm a big fan of 'characters' which often means there are very few people in football (and life really) that I actually dislike. Sadly, Phil Brown is one of them - not that he'll care, I'm sure. However, if he comes to this club, he'll have a clean slate and I'll be looking for the positive aspects of his personality and approach before I focus on any negatives. What have you got Phil?

4) Sturrock leading the team out at Wembley
For me, this says a lot about Ron Martin AND his relationship with the club and Paul Sturrock. It would be easier to cast Paul adrift and focus on the future. Treating the Wembley game as a one-off, separate from our campaign could actually be a stroke of genius. Something like this has never been done before (to my knowledge) but I love the possibilities it offers. The new manager and the team can focus on promotion while Wembley can be seen as something of a day out. Who knows, the team might even pull themselves together to 'do it for Sturrock' on the day. Whatever happens, I reckon 30-odd thousand shrimpers will be singing his name to the rafters. Not everyone will agree with this but, if Paul and the new manager are open to the idea, I think it's fantastic and I love being part of a club that's allowing for a bit of sentiment and thinking a little outside the box.

What ^ he said....

Is it over ? under PS I thought it was. But and yes it's a big, but 21 more points to play for. You never know.

After our last 3 games we threw away any chance of getting into the playoffs. We are 6 points behind and thats having played a game more.

Changing the manager will just as likely be an impairment as a boost....

 

[Liam AAS]

Season 1: Mid-table with a pre-season squad of 1.

Season 2: An away floodlight failure away from automatic promotion with a massive points tally and a new club record for games unbeaten.

Season 3: Southend United's first Wembley cup-final.

Luggy you will be sorely missed. I wish you the best of luck and the best of health.

 

[buffalowolf]

Thankyou Mr Sturrock , i can only concur with all the sentiments written by others, i say this with tears in my eyes but to me you are Southend as it is today, because without you there would be no Southend. I wish you good health and a long ,long life.Once again sir THANKYOU !

 

[buffalowolf]

Reading the statement by RM I have to agree with the man, and im sure it was a difficult decision to make,also very happy he has allowed PS to lead the team out at Wembley and im sure the new manager would have been in full agreement with this decision. I also hope all you supporters get behind the new manager and give him all your support , also the 30000 of you at Wembley make the biggest noise ever when PS leads the team out.It will be a very emotional day for him im sure. And i know in my heart the players will play and win it for him.

 

[Shrimper in India]

I agree with so many of the sentiments on this thread.

PS has worked wonders in difficult circumstances and always conducted himself with the utmost dignity.

I would have loved him to have been given another year. I really hope we don't live to regret this decision next season...

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

All the very best for the future, Luggy. You worked wonders with a depleted squad and have brought some very good players to our club. I've been impressed with your professionalism, dignity and courage to make changes. Under the circumstances, you have done a fantastic job. Good luck in your next job.

 

[mrsblue]

Good pro who IMO worked wonders in peculiar times,Never helps when players are signed over the managers head.

 

[Blueronron]

Time will show,what a miracle you did for us in the short time you were here

I hope the future is bright for you both on the managerial front and more important the health front

 

[Codeyejax]

Season 1: Mid-table with a pre-season squad of 1.

Season 2: An away floodlight failure away from automatic promotion with a massive points tally and a new club record for games unbeaten.

Season 3: Southend United's first Wembley cup-final.

Luggy you will be sorely missed. I wish you the best of luck and the best of health.

^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^
Good luck Paul...........Gutted

 

[Kevin Hogg]

I think Paul Sturrock has been in the game long enough to realise that it all comes down to meeting expectations and previous seasons are forgotten. See the Reading sacking!
Is football.

 

[oldbazza]

All the very best Luggy and thanks for all your hard work. At least you won't have to put up with Martin anymore.

 

[Readie2]

Cheers Luggy! Thanks for saving our club and for taking us to our first wembley final, enjoy the day too! All the best for the future

 

[fredheim_holm]

Will always thank you Paul for the job you've done, not many managers could have done the job you've done these past few years. You'll always be welcome back at Roots Hall.

 

[Ricey]

Thank you Mr Sturrock for your excellent efforts whilst with us. I really did think we were doomed to non league the first season when you took over and we had no players. You completely proved all the doubters wrong and brought us some excellent talent to us. Some unknown Ryan Hall and Sean Clohessy, some with not great records of staying fit and scoring goals Barry Corr. 20 goals in his first full season, Liam Dickinson was a great short signing that nearly helped us get into league one.

I supported you 110% through your stint like I always have with every manager. Yes I moaned at certain points but that's part and parcel of being a football fan 'blame the manager'.

Thank you for your service as Southend United manager, I wish you all the best of luck in whatever venture you peruse next and hope you stay in good health.

One last thing get a hold of your son and get him to cut that stupid rats tail off :winking:

 

[westie]

Having carefully read Ron Martin's statement, I understand his decision to relieve Paul Sturrock of his duties before the end of the season in order that the incoming Manager can be given sufficient time "to hit the ground running" next season. What I cannot understand is the timing of this decision. Surely, couldn't Ron Martin have waited another two weeks until after the JPT Final? Realistically our League season is over, so why not wait?

 

[WickfordShrimper]

Top bloke. Top manager. Was Paul Sturrock you always be a Southend United FC Legend in my eyes without you we was heading for non league football IMHO

Thanks again

Also a BIG THANKYOU for getting us to WEMBLEY :happy::happy::happy::happy::happy:

 

[superblue24]

Having carefully read Ron Martin's statement, I understand his decision to relieve Paul Sturrock of his duties before the end of the season in order that the incoming Manager can be given sufficient time "to hit the ground running" next season. What I cannot understand is the timing of this decision. Surely, couldn't Ron Martin have waited another two weeks until after the JPT Final?

And had an angry mob knocking on his door had he of won the JPT? Why would he want to risk a protest outside his house again? This way seems much more fitting as win or lose, the fans, players and Sturrock are under no illusion.