I think it's disgusting seems he couldn't take the pressure bring back mark and terry there a good team together makes u think though why has he quit something must be happening behind closed doors as we're now looking for our 3rd manager in Jan disgusting really
I hope that Dom is allowed to come out and say exactly what has gone on. We never hear true reasons, and whilst I am against washing dirty linen in public, something has to be said. I wish Dom every success in the future - he's not the first to go is he - I am sure he will bounce back. Where do we go next? I have no idea. There aren't many options left. We're County League bound, unless we have a potential manager with a magic wand. Something is fundamentally wrong, and ultimate responsibility IMO lies with the owners. Perhaps there will be some soul-searching and some brave decisions made for the benefit of the football club. But I doubt it.
Just as you say, Peter - a farce. Not enough players, fitness levels poor, no organisation...not a recipe for success. I fear for us now - we've done tried and tested, experienced, knows the club and up-and-coming ambitious types of manager. Nothing has worked. Why is that?
dont know but all the things you say should be thing the manager sorts out. so why he not sorting it. was jump to much to ryman? did not see his other coaches yesterday it look yesterday that no one want to be part of his team on and off the pitch. a importnat game very important game and we turn up with 12 players (did not see keehan on pitch, not sure who other sub was). 11 players on pitch we have robinson who is not fit or mobile, ade clear very unfit and then with one sub we take off tas one of our fittest players. some of it clear to see so why dont managers. benice to know what happen yesterday it was embarasing for this club
Really dont believe this is happening. Good luck to Dom and his team Im sure some other team will benefit soon from his skills. Sorry you have touched the poison chalice and have become another victim of 'Hastings Fc syndrome'...treated like a hero on arrival and slowly turned into a villian and hounded out of town....happens with every manager and sadly is part of the clubs culture. I respect Dom and his team for taking a brave decision to leave..they are too good to be part of this culture so good luck for the next venture and bounce back soon.
What worries me now is not whether we are relegated to the county league but will this club actually survive..are we heading for the next defunct fc...following Stamco...Rye..Sidley...maybe county league is not a bad option at the moment.
Personally I don't feel it is quite accurate to say Dom has been branded a villain and hounded out of town. To be honest I feel he knew and we knew that, for whatever reason, this simply wasn't working and he has made the decision for the good of all. In the main the fans have given him plenty of support and there haven't been too many moans. Having said all that, we are all aware that there have been rather too many lame performances, particularly at home and a couple of good away wins don't count for much. There is, I'm afraid, a perception that good players have slipped through our fingers (e.g. King, Dolan) having been replaced by something not quite as good. We have never established our 'best team' and there have been questions raised about fitness and then, yesterday, even about the commitment of players to turn out for the club. Clearly all is not well and Dom has been struggling. Did we expect too much too soon ? Maybe....however after three months we surely could have expected better than what was served up yesterday. So what has Dom said ? Well he has alluded to the fact that he has been unable to do things that have brought him success in the past and that too many factors are beyond his control. This suggests to me that there has been too much influence from the Chairman but, as a mere supporter, I cannot comment on this either way. Dom APPEARED to have full control over the running of the team, bringing in and releasing players as he saw fit and choosing the starting eleven and formation. Are his comments just an excuse for unexpected failure this time around ? Playing Devil's advocate regarding his comments, I could say "Well he would say that, wouldn't he ?". Getting to the absolute truth here may be difficult. I guess we will see the likes of Farmer and Archibald depart, plus Keehan (is he still here ?) and these will need replacing just to get a team out in the coming weeks. Hopefully the loan market may come to our rescue once again. Where does the club go from here, long term ? Gawd knows ! Finally, how curious that the Observer should run a story today about our cup exploits two years ago. This was to be the cup run that set the club up for a bright future, wasn't it ? How many other clubs at our level got a £200k bonus that season ? Where has it all gone wrong ?
I am genuinely sad and gutted about this one although sadly not entirely unexpected. At the managers forum 3 months ago I along with other supporters was excited about the future under Dom's reign. We had tried all other type of manager and the thought of a young, up and coming sort excited us all. So why has it all fallen apart so quickly after winning his first 2 games? It won't take long for the world and his dog to blame DW but on this occasion our very own supporters were involved in the interview process as well. These were supporters I have a lot of respect for and they were confident that this was the man to take us forward. So what the hell has happened? Was it too big a jump? Or were there outside influences effecting his work, selection and signings?
The alarm bells have been ringing for a while though. The first point has to be the signings. Was the signing of 6 East Preston players wise? Keehan apart, and we've barely seen him, were any really good enough? Why was Aaron Hopkinson signed for 2games? Who's decision was it too bring in Ashley Paul Robinson, another player on the Hastings conveyor belt of over weight, unfit players. What has happened to the slim, quick player that the likes of Merstham and Burgess Hill have no problem in signing. And the biggest thing for me was dropping and the releasing of Jamahl King and Ronnie Dolan. Ronnie in particular was incredible after the lad came back to Hastings to prove the supporters wrong and was off the back off two MOM performances in Dom's first 2 games.
There were also rumours of fall outs in the dugout and why was Dom out on the pitch at half time on occasions? Who was giving the half time talks? And how do we get to a stage where we can only put out 12 fit players for a league game? Why do we never develop or use youth players?
The other point to raise is why did Dom change from the 'pass and move' football, which was slowly starting to work, back to the horrible 'long ball' stuff we all hate. Was this really his decision? When this kind of football is engrained into you, you just don't change. I do a lot of football coaching myself and whether you have the footballers to carry it out or not, the long ball rubbish is something of the past and the FA are working very hard to bring in pass and move to all levels of youth football. This was Dom's way so it really is a mystery as to why he changed and I would like to know the answer as to why he did.
Our biggest concern must now be how we stay in this league and how we attract any players to help us out of this mess. Poor Stapely must feel like a local prostitute, as he's roped in to help us out again on a temporary basis. Just cannot see anyone wanting to join us at present either as a player or as a manager. As I have said, I am genuinely sad and gutted Dom has left and really feel he should have held out longer but has he been pushed? Just so many unanswered questions and just don't know where we go from here. Sadly we have become somewhat of an embarrassment in non league football and Hastingsbuoy mentioned the word Stamco earlier. Well just maybe history is repeating itself again although I just hope and believe we have too many decent people at the club to allow that to happen.
-- Edited by johnw on Friday 2nd of January 2015 09:43:35 AM
John,
To answer one of your points, I don't believe Dom deliberately abandoned pass and move football. I think quite simply we haven't had the players here with the fitness, skill, touch and know-how to do it. It is often said that quality players seem to have more time. Our players simply haven't been good enough and have been rushed into kick and chase football. I honestly think the slightly faster game was too much for players stepping up from County football.
Watching yesterday also highlighted our real lack of movement by front players to make themselves available. Hythe were just much better at it than we were.
Disappointed that we have lost yet another manager. Good luck to Dom in the future. So, where does that leave us? The official statement cleverly says the appointment was a unanimous decision from a panel, let's see who they come up with now. Still lots of games to go yet but the age old problem of attracting players is always going to happen. Maybe try a manager that players actually play for?
All I feel it worthwhile to emphasise at this point is one which John makes above - that the only objective now remaining for this awful season is to stay in this league. Quite what happens beyond that, to achieve the sustainable success we have so long been waiting for, I simply have no idea.
One worry now is where will Dom go to? If he finds a club in West Sussex wanting him will he take the players he has brought here with him? What chance does that give whoever gets the job here? Maybe a swop with Rowlands from Eastbourne United would work..
Bad news for Hastings United supporters. Hope Dom and Ian fully explain the reasons for their departure rather than do the usual ie say things like "there were things we couldn't control" or "it was an impossible job." Supporters could do with hearing the full story-if there is one. Otherwise will have to assume Dom and Ian were simply not up to the job of managing a Ryman League side-along with Neville Southall, Tony Dolby, John Lambert, John Maggs, Terry White, Sean Ray etc etc.
Just wondered if there is any news regarding 'player availability' for tomorrow. Given that we mustered only 13 willing individuals yesterday and some of these may be less than enthusiastic about the BH game following Dom's decision, are we actually going to get a team on the pitch who may at least make the visitors work for their win ?
Pessimistic ? You bet !
its ok im sure we can come up with story like ramsgate. hope we do hear reasons real ones why he left at the mo feels like the going got tough ............
Just wonder what will happen to the pitch now Dom has left? Will Mr Rudkins be out there at the break of dawn widening the pitch again? If anything we played even worse once the pitch was narrowed. I say go back to the old Pilot Field and get Taser out on those wings with Ade and Kenny/Ashley right down the middle.
Waste of time on type of manager we want. Since August last year we've had the old experienced, the local lad and ex player and now the young and up coming type. And let's not forget before that we had the player manager with Razor. Not sure there's much left.
Waste of time on type of manager we want. Since August last year we've had the old experienced, the local lad and ex player and now the young and up coming type. And let's not forget before that we had the player manager with Razor. Not sure there's much left.
You mate !!! That'll shake em up !!! Take em from me ...I know
Not sure John would jump at the chance of managing Hastings again. He did a great job keeping us in the Ryman Premier before being dispensed with. Besides Eastbourne might be replacing us next season.
Not sure John would jump at the chance of managing Hastings again. He did a great job keeping us in the Ryman Premier before being dispensed with. Besides Eastbourne might be replacing us next season.
Always thought John was " dispensed" of prematurely before and wouldn't mind seeing him back at the helm !
It's the same old names every time the job becomes available, Lambert, Wilson, Kane, White. Let's not go back down that old road again and give up on the philosophy of giving a chance to a youngish, up and coming manager or someone we may not of heard off. I still believe Dom was an exciting and brave appointment at the time and I think we all agreed after hearing him at the forum. I just hope the club don't now decide to go down the safe route. I want to see exciting football at the Pilot Field and some exciting new players. Would the likes of Lambert bring that? And who would he bring in.....Ellis, Maclean, Elliott etc etc, decent players but we've been there before and the club is just going round in circles. Dom was the right appointment in my opinion and the directors should be brave once again in their next appointment.
I don't have a name at the moment but I would bring in someone from outside of Sussex who has no past history with the club. If the directors want some old faces around the club then get the likes of Stuart Playford, Keith Miles or Peter Heritage in to work with the youngsters. Proper ex Hastings players who could offer so much.
And finally, and I am going a little bit of piste with this but please, can someone at the club get Hastings Utd into the local schools. Sick of seeing all the local talent being coached and joining the likes of Brighton, Style Soccer and SAFA Select. We should have coaches in at every primary school in East Sussex.
-- Edited by johnw on Friday 2nd of January 2015 10:27:41 PM
Another valid point from Johnw re schools. I'm sorry to suggest it again, but we need fundamental change and that can only come from the very top. IMO, as a club, we aren't very high up the league in engaging with schools, colleges, local community, council etc. and we're still suffering from a bit of 'We're a big club" BillyBigTime stuff. For me, we've wasted 2 years and we are in sharp decline. I would be amazed if any former manager would return to the club with its current structure. This is speculation, but I wonder how many of our sacked/left by mutual consent managers departed on good terms with the board. Not many? I bet that if we had fundamental change, the situation could be vastly different and the likes of SP, PH et al would be pleased to return. We can carry on with this managerial merry go round or change. Sadly, there appears to be little appetite from within, and we will remain a laughing stock as we plummet towards football obscurity, and welcome, with respect, St Francis Rangers, Loxwood, Arundel, etc to a near deserted Pilot Field. I don't want to sound over-dramatic, but the future of our beloved club, which everybody on this forum wants to see thrive and prosper, is very much at stake. Our future prospects would appear to be in the hands of those who have failed to build on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the FA Cup run brought, and have overseen the decline mentioned above. The response so far has been to sidestep any criticism around Dom's appointment (of which, as far as I can tell, there wasn't any) by saying it was a panel decision. In the interests of open communication, it would good to hear the views of DW and his fellow directors on 10th, and I hope that there is a level of anticipation amongst the club's representatives that some of the questions may be challenging and somewhat direct.
If we do get relegated and I do say if and I really hope we do not, would we really be playing the likes of St. Francis Rangers etc at the Pilot Field?
Could any Chairman/Directors sustain the repair and running costs of an ageing Pilot Field, on the revenue of a County League team? Maybe for a while, but not long term.
We're not going to the County league, let's be more positive! New manager, new players usually make a difference to other teams, why not to us. Make the right appointments DW and board members.
My first thought on this was why Dom?
You got the 100% support from the club; brought in all the players you want and then reading this:
“I am certain this league is winnable, and with the right players, right fitness, right coaching, right preparation and right training, we could do very well.”
Wow! I'm shocked by Dom's reply. Unhappy from Day 1? He was a week into the job when he stood in front of the fans at the forum and told us all how excited he was and what a great club this was, is he now admitting that he lied to all the fans on that day? I guess we will hear the other side of things at Saturday's forum, should be interesting.
Wow! I'm shocked by Dom's reply. Unhappy from Day 1? He was a week into the job when he stood in front of the fans at the forum and told us all how excited he was and what a great club this was, is he now admitting that he lied to all the fans on that day? I guess we will hear the other side of things at Saturday's forum, should be interesting.
Agree 100% John. Very disappointing this; maybe the task was too big for him. No problem... or maybe the problem of admitting this?
Having read the reply to Dom's comments from the club it seems as if the main bone of contention was the use of the pitch for training. While it is great to have a wonderful pitch to play on if players are not fit what is the point. Surely we will only be successful by having a team who are able to use our facilities to get fit and used to the pitch. Only able to train there every two weeks, maybe, and the club appearing to baulk at the extra cost to get an other training area otherwise. On the subject of fitness was the reducing of the pitch to a smaller size so the players did'nt need to run so far !!
If this continues to be a problem then we may have to find a new home for the youth teams, Do they have to play at the Pilot Field? And does anyone know why the first team cant train at the firs? If Simon could work a bit of his magic on a couple of small areas there is nothing really wrong with the pitch there. I know, because the supporters team train on there in the summer. I remember in the old days the pitch was played on most days and all the local cup finals were on there as well. Pitch was crap but don't remember to many games being postponed, and we played a lot better on it as well.
-- Edited by johnw on Monday 5th of January 2015 02:12:27 PM
For the 21's and 18's teams to play in the ryman leagues they have to play at a ground which has the correct grading and there isn't any other grounds/pitches available around the area that would be good enough, the nearest being Eastbourne.
I've not looked at the firs in a long time the council maintain that area, albeit not very well from what I understand and with all due respect Simon struggles to fit his work and the pitch work in as it is, so I don't think that would be an option.
There were two venues sourced for training yet these were deemed inadequate, surely anything is better than nothing even if you set up some sort of circuit training to get your fitness levels up?
Dom & Browners side's play a very distinct pass & move style that requires understanding of formation, patterns of movement etc. by all players. This can only come from hours of training together. Anybody who deems a sand based astroturf facility to be acceptable in this day & age is extremely naive. What's the point of having the best pitch in the league but not giving the players adequate oportunity to be coached in a style befiiting?! I don't believe you need a £3000 a week budget to prosper in the ryman south if you're given a minimum of 1, ideally 2 sessions per week for a minimum of two hours with at least half a pitch. If we'd given this to Dom & his team then I'm convinced that within 8 weeks we would see a team around the play off zone. On the subject of players, some of the current squad need to look at themselves. Just because you're local doesn't give you a god given right to play, it's your personal responsibility to ensure you're fit enough & dedicated enough to be available for all training & games, if you're not then you're dead wood & better off dropping into County where the commitment is less demanding.
On the FB page Dom has stated that he shouldn't have said that he was unhappy from day 1, but did have problems from day 1.
We have all witnessed our players being less fit than the opposition, and not as well drilled . So training is obviously a massive issue. Apparently Dom had use of the pitch for training once in the last two months.
I am sure that the lack of training & unprofessional attitude of some of the players must have killed him & Ian who put a massive emphasis on the coaching/tactical side of their role.
Like I said previously, it will interesting to hear the other side of things on Saturday. I'm sure there will be some 'spin' put on it but I want to hear both sides before making a judgement. Looking at arguments on both sides, firstly it is clear the training is a major issue not just with management but also with players. I have spoke to a couple of players and an ex manager over the past year and the problem with the astro or hard surfaces is it does not help the older players with their aches and pains and old injuries and can cause real problems with knee injuries. The other side of the argument is that if certain players did have an unprofessional attitude why were they not dropped and players from the u21s brought in? Win, lose or draw I don't believe Dom would have got any stick from fans if he did this and we knew the reasons why. Would also like to know if he felt Jamahl king and Ronnie Dolan were unprofessional and unfit and why they were allowed to leave. I think every supporter would have both back tomorrow.
In my day, we couldn't train on the pitch. So we ran up Elphinstone hill, ran on the beach, ran up and down the stand. We were fit enough...and we were organised and fired up. We didn't play bad football either.
I get the feeling where people ultimately decide to 'place the blame' will have far more to do with their existing perceptions of Dom and DW rather than the revelation of anything too startling in the coming days.
We know there are a good number of supporters who will automatically wish to blame the Chairman for Dom's failure to turn round our fortunes and, while I can sympathise with the training issues, I honestly think in this instance to point the finger at DW is unfair.
My personal thoughts are that the players brought in weren't good enough, there were far, FAR too many changes and the players fitness and/or motivation were lacking.....surely you don't need to look any further than the team manager.
I wish Dom well......he is clearly a decent guy and I'm sure he will do well elsewhere ........ "a sadder but a wiser man" !
from what i read on observer story cant see club can get blame for dom leaving. only blame club canget is got wrong man for job but sure he learn from this and go on to be better manager. look like training was big problem but from story dom told what facilitys was there at start and that pitch can be used 2 times a month. but from see the session after ramsgate was call off i think it was poor very little coaching more just kicking ball about for sake of it so not sure training more would have done much. key thing for me was fitness and number of players and system. overhill make good point re fitness and how how can you get side to win if it different all the time and bert sum it up well when he say “I am certain this league is winnable, and with the right players, right fitness, right coaching, right preparation and right training, we could do very well.”
True, Peter R. What I don't get is why our procession of managers haven't been able to get things right over the last 2 years. Is there something we don't know about?
In reply to John W 's point, I am sure that when Razor was Manager he was visiting local Schools promoting Summer Soccer School's run by the Club. I am sure my Grandson had a leaflet from Hollington School.