Ramrod
Reserve Grader
(I understand some of you may not agree with me but the following is just my personal opinion).
Our roller coaster year of Highs and Lows. A latin quote sums this moment: “Bis interimitur qui suis armis perit†(he is doubly destroyed who perishes by his own arms).
First of all, a note to our Rex:
Dear Moose,
- Sorry you’ve missed out on another Grand Final win. You’d have been real proud.
- Glad you didn’t see the mess a few days later. You’d be awfully sad and flabbergasted.
- Ave atque vale!
1). Was Graham Lowe’s departure the beginning of the domino effect?
No. Other factors have been brewing for quite awhile, Graham’s retirement did bring David Perry to Manly. Was Perry simply a trigger for whoever is using him (re: Zorba) or whether he acted on his own accord is an unknown at this stage.
2). Was Zorba pushed out due to Sort-gate?
No, it was just a feeble excuse that a couple of board members were waiting for. Zorba’s power within the organization meant that he was too great a threat to whoever wanted much say over the running of the football club. Interference and interruptions won’t have gone down well with Des, who is very much an autocrat.
The idea to remove Zorba was a way to remove the wall that Des built. When Zorba was ousted, there went the buffer between Des and the board.
3). Is Hoppa’s defection a great loss?
Not really. Poster boy Will is a good player with good propects, but he’s a mercenary, I mean, missionary. He’ll be away for 2 years and anything can happen in between. His whole family has defected as well. I suggest the whole Hopoate clan should not waste money on travel by moving out to the beautiful Parramatta district. They’ll love it there.
4). Is Des’ imminent departure the greatest tragedy at Manly?
Quite possibly. It’s not our first disaster and won’t be our last. However, I was looking forward to continued successes and long term stability. This has really rocked the leaky boat. Very sad indeed.
5). Is Des leaving because he has done it all at Manly and now requires a new challenge?
No way. If he was really after a challenge, he would taken on this mountainous task – by being the first coach to win 20 premierships for Manly and be a true living Northern Beaches deity!
6). Is Des leaving as a result of more money offered elsewhere?
No. Manly’s offer was higher – Des said “Whilst it would have been financially advantageous for me to stay at the Manly club, I have elected to take up the challenge of building in a new direction…†He’s beyond angry.
7). What made Des decide to leave Manly?
The reasons:
a). Stalling his re-appointment for months.
b). Inteference and conflicts with certain non-football background board member(s)?
c). Des said – “Despite my ongoing discussions with the board for over 12 months regarding a new contract with the Manly club, we simply could not align our future thoughts.â€
d). Removal of Grant Mayer? - Not sure if this was an early fracture in the relationship with the board?
e). Removal of much loved (by players, staff and sponsors), Zorba. To quote Des after Perry announced it during the Finals: “It's been a pretty tough nine days, like in most sports and most skills, timing is everything. It was almost impeccable, wasn't it?†This might have been the final straw.
8). What will come of 2011 and who should be the next in line coach?
I hope Des will leave a solid foundation for the next in line coach.
Hopefully, if Des is kind to Manly fans (we can only pray), he won’t take all that he built here, tear it down and take it elsewhere (this includes the coaching and recruitment staff).
My fear is that every club will want to raid our playing ranks whilst we’re vunerable.
I hope Tooves will be our next coach. We have a history of success with ex-Manly players. Tooves was a Manly captain and he knows how to lead.
9). Message to Des:
“Cave canem, te necet lingendo†(Latin for - beware of the dog, he may lick you to death).
10). Where to for Zorba?
I hope Zorba will run for board elections and kick some ass. Zorba is Manly through and through. Unlike others, Zorba won’t be caught dead in another club’s colours. He also refused to criticize the board or the club. What a man. For this, I have a great admiration for him, as I am also one unable to shed this Maroon and White.
We need more loyal ex-Manly players to come back and kick some ass. Ian Thomson? Anyone?
11). Where to for fans?
There should be no talk of desertion. The club needs us NOW more than ever.
People come and go, the club stays forever.
Just a few years from now, the board may not even have the same faces.
The best thing for fans is to continue backing our team and maintain our success.
12). Time of gloat for the Manly haters?
Continue your stauch support for Manly and take Moose’s words of wisdom – “Don't let the bastards know you're hurtâ€. Won’t it annoy them even more if we continue to win despite all these crap?
13). Is supporting the club seen as endorsing those responsible for this debacle?
None at all. Use your membership numbers to unseat those responsible for all the mess. We would love to know who they are. Right now, it’s only speculation. We are NOT a lynch mob. We have to be certain so that there’ll be no innocent victims as we have to vote correctly.
However, I believe Scott Penn is looking at making changes to limit trouble from a couple of board members. He said “It's no secret that the constitution of the Sea Eagles doesn't necessarily reflect the shareholding as it stands. That does create some challenges and that's something we are attempting to resolve … It's a director and shareholder issue. That's something all the shareholders are talking about.''
14). Where to for me?
At one of the most stressful time in 30 years as a passionate fan, I will always stick with the club (nothing to do with the board). Sporting Loyalty should have no price, no individuals, no question of reasoning and no self. This army bleeds Maroon and White.
My analogy – “If Australia is being run by dumbass politicians, I don’t jump ship and call myself a Kiwi or something else.†This is the same at Manly. If I don’t get along with the board, I still couldn’t and I won’t change emblem and colours.
I’m not like others. I can never wear another club’s emblem. So there!
GO MANLY!
15). SHOULD WE KEEP DES UNTIL END OF 2012?
I will say yes. I think he should help us out as much as possible. When the dust clears, some may think clearer and may not follow him through the door.
To the club, please keep Des until end of 2012!
Our roller coaster year of Highs and Lows. A latin quote sums this moment: “Bis interimitur qui suis armis perit†(he is doubly destroyed who perishes by his own arms).
First of all, a note to our Rex:
Dear Moose,
- Sorry you’ve missed out on another Grand Final win. You’d have been real proud.
- Glad you didn’t see the mess a few days later. You’d be awfully sad and flabbergasted.
- Ave atque vale!
1). Was Graham Lowe’s departure the beginning of the domino effect?
No. Other factors have been brewing for quite awhile, Graham’s retirement did bring David Perry to Manly. Was Perry simply a trigger for whoever is using him (re: Zorba) or whether he acted on his own accord is an unknown at this stage.
2). Was Zorba pushed out due to Sort-gate?
No, it was just a feeble excuse that a couple of board members were waiting for. Zorba’s power within the organization meant that he was too great a threat to whoever wanted much say over the running of the football club. Interference and interruptions won’t have gone down well with Des, who is very much an autocrat.
The idea to remove Zorba was a way to remove the wall that Des built. When Zorba was ousted, there went the buffer between Des and the board.
3). Is Hoppa’s defection a great loss?
Not really. Poster boy Will is a good player with good propects, but he’s a mercenary, I mean, missionary. He’ll be away for 2 years and anything can happen in between. His whole family has defected as well. I suggest the whole Hopoate clan should not waste money on travel by moving out to the beautiful Parramatta district. They’ll love it there.
4). Is Des’ imminent departure the greatest tragedy at Manly?
Quite possibly. It’s not our first disaster and won’t be our last. However, I was looking forward to continued successes and long term stability. This has really rocked the leaky boat. Very sad indeed.
5). Is Des leaving because he has done it all at Manly and now requires a new challenge?
No way. If he was really after a challenge, he would taken on this mountainous task – by being the first coach to win 20 premierships for Manly and be a true living Northern Beaches deity!
6). Is Des leaving as a result of more money offered elsewhere?
No. Manly’s offer was higher – Des said “Whilst it would have been financially advantageous for me to stay at the Manly club, I have elected to take up the challenge of building in a new direction…†He’s beyond angry.
7). What made Des decide to leave Manly?
The reasons:
a). Stalling his re-appointment for months.
b). Inteference and conflicts with certain non-football background board member(s)?
c). Des said – “Despite my ongoing discussions with the board for over 12 months regarding a new contract with the Manly club, we simply could not align our future thoughts.â€
d). Removal of Grant Mayer? - Not sure if this was an early fracture in the relationship with the board?
e). Removal of much loved (by players, staff and sponsors), Zorba. To quote Des after Perry announced it during the Finals: “It's been a pretty tough nine days, like in most sports and most skills, timing is everything. It was almost impeccable, wasn't it?†This might have been the final straw.
8). What will come of 2011 and who should be the next in line coach?
I hope Des will leave a solid foundation for the next in line coach.
Hopefully, if Des is kind to Manly fans (we can only pray), he won’t take all that he built here, tear it down and take it elsewhere (this includes the coaching and recruitment staff).
My fear is that every club will want to raid our playing ranks whilst we’re vunerable.
I hope Tooves will be our next coach. We have a history of success with ex-Manly players. Tooves was a Manly captain and he knows how to lead.
9). Message to Des:
“Cave canem, te necet lingendo†(Latin for - beware of the dog, he may lick you to death).
10). Where to for Zorba?
I hope Zorba will run for board elections and kick some ass. Zorba is Manly through and through. Unlike others, Zorba won’t be caught dead in another club’s colours. He also refused to criticize the board or the club. What a man. For this, I have a great admiration for him, as I am also one unable to shed this Maroon and White.
We need more loyal ex-Manly players to come back and kick some ass. Ian Thomson? Anyone?
11). Where to for fans?
There should be no talk of desertion. The club needs us NOW more than ever.
People come and go, the club stays forever.
Just a few years from now, the board may not even have the same faces.
The best thing for fans is to continue backing our team and maintain our success.
12). Time of gloat for the Manly haters?
Continue your stauch support for Manly and take Moose’s words of wisdom – “Don't let the bastards know you're hurtâ€. Won’t it annoy them even more if we continue to win despite all these crap?
13). Is supporting the club seen as endorsing those responsible for this debacle?
None at all. Use your membership numbers to unseat those responsible for all the mess. We would love to know who they are. Right now, it’s only speculation. We are NOT a lynch mob. We have to be certain so that there’ll be no innocent victims as we have to vote correctly.
However, I believe Scott Penn is looking at making changes to limit trouble from a couple of board members. He said “It's no secret that the constitution of the Sea Eagles doesn't necessarily reflect the shareholding as it stands. That does create some challenges and that's something we are attempting to resolve … It's a director and shareholder issue. That's something all the shareholders are talking about.''
14). Where to for me?
At one of the most stressful time in 30 years as a passionate fan, I will always stick with the club (nothing to do with the board). Sporting Loyalty should have no price, no individuals, no question of reasoning and no self. This army bleeds Maroon and White.
My analogy – “If Australia is being run by dumbass politicians, I don’t jump ship and call myself a Kiwi or something else.†This is the same at Manly. If I don’t get along with the board, I still couldn’t and I won’t change emblem and colours.
I’m not like others. I can never wear another club’s emblem. So there!
GO MANLY!
15). SHOULD WE KEEP DES UNTIL END OF 2012?
I will say yes. I think he should help us out as much as possible. When the dust clears, some may think clearer and may not follow him through the door.
To the club, please keep Des until end of 2012!