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MANAGERS HIT BACK AT CHAIRMEN PMF managers set to revolt The PMF managerial community was outraged yesterday, after hearing of the chairman's meeting that took place on Tuesday without their knowledge. A number of PMF chairmen held a meeting on Tuesday in a bid to put a stop to a number of transfers they believe are due to take place on October 13th, totally spiralling out of control in what many are calling Transfer D-Day. October 13th is the day when the PMF transfer embargo is officially lifted and the expected rush of transfer activity will begin. But PMF Chairmen are so concerned that transfers will spiral out of control that they have taken matters into their own hands by promising to put a stop to unnecessary transfers. Many managers were angered yesterday as all around the country chairmen called managers into their office to hold crisis talks and discuss future plans for their clubs. Newcastle United manager Sigfried Moeri was the first to voice his disgust yesterday afternoon by saying, "To be frank with you this has nothing to do with my board. Obviously they want the best for the club as we all do, but at the same time by appointing me manager they have conventionally handed over the rights to decide who comes and goes to me" "I understand that the board would want to reject any deal which isn't in the best interests of the club but if I genuinely made such a transfer I don't think I would be the right man for the job. Should the board veto any transfer I shall consider it a personal insult and an implication of failure." The outspoken Newcastle manager also criticised the PMF Board by saying, "Naturally they should be concerned about this. However I think they have to look at this sensibly. If they start to stop people making 6 or 7 transfers in a pre season then there is something wrong. By all means stop the people who are making 14 of them or whatever, but all I ask is for people to keep this in perspective." "If we take Newcastle for example, its all very well saying that we should spread our transfers over a season, but to be honest I can't see the point in making a big signing as we are on the verge of relegation. Newcastle have a tough season ahead and they need improvement, either let me make those improvements, or revert to insanity." PMF Chairman Kevin Porter hit back though, by saying, "We have never said that we are going to stop managers making transfers, that is entirely up to club chairmen. In fact we have not even made an official comment on Tuesday's meeting, so I'm not sure why Sigfried Moeri is criticising us." "A spokesman for the PMF gave an opinion to the press immediately after the meeting I believe, but that's all it was, an opinion. We have discussed the matter in private and it's true to say that we do believe that some managers should show more caution before dipping into the transfer market. But that certainly doesn't mean to say that we will be putting a block on transfers, Only club chairmen have the power to do that." Moeri was not the only manager to blast the PMF board yesterday. Ipswich Town manager Jaz Henry said, "I cannot believe such events are taking place. For a team like Ipswich Town it is my job to bring the club success. I have already taken certain steps to doing that by bringing in new players. I know the PMF Board may have an overload of transfers to deal with but I have brought in the players I feel will improve the squad.",
Henri also went on to claim
that the move would favour the bigger clubs, "Teams like Manchester United
and Arsenal already have quality squads. Teams like Ipswich Town have to
bring in new players to improve. Cancelling transfers will surely show
favouritism to the bigger clubs in the league. I am seriously worried that a
number of the transfer deals we have Porter answered Henry's comments by saying, "Again, all I can say is that we have never said that we will put a stop to any transfers. It seems to me that some managers have either gotten the wrong end of the stick as to what was discussed in our meeting, or that they are commenting without knowing the full facts. Dr Olivier Cadin and myself were only at the meeting as witnesses, we listened to what the chairmen had to say but we had no input whatsoever." "In regards to us favouring bigger clubs, that is ridiculous. If a club chairman decides to put a block on a certain transfer, then surely he is doing so in the best interest of the club. It is nothing to do with us how a chairman wants to run his own club. To be honest, I cannot see many chairmen going against their managers wishes to buy or sell players, I think they are mainly concerned with managers bringing in too many new faces at once and disrupting the tight knit unit of a squad." Henry had an amazing turn around late last night though when he said that he would put a stop to any future transfers for the foreseeable future. Porter was unavailable to comment on the late announcement but a spokesman for the PMF Board said, "I think Jaz Henry is under the impression that we are going to put a stop to his future transfers, this is just not true. If he feels that signing a player is in the best interest of the club then I'm sure that his chairman will back his decision." Other top managers added to the debate yesterday as the situation threatened to get out of hand. Normally mild mannered Arsenal manager, Ani Palat fumed, "I don't like anyone, and when I say anyone, I mean ANYONE interfering with my job. I know what I am doing and that was the understanding that we had when I took the post. Whatever I do, will be in the best interest of the club, I am the clubs biggest fan. The success I've had elsewhere was because of the fact that we all knew what our roles were, and we did our best, and so expect the same!" New Southampton manager Paul Malarky said, "I for one believe that the blocking of transfers is unfair and should not happen. As manager of Southampton I would be most aggrieved if a deal I had done was blocked by the PMF Board or my chairman. Managers should be able to run their clubs as they wish. If this means taking risks in the transfer market, so be it. I think the PMF need to think carefully about any decision it makes with regards to transfers, and how it will affect the clubs and managers" Dr Olivier Cadin, commenting for the first time since Tuesday's meeting said, "Managers are panicking over something that may not even effect the day to day running of their clubs. Chairmen have had a say in transfers since football began, this is no major drama. How many times in the past have we seen chairmen block a transfer due to lack of funds or because he feels that the signing would not benefit the club? I think managers are over reacting slightly. Whatever happens on October 13th, it is clear to see that managers around the country are extremely concerned by the events of Tuesday's meeting. Will chairmen lay down the law once the transfer embargo is lifted? It seems for now that many are determined to put a stop to the days when a player was sold 3 or 4 times in one season. England manager Buck Hysen called for calm yesterday when he said, "I can understand managers concerns but I can also see where the chairmen are coming from. No chairman wants to see 8 or 9 players being signed in one or two days, nor do they want to see the same amount of players leaving the club. This just wipes away any unity that a club may have. Chairmen also do not want to see managers selling a player just a few weeks after he has paid several million for him." "Managers are unnecessarily blaming the PMF Board for Tuesday's meeting and I think they should be concentrating more on their own chairmen and clubs. Most managers in the game today would not be here if their chairmen didn't think they could do the job. As long as managers use a little common sense and stick to doing what they are very good at, then I see no reason why chairmen would want to block any transfers." The argument may rage on into the new season as managers wait to see what effect Tuesday's meeting will have on them and their clubs. October 13th is set to become one of the most important days in PMF's first season calendar. Will chairmen make a dramatic effect on how transfers are conducted in PMF? We will have to wait and see.
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