Good morning,
Special thank yous this morning to the people who have helped me since I got here last week.
On Saturday, the Groundsman at late notice done a job for me. Top man!
On Monday, Hannah the Analyst stayed here until 7.30 in the office to show me the set plays of Tranmere Rovers for my training session yesterday morning because I was busy the whole day Monday. She is a top girl!
Kate stayed here going through all my paperwork and organising me until 8.45 on Monday night. Kate is the girl who works in the office. She took my white shirt home and ironed it and brought it back in to work for me to wear last night. She's top girl!
The bus drivers are cool and calm and drive the bus smoothly and calmly. They are top lads!
A girl called Heather at short notice (and I was going to say dropped everything, but I had better not) came up to Tranmere yesterday to do the massages or rubs for the players and is available now for the weekend after I politely insisted she cancel all her Easter plans. She's a top girl!
Carl Muggleton is cool and calm, organised and I never knew him before. He's been a diamond. He's top man!
The Media lads have been patient and made themselves available to fit into my busy schedule, where I have had to prioritise. They are good lads!
The supporters. Lost two games but kept singing and supporting, no negative, useless banter. The turn out last night was amazing. Energy levels and enthusiasm was top quality. This must continue through rain and shine. At home and away it has been top class.
The staff. Have been hit mentally with testing questions and my demands to improve and be unified. I know it's not easy for people when they are on the end of it, but in the long term it will be for their benefit if they can survive it. So far, they have been top lads and lasses.
The players. All turn up on time. Don't feign injury. Playing with injury. Lads left out not sulked. Lads left out worked hard on doing the extra. Injured players not moaning because I have sent them to the oxygen chamber late afternoons. Fit players in all three games and every game training I have been chuffed to bits with their attitude, work ethic and desire. They put their bodies on the line last night and no supporter can ever complain when your players in your shirt are doing this for your club. I have hugged them, shouted at them, threatened them, entertained them, shown them and everyone to a man in that dressing room is "on the bus", if you know what I mean.
Unfortunately I have to make tough decisions and do what I feel has got to be right for this football club. With big decisions I don't take them lightly and do everything in the best interests of the football club. Anything I do is explained to the Chief Exec and the Chairman and I have not been brought here to sit around and just take it easy. We all know that things needed to change and that is not always easy. Members of staff have left and it's not nice, but I wish all three the very best of luck, but I needed to trim the staff and improve it in certain areas.
Yesterday morning I had the hardest job in football. After training I spoke to seven young players upstairs at the ground. I have informed these players that I will now review the decision with regards to their professional contracts and their careers. Budgets have not yet been finalised for next season so it is impossible for me to offer seven professional contracts and I do not even know how much I am going to have to spend on player recruitment for next season for the first team squad. I will fix up games to watch them play. Three of the seven have been called up to train with the first team this morning due to injuries last night and once we are safe I will have a much closer look at these young players and if they are good I will put them in.
All the players are in today for a swimming pool warm down session and all the players apart from the ones going to the oxygen chamber will be at the QMC this afternoon to see people, meet people, less fortunate than ourselves. This was for six players but now it's the lot. I appreciate the kit sponsors changing our lunch next week as the players need to rest physically and mentally after two games this weekend.
I am trying to find somewhere to kip. I don't like these posh hotels. I don't want nothing flash. If you know anyone, it's for me and my dog Monty who is a very good boy. I need somewhere, preferably on the south side of Nottingham to kip, have a bit of food maybe and kind of be a dosser who will keep himself to himself, who works long hours. Very polite and well mannered, friendly, funny, kind, caring, occasionally mad. If anyone can help, please contact the club.
Thank you once again, after what has for sure been a very, very tough week.
Martin.
