Interesting comments from GS regarding Graeme Jones:

Says that plan was for GJ to stay until the end of the season at least.

But said usual end of season “review period“ was moved back to current break in fixtures.

Explains this period is used to “restructure” if they wish.

Crucially, says departure was made “PARTIALLY” because it was a review period, and “ALSO for financial reasons”.

So does this imply that Graeme Jones did indeed leave for footballing reasons, and not purely in response to the immediate costs of the pandemic?

However also says NJ wouldn’t have joined if it “[increased] the liabilities of the club right now”.

So appointing NJ is cheaper than keeping GJ and his backroom staff.

But then the questions of: why didn’t GJ and staff take a pay cut or deferral, as the players now have?

Or, why wasn’t the size of the backroom staff reduced? Or both of those things together.

From the outside, it now looks as if GJ did indeed depart for footballing reasons, which is strange considering the improvement we’d shown in both performances and results.

I think GJ deserved to see out the season.

Regardless, I’m fully behind NJ. He’s a brilliant manager and it seems that old wounds have been patched up between him and the board.

He knows the squad and is in the best position to get immediate results.

Up the Town