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The daily email newsletter serving York City fans since 1997
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Submit your views for publication by emailing the editor here.
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Keith Gough (Driffield)
Keith Gough, Driffield
The assertion by Grahame Hicks (TOOAB, Issue 009)) that sacking Sam Collins will not help York City surprises me.
Sam’s heart like Grahame’s is in the right place but Sam was just not up to the job.
If a general keeps losing battles you don’t keep him or you won’t win the war and if you lose battles to much smaller armies like Curzon Ashton it is less than likely you will even get close to winning the war.
I would agree that if the board of directors keep appointing bad managers then changing the manager will not make any difference.
The answer may be changing the board of directors including the chairman but when Jason put his shares up for sale no one wanted to know so it is plain and simple.
After a period of time if a manager seldom wins football matches even against clubs much smaller than his own and if he takes them to the lowest point in the football pyramid that they have ever been (in my lifetime anyway and I’m 76) then you have to dismiss him.
The same goes for any manager who after several months takes us down the league instead of up.
You have to keep dismissing them until you get someone who is taking the club in an upward direction. It’s not rocket science is it?
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John English (Beverley)
I have usually found Andrew Leathley's contributions very balanced and
fair and interesting reading. However, Andrew, (TOOAB Issue 008), a number of the comments about what I have said in the past are not correct.
Firstly, I absolutely acknowledged that Jason McGill had signed some truly shocking managers. I also commented how completely useless the entire current squad of players is and personally, I would get rid of the entire squad except Bartlett if that was remotely possible.
I also said that I would prefer it if the club was run by a syndicate and not by one man whoever that might be.
I do not live in York and do not know about the daily happenings at the club and would be staggered if there was not anger in view of our current position in the 6th tier of English football.
Hence most of your comments come as no surprise to me whatsoever.
Do you seriously think I am any happier about the current situation than other contributors? I assure you I am not.
Jason McGill did not sign any of our players as far as I am aware and was let down by bad managers. Good managers appoint the right players and then they must train them well if success is to be achieved.
When I set up my own business 20 years ago I had in excess of £100,000 equity in my house and the 2 banks where I had accounts would not even lend me £5,000 to buy computer equipment etc.
Whether or not there is equity in Bootham Crescent banks will not keep lending money in the hope that someone will pay the money back one day.
They never lent me a penny and Jason still has to fund the club at considerable cost to himself which no one else involved with the club has the slightest chance of doing.
It takes serious money to pay the wages bill of 20 or more players plus managers, physios etc.
If it was possible a solution would have been found before now.
I am a life member of York City Supporters Trust which cost me, from
memory, £100 but it was a long time ago and I may have made a mistake but it was not very much.
Hardly going to make a jot of difference to the finances of York City. We no longer receive the same, if any financial assistance from the football League.
Jason has made mistakes but has kept us afloat and he will not get his money back from BC if he was to sell it today.
I may not know much about football but please believe me I know a lot about residential land values.
Malcolm Long who lives in Australia in the past made comments about how BC was now worth double what it was since JM took control was laughable.
For Malcolm's benefit, residential property values in many parts of the UK today are very similar to the prices achieved in 2006. The property market crashed at the end of 2007/beginning of 2008 and since then this country has been in the biggest recession since the 1930's in case you had not noticed.
Values did not start to pick up until 2015. They are rising now and this may or may not continue. If they continue at some time in the future
Jason might get his money back and maybe more.
Who knows but without him the club would now be part-time and probably in Division 9 or 10 in the pyramid getting defeated by Pocklington Town!
I will not respond to some of the other insulting comments and will let the intelligent contributors decide who they think is telling the truth.
We need investors with money and when we have a better product to sell ie with a new Stadium then this will greatly increase the chances of the club finding a genuine benefactor or group of investors.
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Chris Crowcroft (Ludlow)
Malcolm Long makes an important point (TOOAB, Issue 009), that good managers get the best out of their players even if that means ‘turning them round.’
Sadly, recent managers have criticised their players in public and treated selection like a theatrical audition process, who’s in, who’s out etc like a political roundabout.
From the ratings, we know that there are good enough players there, with a bit of stiffening.
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Possible York City target Neil Redfearn linked with Carlisle job
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By Dave Flett
FORMER Leeds United boss Neil Redfearn – one of the names being linked with the York City managerial job – is believed to be in talks with Carlisle about their vacant position.
Redfearn – an ex-City caretaker manager - is a 16-1 shot for the role at Bootham Crescent with BetVictor but, according to The Press sources, is under consideration for the top job at the League Two Cumbrians, who parted company with John Sheridan last week.
Redfearn, 53, below, left Newcastle United in November after a brief spell as their under-23s’ assistant-boss – a job he took on after leaving Liverpool Women in September following just two games in charge of the Merseysiders.
He had moved to Liverpool after six months at Doncaster Rovers Belles’ helm, with the ex-Barnsley, Charlton and Bradford City Premier League midfielder having not managed in the men’s game since being sacked by then Championship club Rotherham just under three years ago.
Redfearn cut his managerial teeth during two caretaker spells with Halifax Town in 2001 and 2002.
Stints in charge of Scarborough and Northwich followed before he was appointed youth-team coach at Bootham Crescent under Colin Walker.
After Walker’s sacking and prior to Martin Foyle’s appointment as his successor, Redfearn went on to take temporary charge of the Minstermen for one match – a 2-2 home draw with Crawley in November 2008.
He was subsequently installed as Foyle’s assistant, only to leave a month later to manage Leeds’ academy.
At the sleeping Elland Road giants, Redfearn was placed in caretaker charge of first-team affairs on three separate occasions between 2012 and 2014, following the departures of Simon Grayson, Neil Warnock and Dave Hockaday.
After Darko Milanic lasted just 32 days at the helm, he was then given the job on a full-time basis in October 2014, but he was replaced by Uwe Rosler at the end of the season despite staving off the threat of relegation.
Redfearn went on to become the manager at Championship rivals Rotherham in October 2015 but, after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal, was dismissed four months later with the Millers third-bottom in the table.
City are understood to be currently interviewing potential candidates to replace Sam Collins, who was relieved of his duties after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Curzon Ashton – the club’s seventh straight away league loss and tenth from the last 16 games in all competitions.
Collins succeeded Martin Gray in August just five games into the National League North campaign.
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City hope to name new boss before big trip to Stockport
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By Sam Elliott
York City aim to have their new manager in place by the next time they play.
The Minstermen travel to Stockport County on January 19 - their next National League North fixture with the side without a game this weekend.
York are looking for a new boss having parted with Sam Collins on Saturday night.
City are well off the play-off pace after a poor season which has seen the club stranded in the lower half of the table.
Dave Penney is in caretaker charge but if all goes to plan he will not have to take control of a game.
Managing director Steve Kilmartin has given an interview to the York Press and he says fans can be excited about the calibre of men throwing their hat into the ring.
“There are already a number of applications and there are some very credible applications," Kilmartin said.
"We have had a considerable flurry of people interested in this position because of it being York City, which in many ways is extremely reassuring.
"We are preparing a list with the intention of interviewing some of these people later in the week.
"Things are moving forward quickly. There are names in there that would be well-received by the fan base, by people who do follow football."
Kilmartin added: "We have Stockport a week on Saturday and we would like to make an appointment before then if possible.”
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City U19s edged out at South Shields
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By Ian Appleyard
Two late goals denied City's Under-19s a fourth consecutive victory on Wednesday afternoon against South Shields in the National League U19 Alliance (kick-off 1pm).
Tim Ryan's side enjoyed a 100 per cent record in December - beating FC Halifax Town and Carlisle United in the league and Romulus FC in the League Cup.
They were leading 1-0 this afternoon, courtesy of a goal from Will Jackson, but conceded twice in the final 15 minutes to lose 2-1.
The game took place at the Silksworth Sports Complex in Sunderland.
Citys next game is at home to Chester next Wednesday in the League Cup quarterfinals.
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Please check the club's official website before planning travel.
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Pre-season fixtures:
July
Sat 7: Shildon 1, York City 2
Tue 10: York City 1, Barnsley 7
Sat 14: York City 1, Bradford City 0
Thu 19: York City 1, Leeds United 1
Fri 27: Ilkeston Town 1, York City 6
Vanarama National League (North) fixtures unless otherwise stated:
August
Sat, Aug 4 Chorley 1, York City 0
Tue, Aug 7 York City 1, Stockport County 0
Sat, Aug 11 York City 1, Alfreton Town 2
Tue, Aug 14 Ashton United 0, York City 2
Sat, Aug 18 York City 1, Curzon Ashton 1
Sat, Aug 25 Brackley Town 0, York City 0
Mon, Aug 27 York City 2, Blyth Spartans 0
September
Sat, Sep 1 Hereford 1, York City 1
Sat, Sep 15 York City 0, Kidderminster Harriers 3
Sat, Sep 22 York City 5, Ashton Athletic 0 (Emirates FA Cup 2Q)
Sat, Sep 29 York City 4, Guiseley 2
October
Tue, Oct 2 Nuneaton Borough 2, York City 2
Sat, Oct 6 York City 3, St Ives Town 0 (Emirates FA Cup 3Q)
Sat, Oct 13 Southport 1, York City 2
Sat, Oct 20 Blyth Spartans 0, York City 1 (Emirates FA Cup 4Q)
Sat, Oct 27 AFC Telford United 2. York City 1
Tue, Oct 30 Spennymoor Town 3, York City 0
November
Sat, Nov 3 York City 1, Bradford Park Avenue 4
Sat Nov 10 Swindon Town 2, York City 1 (Emirates FA Cup 1)
Tue, Nov 13 York City 0, Chester 0
Sat, Nov 17 Altrincham 3, York City 0)
Sat, Nov 24 Kidderminster Harriers 1, York City 3 (Buildbase FA Trophy 3Q)
December
Sat, Dec 1 York City 2, FC United Of Manchester 0
Tue, Dec 4 York City 2, Leamington 2
Sat, Dec 8 Boston United 2, York City 0
Sat, Dec 15 Harrogate Town 2, York City 1 (Buildbase FA Trophy 1)
Sat Dec 22 York City 2, Brackley Town 1
Wed, Dec 26 Darlington 5, York City 1
Sat, Dec 29 Blyth Spartans 2, York City 1
January
Tue, Jan 1 York City 4, Darlington 0
Sat, Jan 5 Curzon Ashton 1, York City 0
Sat, Jan 19 Stockport County (A)
Sat, Jan 26 Chorley (H)
February
Sat, Feb 2 Alfreton Town (A)
Tue, Feb 5 Hereford (H)
Sat Feb 9 Ashton United (H)
Sat, Feb 16 Kidderminster Harriers (A)
Sat Feb 23 Nuneaton Borough (H)
March
Sat Mar 2 Leamington (A)
Sat Mar 9 Altrincham (H)
Sat, Mar 16 FC United Of Manchester (A)
Sat, Mar 23 Boston United (H)
Sat Mar 30 Guiseley (A)
April
Sat, Apr 6 Southport (H)
Sat Apr 13 Chester (A)
Fri, Apr 19 Spennymoor Town (H)
Mon, Apr 22 Bradford Park Avenue (A)
Sat, Apr 27 AFC Telford United (H)
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There’s Only One Arthur Bottom was first published as an almost-daily email newsletter in July 1997 and has been distributed continuously since. Subscriber numbers peaked at more than 1,100 when the club’s future was threatened by potential closure in 2001 but more than 800 subscribers, living in more than 30 countries, will receive this edition. Editor Josh Easby started the newsletter from New Zealand (where he lives today) but has variously produced and distributed it from the United Kingdom, Australia and (briefly) Italy.
Over the years, TOOAB subscribers have variously supported the club in many different ways, using the newsletter at times to share ideas that have helped the club and to raise money which has been used to buy much-needed equipment (for the physio room), sponsor members of the youth team and to sponsor senior players’ kit. Subscribers (who often call themselves ‘Arthurites’) often meet up for pre-match/post-match drinks and have arranged functions together.
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The opinions expressed in There's Only One Arthur Bottom do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher, nor is this newsletter endorsed in any way by York City Football Club. Wherever possible, the contributions by subscribers are published unaltered. However submissions will be rejected or amended if they are potentially defamatory or contain language likely to offend other subscribers. Unless good reasons are given, anonymous submissions are rejected. The publisher reserves the right to reproduce contributions to this newsletter on any website associated with the newsletter.
www.tooab.com
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