Cadiz Manager Rich Marsh this morning took the opportunity thank his playing staff personally for the level of performance that they have show this season to date.
This is our third win on the bounce, we had a rough patch earlier this season but the players have responded fantastically and October has seen us take maximum points while not conceding a single goal, they are to be applauded, we are far exceeding all expectations placed on this club at the start of the season.
The ambition at this club was non existent when I took over, we have a target of finishing in the top 10 of the Segunda this season but the players and I have much bigger targets with this club. We are currently sitting in fourth place with a realistic chance of making the playoffs.
I appreciate that we as a club are probably not ready to make the jump to the Primera just yet, there has been no playing budget to deal in the market and the end of this season will see us lose our entire central defence to retirements. But I see a long, bright and successful future at this club for the players and management alike. I am thoroughly enjoying my time at Cadiz, we are a small club with a winning mentality that will frighten bigger teams and we have been taking scalps all season. We have the potential to become a Primera fixture and I look forward to achieving this no matter how long it takes and enjoying the success when it comes.
I am asking our chairman Senior Vera to match the ambitions of our players, the manager and our incredible fans in digging deep to provide some sort of war chest to really kick on next season and attempt to secure automatic promotion. I appreciate the blood, sweat and tears that he has invested in the club and thank him for that but this team is on the crest of achieving something special and needs the financial support to really push on and secure some young talent. I hope that should Senior Vera not be in a position to do this personally that he look for external support to join the club and board and not let this opportunity slip by.
We are only where we are this season due to some incredible support from some bigger clubs with their loan stars coming to Cadiz, they have all performed fantastically and fit straight into the squad, I now have agreements in place to secure some of these players on a permanent basis but have to raise the cash to do so, this is where I need the support of Senior Vera or new investors.
Xavier Salvado has finally hit out in public against 'money grabbing managers' in a statement that will no doubt stun the Gimnastic fans and put a rift between board and management staff.
"He [Andy Fletcher] asks for £20-30 million! Who does he think I am?! Unlimited money can make a managers job easy but not many clubs can offer him this. He needs to get his head out the clouds and get his hands dirty. We have no time for money grabbers in our club. "
Fletcher started his career at Gimnastic in promising fashion only just missing out on last seasons play-offs but has admitted that since then the teams form has taken a slump. He was linked to a move over to England although nothing has yet come of the speculation, with Newcastle hinting at a revival of form now, and this latest development may edge him one step closer to the door.
Cadiz need to remain realistic
Cadiz chairman Antonio Vera has urged fans and staff alike to remain realistic in their hunt for promotion. The comments were in response to an earlier announcement that manager Richard Marsh was looking for a cash injection to push the club on.
"There are no funds available. We are just a small club and lucky to have some of the players the manager has been able to find. What we can offer a manager like him is the chance to build something out of nothing but there will always be the lure of clubs with money to throw at the team. He just has to realise with money comes pressure. We have never put pressure on him here. "
A brief statement has come as a shock to many in the football world of FA with Liverpool announcing a new manager has agreed to take over come the end of the season. A spokesman for the club read a short statement.
"Liverpool FC would like to announce that it has come to an agreement with a manager to take over following the close of the current season. We hope the fans and players can look forward to a stable future now and much success."
The announcement was unexpected and clearly shows some behind the scenes work by the board at Liverpool after interest in the position went unanswered in the public eye. The manager wasn't named but the bookies favourite at this time is Chris Hanton after his falling out with the Spurs hierarchy.
Spurs boss Chris Hanton was asked by the media today if it was true that he was due to take over at Liverpool at the end of the season, The White Hart Lane boss said " I have had no contact with Liverpool so I guess im not there man, they must of had an idea of who they wanted and I wish there new manager all the best"
This news will surely be big news at White Hart Lane as Hanton has made it no secret of his unhappiness at the club and we will have to wait and see what happens next.
Mr Price losing by one penalty in the competition you wanted to win so much must hurt?
"I can't tell you how sad I am tonight. Everyone in that stadium saw us dominate the match and they pegged us back twice at the end to deny us. I really think the team here can challenge Chelsea. Last season Chelsea were the only team that beat us in the european cup and I thought we had a great chance this season"
What went wrong?
"I don't know. We will sit down with the match tapes but sometimes things just don't work out. I have to target the last two competitions now to try to leave Sevilla with two more trophies I'm just upset the one I really wanted has been taken away"
Can Real Madrid challenge you in the league?
"The new manager has done well with his changes. I hope he can represent Spain in the european cup now and do us all proud. I don't see them as a threat in the league. They have to beat us to stand a chance of closing the 6 pts gap and tonight showed if they get very lucky they can draw with us in normal time. Over a season that isn't enough"
Thanks
Stu
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Trophy Cabinet
2x La Liga trophy // Sevilla 2x Spanish cup // Sevilla 1x Premiership trophy // Man City 2x English cup // Man City 2x European Cup // Man City 1x Segunda trophy // Valencia
Gimnastic manager Andy Fletcher this morning was not present on the training pitch at "nastics" headquarters. Instead, Fletcher met Chairman Salvado at a nearby hotel.
Fletcher said little to the waiting press but his close confident James Little read a prepared speech.
" My comments regarding cash funding at Gimnastic were meant as a reminder to everyone that if they are happy to stay in the Segunda then fine, thats OK. However, if the club and its fans, and its Chairman want to play football in the top division anytime soon, and get the rewards and opportunities at that level then a strenghtening of squad will be required. "
" Last season we didn't make it due to no strength in depth and missing that vital bit of quality in 2 or 3 positions"
Real Betis manager Dale Price took time out of training today to speak to El Goala
Mr Price you have two very tough weeks coming up that could make or break your season how do you see them?
Yes they are massive for our club and 6 points is a must they are two teams that are just above us hopefully we will be out of the drop zone soon.
There has been talk that you are going to play a team that you have never played before this week is there any truth in that?
Yes there is some truth without giving anything away we aim to pack the defence and catch them while they attack hopefully it will work and we can get the win. Would you like to comment on the incident involving you and another manager that we have heard about over the last two weeks?
Once again I cant say too much but promises were made and not kept on a deal and hopefully it has been taking care of now I would hate to have to take the matter to the fa court.
What is your take on news that up to 15 managers have agreed moves to new clubs for the start of next season?
I think its crazy to be honest, There are managers leaving for clubs that on the outside look far worse than the clubs they are leaving. It will be an interesting time though. Have you been contacted by any clubs Mr Price?
Yes there has been a couple of clubs after me but I told my chairman Jose Gomez that I am not interested in a move to a new club. I hope the fans will get behind the team and carry on with the great support that they have given us this season even though we havent been able to match that on the field.
When you met with Jose Gomez was there any talk of money being given to the club for the start of the season?
Yes we did talk on the matter I have asked for around the area of 5m to be pumped in to the club either now or at the start of the season I feel we are only about 1 or 2 players away from having a side that can compete at this level.
Thank you for your time Mr Price and good luck for the rest of the season
Thank you
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Norwich City 1-2 Real Betis 3 Real Murcia 4 Sunderland 4-6 Recreativo 7-8 Atalanta 8-
Jonathan Petty speaks out about the remainder of the season and job offers.
"Its a tough run in but I think its possible, there must not be anymore slip ups like in the past, we have a cracking CM coming in for the remainder of the season who will slot in nicely and we're looking to bring in another 1 or 2 players for the final push"
"I'm not going to say too much about job offers to be honest as i'm settled here at Sunderland and I want to finish the job i've started."
"As you'll see i've gone for talented playesr, i've brought in likes of Zabaleta, Maldonado, Aquilani (loan at Man City) who I can't wait to see back at the club after a succesfully spell so far with my good friend Luke at Man City, who else would you like to bring on your players than him! We still have centre halfs Coda and Luis who we got from Wolves and loaned him back there. Wingers Wallace and now Chrissy Brunt who's just come in from Vigo. Then we have up front Chops banging them in and Shiba a youngster knocking on the door already at 20. The futures bright at the stadium of light!"
Crystal Palace Manager Chris Gale has come out and slated the underhand actions of Cadiz Manager Rich Marsh.
"Rich and I had a deal in place for last week but due to an administration error on Cadiz's part the deal did not go through. Assuming that Rich was a man of his word and a man with morals I was ready to forgive his obvious oversight and do the deal again this week. But now it appears he has decided to reign on his deal with what he has described as a 'better offer' "
Gale continiued with his tyrade -
"I had heard rumours about Marsh and how he had dealt with people in the past, but I am the sort of person who makes up his own mind about people. My mind is now made up Rich Marsh is a despicable person who would probably sell his Grandmother, as long as the deal suited him. I hope for the sake of his league he misses out on the playoffs and that his Chariman see's the light of day soon"
"I will continue to focus on Palace and will forget that this incident ever happened, I have said all I wanted to now"
Pressed on the strong comments from Crystal Palace boss Chris Gale, ice cool manager Rich Marsh agrees that while an agreement was in place a stronger offer from another club turned his head. "These things happen in soccer, what can I say?"
Of course, had I not messed up my paperwork the deal would have been finalised last week but unfortunately an oversight on my part gave me the freedom to look at other options this week.
Youth always plays a part in my thinking and this new deal gave me the opportunity to sign someone for the medium term rather than ultimately for one season.
Concerning the Grandmother comments, "that was a rough time, I was led to believe that I'd secured a world class striker in return." Obviously, I don't want to annoy any of my fellow managers and I will obviously be apologising in person next time we meet. Now is the time to concentrate on football and move on.
