 FROM THE ARCHIVES AUGUST 1997 |
|
| ALL THERE IS TO SAY AND KNOW ABOUT WYCOMBE WANDERERS ON THE INTERNET.... | |
|
FROM THE ARCHIVES AUGUST 1997 |
|
| ALL THERE IS TO SAY AND KNOW ABOUT WYCOMBE WANDERERS ON THE INTERNET.... | |
Wycombe
Manager John Gregory kindly took time away from buying the new Oasis album
to attend a Supporters Forum at the Trades and Social Club, High Wycombe.
A turn out of about 70 Wycombe enthusiasts gave the gaffer a good range
of questions that he answered with an open attitude and in an extremely
informal manner. "I carry all your dreams and hopes.. I'm proud
to do that" stated Gregory as he prompted for the first questions
of the evening - incidentally, 2 days before the first win of the season
at Blackpool.
Gregory confirmed
that Wycombe were still looking at non-League players but bemoaned the
inflated prices currently being asked , coupled with the cash problems
at Wycombe. "We've spent £300,000 on 8 players and got back
£160,000" He went on to add that WW were looking at 20-21
year olds in the Football Combination and Pontins League and cited Paul
Read as the perfect example. "Regardless of how may goals he scored
in Arsenal's reserves he would not have got in the First Team"
stressed Gregory and talked of "value for money" from
such deals - Paul Read costing Wycombe an initial £35,000, increasing
to £130,000 if he plays 60 matches. The suggestion of tracking foriegn
players was deemed too expensive by Gregory despite regular contact with
Scandanavian and Australia players. Allegedly players are asking in excess
of £100,000 a year, with Gregory indicating that Jason Van Blerk
had joined Man City on this type of wage.
Gregory talked
of his hopes to sign Nicky Mohan on a permanent basis. Bradford had quoted
£250,000 in the summer but having moved onto a week to week contract,
he hoped for a much reduced price. Mohan has since returned to Bradford
with the asking price thought to be in the region of £150,000. Gregory
added that "I never take the first price - this is well documented
with Keith Scott. That's the way we have to do it..we're not Arsenal".
Talking of
the lack of a Club Captain, Gregory said "I don't feel we need
to have a main Captain" although he went on to state that Jason
Cousins would have been his choice but for his pre-season injury. Since
then Keith Scott and Paul McCarthy have worn the armband but the Manager
admitted "I don't think we have that many leaders in the side -
we haven't got a 'Terry Evans'". Quizzed about whether he regretted
letting Evans go, Gregory responded with "No, I didn't - I had
to try and move the team forward" but acknowledging the respect
for Big Tel, Gregory added "He was the only one I lost sleep about
of the players I let go in the summer" but claimed that "his
best years had gone". Gregory pointed out that he had managed
to sign four young players on the equivalent of Evans' wages "There
was method behind it..I had to look for a younger 'Terry Evans'" .
On his future
at Wycombe, Gregory referred to the average life of a Football Manager
being about 2.7 years - a little longer than a politician. He commented
that "Football is very fashionable..young Chairman come into the
game who have not got that much of an idea about football but they've got
4 or 5 million in their back pocket. I don't think the patience in the
boardroom or on the terrace is the same as it was before."
After
apologisng for the players not coming over to the fans after the game at
Wigan, Gregory said "It won't happen again, I think they were scared
to come over.. It's quite easy to come over when we've won.. it didn't
happen very often last season" He praised the vocal support at
Wigan but went on to say "That's the way you've got to be everyweek,
regardless of the score, especially at home."
Questioned why a number of players were released without Wycombe getting
a fee, Gregory admitted "That's not far wrong". He went
on to explain the situation of offering players a new contract in order
to demand a fee. He joked "I was scared he would have accepted
it" without mentioning names. He concluded with "We just
had to cut our losses" although he was reminded that Matt Lawrence
was sold on for £30,000 having been bought for £10,000 under
Smith. "I hope he doesn't come back to haunt us" said
a cautious Gregory. Moving on to the current squad, Gregory remarked that
the central defence was a problem area "There isn't the competition
there..I would like to double up in every position. We've got it up front
and basically in midfield but obviosuly not at the back"
The obligatory
questions about playing formations, who should play in midfield, why were
certain players being dropped, threatened to turn the evening into an after
hours pub debate - 4-4-2, Flat back fours, Christmas Trees, jumpers for
goalposts.. time to visit the bar and leave the debate for the budding
Andy Gray's in the audience. The evening was resusatated when someone mentioned
Mickey Bell. I think we can safely assume that Gregory wasn't happy with
the outcome of any of the events - all those at the forum got the full
gory story and it really was some shocking stuff (you should have been
there shouldn't you!). Sadly we can't publish it here for fear of legal
action from the western upstarts with a Chairman who used to play the organs
for Bros and the farcical system known as the Football League tribunal.
The Manager
was thanked for his influence on returning the quarters to the first team
strip after last season's fiasco. He went on to assure that the light and
dark blue kit would be worn whenever possible at away matches after a comment
from the floor that the Club had changed unnedessarily in the past.As the
evening drew to a close the Manager was asked if the club could arrange
a pre-season tour - Ireland and the West Country were suggested, presemably
to sample the delights of the country side and quality opposition rather
than one almighty piss-up. After Gregory explained the difficulties of
controlling 'grown men' on tour he said "I'll see what I can do,
if that's what the punters want".
All there is to say and know about Wycombe Wanderers on the Internet
HOME||||INDEX||||ROUGH GUIDE||||NEWS||||REPORTS||||FIXTURES&RESULTS||||INTERACT |