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what are mathers' version of events?

I think its a case of both tales really...the way Millward handled the situation with Mathers was absurd as he was our best player for the first half of the season albeit he dropped in form ridiculously towards the end of the season. However, the players are to blame also I think just becuase Millward has stopped them drinking or putting curfews on that disallows them to do so doesn't give them the reason to be "badasses" and tihnk they are bigger than the club e.g. Chase

It's no secret that Millward has upset some players but what he is trying to do is make you proffesional Some of the players over the last few seasons just think they can do what that want they spent more time drinking than training I hope Cas stick with Millward kick the big headed players out that think they are better than the Cas club and bring players in the will play for you obviously been a fev fan some of you may think I am wrong but I remember Powell coming to Fev clearing players out that were on good money when there contracts run out because they didn't want to train his way he brought his own in and we have done very well since

Back your coach get rid of player that don't want to work with him and you WILL. be a good S/L team too many players think they are bigger than the clubs they play for and in my opinion Cas have a few

Gronk! wrote:

It's plainly obvious for all to see, Mathers knows all about it and I think it's the way Mildred handled Mathers that turned the players.

Mathers whines about everything and I'd never take the word of a player who has been dropped. The two biggest whingers at Saints when Simmons was sacked were two players who were dropped by Simmons, yet other players sang his praises. Some will like Millward; some wont. But professionals seek a way of working with the boss whether they like them or not. Liking the boss is irrelevant in the world of work.

Millward inherited a good team at Saints. However, he transformed the way they played to such a degree that when he was sacked, loads of Saints fans staged a mass protest. He inherited a poor team at Leigh and transformed it. Leigh fans love him and the Leigh club obviously do as they have had him there twice and on both occasions he has been successful there.

As for Wigan, personally I thought he was great there! Agent Millward will always have a special place in our hearts if only for 75-0!

All the blame cannot be attributed to Millward being coach, we have all heard the stories of drinking at X-Scape by various players during Matterson's reign as coach. All this should have stamped out while he was in charge, that was what he was being paid to do, to make us a professional club not a bunch of lager louts. Millward wasn't the coach when Chase and Westerman were suspended and he cannot be held responsible for Richie Owens transgressions at christmas. He also wasn't responsible for Shenton and Westerman leaving, these thing happen but if any player thinks he is bigger than the club then he has my full support to ship him out if doesn't toe the line, they are paid as professionals and it's time they started behaving that way.

Gronk! wrote:

It's plainly obvious for all to see, Mathers knows all about it and I think it's the way Mildred handled Mathers that turned the players.

I agree Gronk, Basil is about as popular as a french kiss at a family reunion and I did not want him as manager in the first place. I don't like him and morale within the club is shocking. The players have to knuckle down though as they are paid professionals, and role models within the community. I have worked for plenty of managers I didn't like or respect, but professional pride meant I still did my job to the best of my capabilities. Sounds like they played with a bit of pride today though towards the end of the game.

This club is nothing without its fans and they are the one constant in what has been a disappointing season to say the least. I am willing to give Basil the benefit of the doubt for this season as he has inherited most of the squad, but next season when he has more players that he has signed, his team had better start putting in some better performances otherwise I will be at the front of the queue with you calling for his head (not literally!).

Fully wrote:

So you have no substance of fact. Your hypothesising on the claims of a player, which didn't tell both sides and even then that's flimsy.

It is true - Basil treated Mathers in a disgraceful manner !! He did not give Richie a "chance" & made it clear that he had to go & Richie was not allowed to Train with the first team !!

harigeorgeson wrote:

Fully wrote:

So you have no substance of fact. Your hypothesising on the claims of a player, which didn't tell both sides and even then that's flimsy.

It is true - Basil treated Mathers in a disgraceful manner !! He did not give Richie a "chance" & made it clear that he had to go & Richie was not allowed to Train with the first team !!

I can vouch for it. I asked RW face to face in front of many others at a CTSC meeting at the beginning of this year, and RW took about 10 mins to confirm that Mathers basically did not feature in IM's plans. Owen was IM's preferred fullback, and the club did not have need for an additional 'spare' specialist fullback so it was decided that he would be put out on loan. Prior to which Mathers was allowed to take part in fitness training sessions but was excluded from tactical training (wouldn't have missed much there from what we've seen).

the_grobs wrote:

I can vouch for it. I asked RW face to face in front of many others at a CTSC meeting at the beginning of this year, and RW took about 10 mins to confirm that Mathers basically did not feature in IM's plans. Owen was IM's preferred fullback, and the club did not have need for an additional 'spare' specialist fullback so it was decided that he would be put out on loan. Prior to which Mathers was allowed to take part in fitness training sessions but was excluded from tactical training (wouldn't have missed much there from what we've seen).

Yes. I was there. And can confirm that.

But that's not treating him "badly" at all. At the end of the day, I wouldn't want a player leaving to a rival club to know the inside outs of how I was preparing my side too ahead of the forthcoming season.

Richie was told Owen was going to be first-choice full-back. Wakefield had shown an interest so Millward gave him an option of staying but playing centre/wing effectively or going out on loan.

Fully wrote:

Richie was told Owen was going to be first-choice full-back. Wakefield had shown an interest so Millward gave him an option of staying but playing centre/wing effectively or going out on loan.

if you think it happened that politely then more fool you.