Transcript of Martin Allen's message | 7th February
Martin Allen discusses a wide-range of topics and things that have been going on behind the scenes at Eastleigh Football Club. The Spitfires boss addresses the fans and offers insight in to many changes that are happening on and off the pitch.
Transcript provided by Jamie Montigue
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Martin Allen on recent performances:
Good morning. Firstly I must apologise for not being in touch last week to all our supporters after that Woking game. I can only apologise for the disappointing, poor performance. It was ok the last twenty minutes being a bit of a charge to score, but for the rest of the game it was very disappointing. Bottom line that stops at my door. I prepared them and I picked them but it just didn't work on the day and it was a very disappointing performance.
Our previous three games have been Forest Green here where I thought we played very well. We could have won it. Near the end we could have lost it but playing against a decent team with our team playing with high energy, purpose and we played some good football. A good result, but disappointed not to win. I thought the team played well.
Then the Sutton away game is a difficult place to go and play on that pitch but I thought the players all acquitted themselves very well. We had a different game plan - not to play any short passes in our own half and obviously get it forward as quick as as we can, turn them as much we can and try to play from the knock downs and get involved. We had good chances when we were 1-0 up to have won that game but it wasn't to be from an error from us defending a set-play.
The previous game to that was away at Boreham Wood in the league which was again a steady, solid, decent performance away from home. Clean sheet, winning 1-0. I thought everybody had a real go that day. A good positive attitude.
In between those games we had the Brentford away game in the FA Cup which was such a mishmash of a team to pick and to play and to prepare. It was so difficult especially when we wanted to have such a good performance going back to my old club, but it just wasn’t to be.
I think I'll just have to discount that game and say it was great that we had 1500 supporters there. It was good for the players to go and play in front of a big crowd but privately and secretly underneath of course I don't want to go and lose anywhere 5-1.
Gambles and quick fix hadn't really worked
After the Woking game I had a good, long think and I met up with the Chairman on the Sunday. I explained to him that the gambles that we needed to take, they were gambles because we’d lost away at Maidstone and home here to Chester quite heavily in both games.
We needed to change it pretty quick and the gambles that we took at that point to try to get towards the play-offs didn't really work I must be honest. It hadn’t really worked, we didn’t get the impact or the quick results that I was hoping a quick fix may make. It was always going to be a gamble, it was always going to be an outside chance.
After the Woking game I had a good, long think and I met up with the Chairman on the Sunday. I explained to him that the gambles that we needed to take, they were gambles because we’d lost away at Maidstone and home here to Chester quite heavily in both games.
We needed to change it pretty quick and the gambles that we took at that point to try to get towards the play-offs didn't really work I must be honest. It hadn’t really worked, we didn’t get the impact or the quick results that I was hoping a quick fix may make. It was always going to be a gamble, it was always going to be an outside chance.
Cutbacks
So decisions were made on that Sunday with the chairman that we would try to cut costs and make cutbacks on and off the field.
It's disappointing, it's difficult but at the end of the day this is also a business as a football club and the chairman funds it very generously. And it's only the right thing to do is to try and cut back. We’ve brought in some younger players to come and in play on loan and from Non-League and a lower league. Now we’ll see what we can get from these younger players through to the rest of the season.
Losing Carl Muggleton is also a disappointment as an assistant. But again we felt the cost cutting is necessary to put a fund together for next season. I can't tell you about the the players who've already signed for next season that I’ve picked.
The person that was involved in recruiting - he’s also gone as well. So we've saved two salaries if you like and that will now go into the playing staff which is which is all key for going forward.
The cut down in numbers. I think when I got here there was about twenty-eight or twenty-nine players. Now I think we’re down to about nineteen and that's including the loans and the couple of young lads.
That's a sensible figure to work at. There's only five subs so there's always going to be two or three people disappointed and we’ve also got some out - long term injuries as well on top of that. So the wage bill for me is still too high. It’s not needed and it’s wasted money. So over the next few months we will change that.
It's disappointing, it's difficult but at the end of the day this is also a business as a football club and the chairman funds it very generously. And it's only the right thing to do is to try and cut back. We’ve brought in some younger players to come and in play on loan and from Non-League and a lower league. Now we’ll see what we can get from these younger players through to the rest of the season.
Losing Carl Muggleton is also a disappointment as an assistant. But again we felt the cost cutting is necessary to put a fund together for next season. I can't tell you about the the players who've already signed for next season that I’ve picked.
The person that was involved in recruiting - he’s also gone as well. So we've saved two salaries if you like and that will now go into the playing staff which is which is all key for going forward.
The cut down in numbers. I think when I got here there was about twenty-eight or twenty-nine players. Now I think we’re down to about nineteen and that's including the loans and the couple of young lads.
That's a sensible figure to work at. There's only five subs so there's always going to be two or three people disappointed and we’ve also got some out - long term injuries as well on top of that. So the wage bill for me is still too high. It’s not needed and it’s wasted money. So over the next few months we will change that.
Young Players
With the young players coming through we’re just about to agree a new deal for young Bearwish. He’s been very impressive and I do like the young players to come in and play and try and bring them through if I can and we will be looking and are looking at the other seventeen, eighteen, nineteen year-olds to see how they can progress and maybe have them as part of our squad for next season. So I thought that was good news.
With the young players coming through we’re just about to agree a new deal for young Bearwish. He’s been very impressive and I do like the young players to come in and play and try and bring them through if I can and we will be looking and are looking at the other seventeen, eighteen, nineteen year-olds to see how they can progress and maybe have them as part of our squad for next season. So I thought that was good news.
Reda Johnson
The new contract for Reda Johnson - his contract was up, there was an option on it but we've certainly missed him over the last month or so. He's back now fit and hopefully that's going to take us through to the end of the season. I want him playing every game of course.
The new contract for Reda Johnson - his contract was up, there was an option on it but we've certainly missed him over the last month or so. He's back now fit and hopefully that's going to take us through to the end of the season. I want him playing every game of course.
Physio Andy Cook now working full-time
On the medical side the physio here was part-time before I got here which can’t work. You know you can’t have a professional football club with a part-time physio. so ‘Cooky’ (Andy Cook) is now full time. He's doing a lot more hours not really have any days off really it’s a full-on job. So that's another little thing that’s clicked into place the last couple of weeks.
On the medical side the physio here was part-time before I got here which can’t work. You know you can’t have a professional football club with a part-time physio. so ‘Cooky’ (Andy Cook) is now full time. He's doing a lot more hours not really have any days off really it’s a full-on job. So that's another little thing that’s clicked into place the last couple of weeks.
Sports Science
We’ve bought some weighing scales. The players now are weighed every two weeks so we know how much they weigh and we can monitor that. We also know about their body fat percentages. So now we’ve just started this to see what shape the players are in and they’ve all got to come down and lose weight and they’ve got to be in better shape.
We’ve bought some weighing scales. The players now are weighed every two weeks so we know how much they weigh and we can monitor that. We also know about their body fat percentages. So now we’ve just started this to see what shape the players are in and they’ve all got to come down and lose weight and they’ve got to be in better shape.
Nutrition
With regards to that, the food that the players have every lunch time, that’s now changed.
They were just told what they were getting before, it’s being picked now and being chosen by our sports scientist James Russell so everything they eat is monitored by us. Now the food they eat is specific to being footballers.
Breakfast. The players have breakfast here, that’s now finished at nine thirty. If you’re not in early enough to get breakfast, then you’re not having it.
They shouldn’t be eating breakfast at twenty past ten just before going out training, so we’ve put an end to that.
Now the players have got to get in here by half past nine to eat and they should be getting in earlier than half past nine to eat prior to training and that also has changed.
With regards to that, the food that the players have every lunch time, that’s now changed.
They were just told what they were getting before, it’s being picked now and being chosen by our sports scientist James Russell so everything they eat is monitored by us. Now the food they eat is specific to being footballers.
Breakfast. The players have breakfast here, that’s now finished at nine thirty. If you’re not in early enough to get breakfast, then you’re not having it.
They shouldn’t be eating breakfast at twenty past ten just before going out training, so we’ve put an end to that.
Now the players have got to get in here by half past nine to eat and they should be getting in earlier than half past nine to eat prior to training and that also has changed.
Players to pay their own way
When I got here all the players kit that they train in every day - the club paid for it all and the club done it all for them so breakfast, lunch and their kit was all prepared for them everyday. So that ain’t happening anymore. The players have to pay for that now and that gets taken out of their wages. I just think that’s the right thing to do. It’s not necessary so that’s had to change.
Jobs responsbilities for youth team players and young professionals
The young players. None of them have ever done any jobs. None of them have ever done any duties like cleaning and sweeping up or cleaning boots, cleaning equipment, preparing the balls for training. So now all the young players including some of the young professionals have all got duties, have all got jobs.
They all have to be here by quarter past nine to get their jobs done. I just think that’s an essential part of their development and evolvement as people, as players and making sure their jobs get done off the pitch so that when they go on the pitch, things can be done properly with exactly the same ethos. So that’s also changed.
The young players. None of them have ever done any jobs. None of them have ever done any duties like cleaning and sweeping up or cleaning boots, cleaning equipment, preparing the balls for training. So now all the young players including some of the young professionals have all got duties, have all got jobs.
They all have to be here by quarter past nine to get their jobs done. I just think that’s an essential part of their development and evolvement as people, as players and making sure their jobs get done off the pitch so that when they go on the pitch, things can be done properly with exactly the same ethos. So that’s also changed.
New gym facility
The Chairman has now very generously bought us some gym equipment so we’ve actually got a gym in the sports club. So half of that now has been transformed into a gym.
So the players now everyday before training they go in there for a pre-training activation yoga-type stretching session with James Russell prior to training every day.
After training two days a week we use that in the afternoons for team squad circuits. Now we’ve got all the equipment. There was nothing before. I don't agree with players going up to the local tennis club cappuccino-type crap, I don’t buy into all that sort of stuff. You never have a boxer preparing for a world championship fight down the local sports centre where all the mums are! That ain’t happening.
So now everyone works here and there ain’t no mirrors or flashy music. This is a spit and saw dust work. I feel that’s the right environment to go into a challenge week in week out, and to be fair to the players, they’ve responded very, very well and worked very, very hard and their body fat percentages are coming down in the few weeks that we’ve been doing it and they’re starting to get fitter.
The Chairman has now very generously bought us some gym equipment so we’ve actually got a gym in the sports club. So half of that now has been transformed into a gym.
So the players now everyday before training they go in there for a pre-training activation yoga-type stretching session with James Russell prior to training every day.
After training two days a week we use that in the afternoons for team squad circuits. Now we’ve got all the equipment. There was nothing before. I don't agree with players going up to the local tennis club cappuccino-type crap, I don’t buy into all that sort of stuff. You never have a boxer preparing for a world championship fight down the local sports centre where all the mums are! That ain’t happening.
So now everyone works here and there ain’t no mirrors or flashy music. This is a spit and saw dust work. I feel that’s the right environment to go into a challenge week in week out, and to be fair to the players, they’ve responded very, very well and worked very, very hard and their body fat percentages are coming down in the few weeks that we’ve been doing it and they’re starting to get fitter.
Interviews
With regards to these interviews, we are trying to put into place that the players get more interviews for the supporters.
I don't think at this moment that the new players have been interviewed from the ones we’ve just signed, so I will do my utmost to get a better schedule together for all our supporters so that the new players that arrive always get interviewed straight away and players through the week get interviewed on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s so there's interviews and information coming out to all our supporters on a regular basis.
I know that this is not quite right at the moment but I will get it there. It's just going to take me some time to getit absolutely spot on.
With regards to these interviews, we are trying to put into place that the players get more interviews for the supporters.
I don't think at this moment that the new players have been interviewed from the ones we’ve just signed, so I will do my utmost to get a better schedule together for all our supporters so that the new players that arrive always get interviewed straight away and players through the week get interviewed on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s so there's interviews and information coming out to all our supporters on a regular basis.
I know that this is not quite right at the moment but I will get it there. It's just going to take me some time to getit absolutely spot on.
Community work
Likewise with the community work. The players have been out and about building a shed. Some have been to a school. We had another great lad come in here the other day, Dylan, who trained with us and was part of our squad for the day.
I have a commitment, we all have a commitment to the community and to schools and visits and also for the disability team that has only been put on my desk a couple of days ago. That’s something that ain’t quite right with what’s gone on there so I’ll work the Chairman. Reda Johnson's going to take a big step forward for that and I will make sure that all gets sorted so everybody is going to be happy on all fronts.
All our players will be available for parties, coaching, training our youth team and our school boy training. We need to take a much stronger view and a stronger commitment to the community and to the good backing that has already been built up in a short space of time to make this a long-term commitment and put it in place for the long-term that the players are involved in what’s going on in the community.
Likewise with the community work. The players have been out and about building a shed. Some have been to a school. We had another great lad come in here the other day, Dylan, who trained with us and was part of our squad for the day.
I have a commitment, we all have a commitment to the community and to schools and visits and also for the disability team that has only been put on my desk a couple of days ago. That’s something that ain’t quite right with what’s gone on there so I’ll work the Chairman. Reda Johnson's going to take a big step forward for that and I will make sure that all gets sorted so everybody is going to be happy on all fronts.
All our players will be available for parties, coaching, training our youth team and our school boy training. We need to take a much stronger view and a stronger commitment to the community and to the good backing that has already been built up in a short space of time to make this a long-term commitment and put it in place for the long-term that the players are involved in what’s going on in the community.
Music on matchday
The music. That’s not quite right yet. It’s not ideal but nothing here is going to change over night with a flick of a switch. Little things, little tweaks need to be made and I am in the process of working with the staff behind the scenes and it will improve, it will get better and no doubt when we start winning some games every one of us will get more of a smile on their face and all these other little things around the outside of the most important thing will all help make it a happier and a much, much better football club ready for next season.
The music. That’s not quite right yet. It’s not ideal but nothing here is going to change over night with a flick of a switch. Little things, little tweaks need to be made and I am in the process of working with the staff behind the scenes and it will improve, it will get better and no doubt when we start winning some games every one of us will get more of a smile on their face and all these other little things around the outside of the most important thing will all help make it a happier and a much, much better football club ready for next season.
Two new players signed and planning for next season
Things will change, things will get better. I cannot name the players that we’ve already signed but two good players have already signed ready for July 1st to start for us for next season.
I’ve got their commitment and their word so we're going to get into a good place. There's no doubt about it. The buildings behind the scenes are all coming into place now into the forefront, it’s going to be better for the players and better for the professionalism.
The small margins that make such a big difference if you’re going to be champions - we must get this put together now and get it all bedding in, ready to get everybody ready on and off the field to make a real go of it.
Things will change, things will get better. I cannot name the players that we’ve already signed but two good players have already signed ready for July 1st to start for us for next season.
I’ve got their commitment and their word so we're going to get into a good place. There's no doubt about it. The buildings behind the scenes are all coming into place now into the forefront, it’s going to be better for the players and better for the professionalism.
The small margins that make such a big difference if you’re going to be champions - we must get this put together now and get it all bedding in, ready to get everybody ready on and off the field to make a real go of it.
The rest of this season
I am not in any way shape or form being defeatist in the rest of the season in the games that we’ve still got to play. I absolutely hate losing. I hate it and I will do everything and we will do everything we can on the field to make you happy and give you something to cheer about. We’ll do our best out there on Saturday and when we play back here on Tuesday night. It’s a place where we ain’t won since October believe it or not which is absolutely scary and quite ridiculous and that will soon change I can absolutely guarantee that.
I am not in any way shape or form being defeatist in the rest of the season in the games that we’ve still got to play. I absolutely hate losing. I hate it and I will do everything and we will do everything we can on the field to make you happy and give you something to cheer about. We’ll do our best out there on Saturday and when we play back here on Tuesday night. It’s a place where we ain’t won since October believe it or not which is absolutely scary and quite ridiculous and that will soon change I can absolutely guarantee that.
Interaction with fans
Thank you all. I hope that’s a good message out to you all. If ever you’ve got anything you can always write to me or always come down here in the mornings. I’m always here by half past seven in the morning. You’re always welcome to come down and see me for a cup of tea. If you’re not happy about something come and see me face to face, sit in here, we’ll have a good chat and I’ll let you know what’s going on.
If you want any of the players to come and do anything for you, contact the people at the club and we’ll get something sorted.
All the best, take care and I’ll see you soon.
Martin Allen – Eastleigh FC Manager - 7th February 2017
Video of the interview can be found here:
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