Walkinshaw steps in between Glaws fans and Ryan
TW - great interview
By Cherry Picker
April 28 2009
In an interview which should be read, and read again, by every Gloucester official, player and supporter, owner Tom Walkinshaw has issued a “calm down” message as the end-of-season inquest warms up. The interview with the Citizen is a remarkable piece of brilliantly-timed PR designed to steady the ship and calm down the search for scapegoats at the end of a frustrating, disappointing season.
Most of all, we suggest, it should be read by Dean Ryan.
The interview has been conducted by Citizen Editor Ian Mean, and on the paper’s website there is a full transcript in which Mr Mean begins: "Can I sort of bring you up-to-date on the sort of latest situation?" (Don’t worry, both he and the interview get better … sort of.)In Australia on business, TW has been made aware of the public opinion surrounding the club after the sorry end to the season, and he has asked supporters to be patient and give him a chance to conduct a full, in-depth review of what has gone wrong ... and presumably what has gone right.
TW advises against knee-jerk reactions to the fact that Glaws have won nothing and, just days after coach dean Ryan’s astonishing outburst against the club’s fans, the owner adds: “This is a joint thing between them (the fans) and me.
“They expect me to fix things and run things to their satisfaction and I just ask them to trust me, give us a month here now to analyse it and to come up with the correct solutions, rather than just knee-jerk everything.
“Perhaps next year we will not have the problems that we have at the moment.”
On Ryan’s comments about the fact that he answers only to TW, and not the the fans, Walkinshaw added¨“The people under pressure say some things that are inappropriate and they probably wish they had not said it after.
“That is what I want to try and avoid now – people are put under pressure and say some things that just make matters worse.
“I think we should just let it be carried out and analyse it and then fix it.”
He says he is happy to face the fans in a question and answer session and added: “I respect the fans, I always have done. I respect that they have got their views and they should know that I am with them.
“It is their club as well as mine. I have always said I am a custodian for the fans, for the city, for the whole West Country community – that has always been my view. We all know that, or they should do.”
That, to us, sounds like a slap on the wrist for DR for his comments.
Our betting now is that TW will steady the ship and either show DR the door or make an appointment that changes his role at the club.
Well done to the Citizen for a top interview.
Go on, give it a read.
Walkinshaw steps in between Glaws fans and Ryan
Posted by: Shedloads (IP Logged)
Date: 28/04/2009 17:30
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Re: Walkinshaw steps in between Glaws fans and Ryan
Posted by: cheerycherry (IP Logged)
Date: 28/04/2009 21:02
I dont think we can ask anymore of TW. He definately sounds like he is genuinely understanding of the fans feelings and it is good he is not rushing into anything. Having said that, four weeks is plenty long enough to decide on what to do.
Re: Walkinshaw steps in between Glaws fans and Ryan
Posted by: Sir Henry (IP Logged)
Date: 28/04/2009 22:31
Well done TW. Resisting the false hysteria from the press with papers to sell and those with hidden their hidden agendas is to be applauded.
Re: Walkinshaw steps in between Glaws fans and Ryan
Posted by: Two Sheds (IP Logged)
Date: 29/04/2009 10:19
Oil on troubled waters and all that ... I just hope it isn't all swept under the carpet.
Re: Walkinshaw steps in between Glaws fans and Ryan
Posted by: cheerycherry (IP Logged)
Date: 29/04/2009 12:07
TW cant afford to do any sweeping, what he has done is buy himself some time by using some of the goodwill a lot of Glaws fans have towards him. It wont take much for a percentage of those fans to be up in arms, the Kingsholm crowd is still restless and wanting change.
Re: Walkinshaw steps in between Glaws fans and Ryan
Posted by: Two Sheds (IP Logged)
Date: 29/04/2009 13:03
Just a thought, but would the club site not have been a good place to have TW issue his "don't panic" message?
Well done to the Citizen and all that, but if there's panic in the streets the club's own site (and its PR staff) surely exist in order to stop it and calm things down.
Makes you wonder what the club considers the site to be there for.
Well done to the Citizen and all that, but if there's panic in the streets the club's own site (and its PR staff) surely exist in order to stop it and calm things down.
Makes you wonder what the club considers the site to be there for.
Re: Walkinshaw steps in between Glaws fans and Ryan
Posted by: cheerycherry (IP Logged)
Date: 29/04/2009 13:39
I believe Glaws' press guy was leaving earlier this season so that may explain the lack of information to a certain extent. I think TW probably chose to speak to The Citizen because it gets his message out to the wider audience plus The Citizen have been having a dig at DR recently so TW probably came to an agreement whereas he gave the interview if they calmed the criticism down a bit.
Re: Walkinshaw steps in between Glaws fans and Ryan
Posted by: Two Sheds (IP Logged)
Date: 29/04/2009 13:57
Yeah, right. But the club site is pretty poor isn't it? Club sites are allowed by be biased, but the Glaws one is restrained and very staid.
Re: Walkinshaw steps in between Glaws fans and Ryan
Posted by: cheerycherry (IP Logged)
Date: 30/04/2009 00:42
It does lack a certain pizazz. I think it is best to describe it as 'functional'
Re: Walkinshaw steps in between Glaws fans and Ryan
Posted by: Two Sheds (IP Logged)
Date: 30/04/2009 14:20
Functional ... is that the same as boring?