E' abbastanza tragicomica la situazione che ci riguarda.. Perché i progetti per salire, alla fine, ci sarebbero anche, l'ambizione non manca affatto. Lo stadio è un esempio chiaro, l'amministrazione locale vorrebbe un club più prestigioso a rappresentare la città (magari poi posto pure qualche foto che mi faccio passare da un mio amico di Braintree).
La classifica, però, non è delle più rosee
e Patterson, il tecnico, se ne è andato di punto in bianco. Ora è tutto in mano all'assistente, Quinton, in attesa di sviluppi. Il Chairman, Harding, non è uno con le idee "troppo chiare" però, questo annuncio tragicomico te lo conferma.
In ogni caso, dal sito ufficiale, ti riporto anche lo scambio di lettere e miele tra ex tecnico e Chairman.
Lee Patterson has asked to post the following:
"I am very sad to be leaving my position at Braintree, the board and I had a meeting and it was agreed that a change is probably for the best. I am very grateful to Chairman Lee Harding and the board of directors for giving me the opportunity last season and we had a tremendous run going from 4th bottom to the play offs. It was just frustrating to get to the play offs and then have so many injuries that we didn't really get a fair crack at it. The FA Trophy run to the last 16 was also a great achievement by the players and to lose to Aldershot who are now a Football League club was no disgrace.
This season has been one of continuing frustration and results are what counts all at the end of the day. I still stand by my statement earlier in the season that the calibre of players I have attracted to the Club are a vast improvement on all who left with Russell Edwards being the one exception who I struggled to replace. Perhaps the blend wasn't quite right and it was something I was trying to put right every week. Sometimes you can assemble a squad that clicks right away, but when it doesn't happen, confidence and belief drops and maybe it started to get to a few players which affected their game.
I would like to thank all the players who have played under me both last season and this and hope that a change will benefit them and they begin to reach their potential and push on for a play off spot. I would also like to thank all the really nice people I have met and worked with such as physio Steve Gracie, groundsman Andy Green, kit man Dave Green, Christine, Joan and Pam who all cook for the players on a Thursday evening, Tom Woodley the Secretary, Mark Sanson the Reserve Manager, Jamie and Chris the ball boys who come to every training session come rain or shine and all the true supporters, who have encouraged and supported, even when things are not quite going for the team.
Whilst I still think I have plenty to offer non League football, I am intending to retire as a Manager. My wife, Natalie has been brilliant in her support especially this season when results have made me a pain to live with. I also have three fantastic children Danny 8, Amelia 4 and little Daisy who is 2 and I intend to spend lots of time with them. I am not saying never again, but that is my immediate plans.
One thing you won't see me doing is turning up at games where a manager is under some pressure and hanging around like a bad smell hoping to get noticed. I had that a lot at Braintree and without naming and shaming it is a pretty pitiful thing to do and for me is as low as it gets. It's very much an amicable parting and I genuinely wish Braintree Town Football Club my best wishes for the future."
Chairman Lee Harding concluded: "What more can I say? A thoroughly genuine man, Lee was great to work with and we will all miss him. So many of the people I spoke with last night (Thursday) wanted to thank him and wish him well. When the dust has settled, I hope he might fancy coming back to Cressing Road as our guest to watch a few games. I know he will get a warm welcome from us all."
