Chairman fall out behind Askey departure
FORMER manager John Askey has lifted the lid on the breakdown in communications which led to his departure in the summer.
In an interview with the BBC, Askey revealed that the club’s chairman, Mark Blower, had not communicated with him once promotion to the Football League had been secured.
As manager of a newly promoted side, especially one which had secured Football League status against the odds with one of the smallest budgets in the National League, Askey might have expected a word of congratulations, an invitation to discuss plans for the 2018/19 campaign and contract talks for himself, his coaching and playing staff.
Instead, he claims, there was nothing at all from the chairman.
“We’d won the league and there was no real communication between me and the chairman – he never spoke to me after we’d won the league!” said Askey.
Given the fundamental importance of a strong working relationship between manager and chairman, Askey felt he had little option but to accept Shrewsbury Town’s offer to take over from Paul Hurst, who had departed for Ipswich Town.
“I spoke to the owner and we had good conversations, but the chairman had not spoken to me, so that’s how it went,” Askey added. “Obviously having then been offered a job in League One, I couldn’t really turn it down.”
Askey’s task in taking over from a manager who had exceeded all expectations by leading the Shrews to the brink of automatic promotion to the Championship was always going to be a tough one.
And the job was made all the more difficult once several key players followed Hurst out of the Shropshire club.
The 54-year-old’s tenure at Shrewsbury ended earlier this month.
Former Arsenal and England star Sol Campbell was appointed new boss at the Moss Rose on Tuesday despite a snumber of supporters calling for Askey’s return on fans’ Facebook page The Star Lane End.
Peter Egerton urged Mr Blower to “...really prove your worth; swallow your pride, communicate, apologise to John and get him back in the dug out. Sol Campbell is not the answer.”
David Westbury, picking up on Askey’s desire to return to the club, added: “And there you have it...straight from the horse’s mouth. John Askey would love to come back to Macc “if the circumstances were right.” When pushed on what what he meant by the right circumstances he replied “better communication with the Chairman.” No demands for Blower to be sacked; No demands of a pay rise; No demand for freedom to talk to the press; No demands of an apology for being ostracized by the Chairman; No change of ownership... He just wants better communication, to get back into football and get Macc out of the mess we’re in. He’s “heartbroken” by what’s happening at Macc. The door is wide open Mr Alkhadi. Please get your feet wedged in that door right away and remember the promise you made to us in 2012; “I’ll make it right”. Here is your chance Mr Alkhadi...Please don’t blow (no pun intended) it. MTFC is bigger than any petty argument or egos.”
Steven Quantock said: “Even if they didn’t get on a simple congratulations isn’t hard, even if its over the phone!”
BBC presenter Mike Minay, who interviewed Askey, tweeted: “How can a chairman not thank the manager who got them promoted? It’s an absolute joke!”