Skipper aims to steer the creaking ship to another league title
Friday 8th January 2010, 2:29PM GMT.
NORTH captain Darren Martin (pictured) believes his side still has every chance of winning this year’s league title, despite the recent upheaval at the club.
Speaking on behalf of the first team squad, ahead of this weekend’s game against Sylvans, the island regular said the players had decided to speak out to put their side of the story across because of comments made by those associated with the club, and others outside, in recent weeks.
‘We were all disappointed to see Craig [Young] and Glyn [Dyer] leave in the way they did because it was halfway through the season and we thought the whole squad was in it together,’ Martin said.
‘We all knew of the issues they spoke about but by putting in transfer requests so quickly it didn’t really give anyone the chance to put things right. But they’ve left now and we’ve got to get on with things.
‘We’ve still got a good side and, if anything, everything that has happened has brought us closer together. We’ve also got some good youngsters coming through who will now get their chance a little earlier.’
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This article seems to the contrary of the ‘Guernsey Gossip’ that Darren Martin will join Guernsey Athletics in the summer.
Many old Northerners are really pleased with the guts shown by Dyer and Young because they told the truth when leaving North. It is true that it would have been easier for them to put in transfer requests and just say they needed a new challenge but they cared enough to tell the truth. They have been with North for many, many years and have had enough. They just didnt walk away, they stayed and stayed and stayed until they couldnt take it any more.
It seems that just one more truth needs addressing and that is until Dave Finn moves on things will not get better. People keep skirting around the facts but, according to the same old Northerners it is time for Mr Finn to step aside for the good of the Club and in fact he should have done so a long time ago
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Gerald,
I am a regular at North games and occasionally
chat to the players and can say you have one thing right and that is it’s gossip and nothing else. I can assure you Darren is not moving anywhere.
Also in my and most people’s opinion it takes more guts and bottle to stay, fight and make a situation better then leave a team short of players in the middle of the season. If they felt so strongly about the issues at the club then why didn’t they leave last summer?
Maybe in some players case there was a better offer on the table!!! ££££££££ And they have used the issues at the club as an excuse.
If the world was full of people who jumped ship everytime something was wrong it would be a bad place. I think everyone is in agreement that the club needs change but it’ll only happen with the players sticking together and airing their views to the committee and forcing a change.
How does moving to a new club in the middle of a season make the situation better for anyone? These players have been fighting hard all season to beat the teams they will now be playing for.
Anyway lets hope for a good season and a good battle for the title.
Yours faithfully
Northerner
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Who needs the drama of Man City when we’ve got North?
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Northerner, how would you see the players forcing a change?
When they met the Committee last week DF left the meeting saying the meeting was constructive and beneficial etc etc.
Those same players are the ones who have voted the committee back in year after year, or have they not bothered to attend their own AGM?
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The club has been stuck in a time warp for years and has not moved on like other clubs. Yes it’s won trophies and titles but soon or later players and helpers patience runs out.
The extra land issue, the former Club Secretary kept saying about, has been going on for just under 2 years now! Anyone you ask at the club can’t tell you what’s going on with it because no one has bothered to grab the bull by the horns and do something about it.
The last mini’s co-ordinator was forced out in a battle of ego’s by some of the committee and now senior playing have had enough and are jumping ship. Who can blame them? When you’ve played for a club since mini’s the ‘show a bit of loyalty’ does not come into it i’m afraid.
Gerald Largo you’ve said it how it is.
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Northerner – I genuinely hope that Darren Martin stays exactly where he is but if he doesnt who can blame him. You are obviously a North supporter who is close to what is actually happening there so be honest, dont be blinkered, you must see that your players have not been your priority in recent years, even with the success that you have enjoyed as a club.
I think that it is true to say that this has been the case at North for many years. Winning has just become a job that the players are expected to do. Teams at all levels have won leagues/cups/competitions and have hardly been offered an celebratory drink in the club house. So, as you state, better deals probably are on the table. Other Presidents and Committees look after their players, knowing that without them the league/cup/competition would not be theirs.
This is not bribery from other clubs, it is other clubs showing gratitude and supporting their players.
I agree moving clubs mid season is not ideal but would it be better for these players to get to the point that they just give up the game. Would it be better for Tony Vance? Would it be better for Guernsey football as a whole? We lose individuals to other sports every day it seems. Guernsey provides an amazing range of sport at an amazing standard in amazing facilities, so in my view I would prefer to see players of this standard move rather than give up.
You had them – you lost them – and it is up to you to get things back on track at North and attract them back – but I suggest that this will be very difficult whilst Dave Finn is at the helm – lets face it, it is only a few years back, when Martyn Le Prevost ran the show, that North just did not lose players of any age. He was strict but fair with the players and they responded to the effort and guidance that he provided for them. For the current committee to let the club decline to the point where nearly everyone is gone shows where you are going – Martyn must be absolutely fuming watching down on your mess
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How long has it taken to destroy the excellent legacy that Geoff Tardiff walked out on?
Why did he go in the first place?
Yep the same reason all the others have been going. The committe are too quick to take the credit for others hard work.
Apparently two coaches have already gone this season with more looking for a way out of the mess.
What sort of example does this show for the players when the coaches don’t want to stay?
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Great point Ed
Geoff Tardif was instrumental in bringing North to where they were. I didnt realise that 2 coaches had also left this season – what it really shows is that North were losing good people hand over fist before Young and Dyer went – so people should not just point the finger at them.
Rather than accuse Young and Dyer for jumping ship and using them as the blame, the recent past shows that they stayed longer than some and it is not right that they should take the flack for airing the truth
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It is true that there are many issues at the club that need addressing but there are a few things that need to be spelled out here.
- Neither Dyer, nor Young voiced their dissatisfaction with the so called shambles of a committee prior to their exits
- They left little or no time for the club to react to their criticisms and offer solutions
- Despite requests from coaches/committee/players, Dyer & Young still decided to leave after being asked to stick it out for the season and the club would not step in their way if they didn’t feel satisfied with resolutuions to tehir issues
I am not blinkered enough to know there are not issues at the club but this is disloyalty on their parts. They have let down the club, it’s supporters past and present, and most importantly their team mates.
My point here is simple. the pair of them should have demonstrated more commitment. The timing is terrible and leaves North seriously light. I doubt that four months sticking it out is going to be seriously damaging to their careers but they have taken the decision to leave and spoken volumes about where their loyalties lie.
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Chocolate Lover, would you rather 2 players play half hearted for the rest of the season?
Whatever you ask of the committee, nothing gets done. No thanks for giving their all for the club.
The buck stops at the top i’m afraid, they’re the ones in positions to get things done.
A request was made by a long serving senior player
at North about getting a ‘Veterans Team’ together
to play in the newly formed league, the answer was no of course. Speaks volumes doesn’t it!!!!
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Blue, as a north fan I would prefer the players to put their issues across in a considered manner rather than spit te dummy and up stickes without notice. If they are then dissatisfied still then by all means move on.
No doubt there are issues that are ongoing but if what I’m told is correct, these were not raised at committee leve right until their departures.
In your professional life, would you tell your boss one day that you had issues that you weren’t happy and leave the next? I know I wouldn’t because that is disloyal and lets those around you down, whether those around you deserve it or not. I am sure the rest of the North squad don’t deserve to be let down in this way and nor does their hard working coach Mick Le Prevost
The committee is another issue and one I am sure will be addressed but for Gerald to pos that ‘many old northerners are pleased with the guts shown’ is a nonsense. He is no doubt not connected to North in anyway at all because if he was he would be hugely dissapointed to lose such big talents.
I am sure the real northerners are pleased that issues have been aired, albeit in a destructive, petulant way, but will feel that this could have all been handled better by all involved
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Chocolate – dont you see that the Dyer and Young issue happened because of the clubs failings over many years – it is not the fact that they did not voice their dissatifaction but rather that they should not have been dissatisfied in the first place, you talk about them giving North time to react but how much more time could they have given, they had both been with you for many years, continued playing and eventually had taken enough.
You continue to blame Young and Dyer but you must accept that they are now in the past and I suggest that along with all of the players and coaches that you have lost over the last couple of years you should go one further step and lose your committee
Your points are too late – you continue to question Dyer and Youngs commitment and loyalties but the truth is until you understand that commitment and loyalty needs to be reciprical you will continue to lose players
Lets be honest even after all of this upset the solutions to Norths problems are still not being sorted, this has all gone too far – Dave Finn and Co must go
Blue raises the point about your veterans team and I include in that your ladies team in previous years – basically your club are not interested. Clubs should be providing football for all but all you are doing is providing players for all!!
You are correct that I am not connected to North but I care about them very much. It hurts me to see a great club falling apart but it is what they deserve at the moment. I dont blame the players or coaches – I totally blame the committee and I stand by what I said earlier that I have spoken to many old Northerners who also know the truth and think that the Young and Dyer issue is being used to cover over mismanagement over many years. Dyer and Young told the truth.
The mismanagement of the way this has been handled is down to the people in charge
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I was attempting to avoid a debate about the committee because it’s something I feel particulalry strong on, but it would I suppose be appropriate bring this into the eqausion now.
I entirely agree with the general postings of teh failings of the committee and they have seriously let North down as a club and all associated members or supporters. I don’t entirely agree that it should not have been to them (Dyer & Young) to voice their dissatisfaction but we’ll agree to disagree. I simply feel that when you speak to the players at North, there is no in-fighting, no obvious unrest amongst the players and it would appear that from a playing point of view things were still rosy. It is that no obvious signs were given that bothers me. Did they speak to their playing colleagues, did they speak to their management, did they speak to the committee? The answer is almost certainly no.
In regard to losing the committee, my own view is that there are certain members that the club would be wise to retain but there is also a lot of dead wood. If rumours are to be believed then there are big changes on the horizon.
I do continue to question Dyer & Youngs commitment and my view will not change. I like many others that have played/play for North share these frustrations but respect for team mates is far more important to me then gratification from anyone else. Whilst North have failed in certain areas, they have also been responsible for nurturing the talent of Dyer and to a lesser extent Young.
As for Dave Finn, a good guy who has been a good servant but yes it is time to go.
regarding the veterans, I believe this will go ahead next year but there also has to be people willing to run and play in that league. Don’t forget the league is in it’s infancy and it is not simply a case of saying yes we will play in it and then not being able to turn out a team each week. Regarding the ladies, there is a very limited pool of female players in Guernsey and you have to sometimes accept that you are flogging a dead horse. The players numbers dwindled and tehrefore it is not vialble to continue.
Perhaps the Yound and Dyer issue is being used as a smoke screen but that is for another day. They told the truth but in a way that is damaging to the club and compromises its future success and ability to attract players. There are ways to do things and that certainly was not it.
I hope that explains where I’m coming from Gerald
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There are many problems at North – let me start with a list of players who have left during Mick Le Prevosts time as manager.
AJ Saunders
Dave Rihoy
Gareth Holden
Jamie Ferbrache
Richard Davey
Matt Dorian
Richard Moore
Etienne Le Prevost
Glyn Dyer
Craig Young
Sam Stables
Jacques Isabelle
Kyle Stone
Jamie Dodd
Kieron Mahon
Not a great start is it!!
I’m sure i’ve missed some, but you get the idea.
He has no physio / other help as no-one wants to work with him. He has poor “people skills” and is tactically inept. The good results over the last few seasons are down to the quality of players he has had available to him.
If the 11 players selected do not perform on the day then MLP does not know how to make tactical changes in order to influence the game. Take last year’s Upton as an example.
The committee members are on another planet – the only one who had a good relationship with the players was Steve Park and he shouldered the majority of the blame and resigned.
Dave Finn makes an appearance once every while to the dressing room to congratulate the players after a win against the Bels, or he’ll appear with Gary Le Sauvage in the dressing room before a cup final to give a speech, but apart from that no-one knows what he actually does.
There is a lack of transparency at the club as Dave Finn refused to allow a former player to review the clubs accounting records and requests for the GFA Cup prize money to be spent on work to the club house were ignored. So what did that money get spent on?
The past 2/3 seasons have been spent with the players complaining about the inactivity of the committee so it is not an issue that has just been raised by Young and Dyer.
The blame for this whole mess must lay with the committee and also the manager.
I suggest that drastic action is required if North wish to retain the players they have left.
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Chocolate – very clearly – thankyou
I now hope that this gets sorted for you and the players as soon as possible and that North continue to be the power they deserve to be
Lets be optimistic for a moment – they can still win this league this year, nothing is decided and they are in the driving seat if they win their remaining games
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Regarding the veterans, it was not a case of just saying ‘yes, we’ll do it’. People were seriously up for it but when a member of the committee was asked the answer was ‘No, were not really interested in doing that’ That kind of attitude stinks as far as i’m concerned.
Just take a look at other clubs and how they run things. I’d say Sylvans are the best example – Organised, Friendly, well supported, a thriving Clubhouse & Bar, Euchre Teams etc etc etc. I think the word ‘Pro-active’ springs to mind.
North won the league last season but did the club look to better themselves by entering a cup in the UK? No. Look at Vale Rec, they had a less than inspiring season last year but the club still wants to go forward.
You can’t keep on pinning the blame on players that have spoken their mind. If your not happy in a job, you voice your concerns or you leave simple as that. People’s patience will only run so far. They give their time to the club for free. Something in return would be nice.
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After reading the comments by ‘the truth’ I am even more astounded
The list of lost players is incredible – to think that, as I have stated before, North just did not lose players and in fact sacked coaches if there was a chance of losing a player in days gone by
The players remaining are basically all from Geoff Tardifs youth, but these are the last lot from that great era. When these are gone, or if they leave, the North Field will be a very baron place
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Blue & The Truth, we’re talking about two seperate issues. I’m not pinning blame to Dyer & Young on the state of the club/committee, I am saying that they have demonstarted nil loyalty and let their colleagues down.
Yes, the club is stuck in a time warp, yes it needs a shake up and yes it has lost a number of players but this isn’t all because of the above reasons.
In most cases players have left because there has been an abundance of talent and they have not played regulalry, not the case always but out of The Truth’s list, ten of those in my opinion have left because they want regular first team football, one went off tarvelling and has not played regulalry in GFA since, one stopped altogether and three being Young, Dyer and Rihoy for other reasons. North produces a lot of good players, more than anyone else and you will never keep everyone happy
the truth, in regard to money, would you let someone go through your business accounts? If people are that interested they need to attend the AGM where you get these answers. I’m not defending the committee but this is just plainly dragging up dirt and pouring further scorn on an already damaged club
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I have been reading this column with interest for a few days now & I feel I have to comment.
I was at north for 20 years at various levels (from supporter to coach!) & let me tell you – this is all no surprise…
The main reason I left North is because no matter what you did – it was never good enough. If you ran the line for 8 out of 9 games then you werent thanked for the 8 you did – you were frowned upon for missing one. If your team won 3-1 then it should have been 4-0… there was no gratitude for anything you did… even though you give up your time for free!!
Moving on to the committee – ever since Martyn Le Prevost sadly passed on, the committee has been in a free fall. Let me assure you – I knew Martyn very well & Martyn kept a very close eye on club finances as he knew what would happen if he didnt. Now that he has gone, so has the money it would seem. In the mid eighties there was another scandal within the committee where large sums of money went missing. Despite the then committee knowing who the culprit was, it was swept under the carpet to avoid a crisis.
How can a club that is run by a committee voted in by its members (players & social members) refuse to let a qualified accountant within the player ranks review the clubs accounts?! This is ridiculous.
With regard to the coaching staff – Both Mac Gallienne & Geoff Tardiff left because of the committee – both coaches were very successful at the club so what does that tell you?!
All in all – the only way for this once great club to get out of this mess is for the committee to leave en mass – either by doing the right thing & resigning or by not being voted in at the next AGM & a new committee taking over. There are many older players that could stand for the roles – it just depends how much people want to save this club.
Its time to put up or shut up me thinks…
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SO ex-northerner, given your obvious passion for the club I can only presume you will be putting up and standing for committee next season?
Or, like the others who feel they have the right to criticise the club, will you do nothing?
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Chocolate Lover,
I am now involved in another club & this club is now where my loyalties lie. Unfortunatly like many people over the years, I left North to move to another club & after seeing how other clubs are run, it is not surprising that not many return to North.
I genuinly hope things turn around at the North, the facilities & set up are there – the club just needs fresh blood & a new committee to do it. Unfortunatly I will not be a part of this process as I am loyal to my current club.
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Well good on you ex-northerner for demonstrating loyalty to your current club, not a quality that everyone in this story can example.
You are absolutely right with your comments about change and fresh blood, I just hope it’s forthcoming
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Ex Northerner – I think that your comments are very honest and I am relieved that you came forwards and said what many other ex Northerners are saying
Chocolate Lover – as I stated at the start of all of this ex Northerners know the truth and know what needs to be done to save the club. As Ex Northerner explains you cannot expect anyone who has left the club for what ever reason to just stop being involved with football, most will have moved on and now be involved with other clubs
I wonder what Gary Cortez or Toots Bush have to say on all of this? Especially Toots – in the league table of North losses he must come in the top five. Even if he left on good terms his comments and thoughts of the goings on would be invaluable – he is a diamond
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The Truth -
You haven’t a clue what you’re talking about. Do you actually know how many hours work the current coach puts into this team, the Captain coming out and talking about him openly shows the support he has from his players. He has gone to the Committee himself on numerous occasions warning them that things need to change, but he has stayed because he loves his players and he loves the club.
I am an avid Chocolate & blue fan, and I fully intend to remain one. Dyer & Young should have stayed, they all claim it’s not the coaches fault, but they weren’t prepared to stay and help him or their so called teammates, I hope Tony Vance takes note how much teamwork means to them.
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Agreed,
In no particular order, Martyn Le Prevost, Toots Bush & Geoff Tardiff are quite simply irriplacable at North… All of them were staunch club men & the 3 of them were men I respect at the highest degree
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So long as the first team keep winning nothing will change, it ai’nt broke don’t fix it they will say.
If North fail this season the committee will turn on the coach, stab him in the back and offer him up as a sacrifice to evidence their desire for change and deflect all blame from themselves.
The crumbling facilities and rampant nepotism that pervades the club will continue.
The more progressive members of the committee will all have gone by this time next year to be replaced by more sycophants.
You wait and see.
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I agree with ex-Northerner, Martyn, Toots and Geoff were all great club men. As were Martyn Loveridge, Essie Scott and Max Wall in my day. The team spirit we had there in the mid to late ’80s was fantastic, from the Priaulx down to the minis, everyone was part of “the club”. Let’s hope those days can return in the not too distant future.
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