Statement on Leadership Interviews & League Position

We are seeing a familiar pattern play out again. Yet another manager is struggling to turn the tide and once again we are languishing towards the bottom of another division.

In the summer, when a fresh start and unity were desperately needed, the club chose an unpopular appointment to continue an unpopular style of play. Under these conditions, success is an uphill battle. The insistence on this style of play is further evidence of a club that is too detached from its supporters and that is not learning from its mistakes.

The blame for our current league position sits with the decision makers.

The Trust has for a long time called for clear and regular communication from senior leadership and we acknowledge Saturday’s interviews with James McCarron and Jon Rudkin. However, after such a long period of silence, these interviews were lacking any real depth or insight into what has gone wrong and how the club plans to return us to the Premier League.

Although Jon Rudkin says that he accepts his share of the responsibility for the last few years, it is clear that he should not be involved in trying to put things right. We call on him to resign or be removed with immediate effect.

The club also repeatedly refuses to confirm it is for sale, despite all the evidence that it is. This is yet more doubling down on a lack of transparency that benefits nobody. Clarity would only help the staff, the players and the supporters.

The Trust believes that this club needs competent ownership and leadership at the earliest opportunity. Senior leaders responsible for our continued decline, including over this summer, should not remain once new owners are in place.

We need a total fresh start and a complete change in approach that better reflects what this great club is about.