November 17, 2006
Oops, there goes another!!
Steve Pitchford has his last day in the FFT office today. Would anyone like to hazzard a guess as to what brought this decision on? And in case you are taking this the wrong way, I’m not suggesting for a minute there is anything sinister in Steve’s resignation. (just thought I had better clear that up).
Maybe Steve could drop us a post to clear the air.
My resignation was handed in 4 weeeks ago- my last day was thursday.
I decided it was time for a change, and that by resigning at this point FFT had an opportunity to appoint someone prior to the season commencing, allow time to get across the new national regulations etc.
Comment by Stephen Pitchford — November 18, 2006 @ 6:40 pm
Does that mean that we will get a football administrator - running the game now!!
Really after smith and pitchford have stuffed the clubs over the last ten years , can we at least get an administrator who has no idea about football.
The new boss came from Table tennis look at the changes that have occured since he came on board , lets target a netball - hockey or maybe a public servant - we will be going places!!!
Comment by Left back — November 22, 2006 @ 7:21 pm
Be careful what you wish for Left Back, you just might get it. Does anyone know precisley what he’s talking about? Is this veiled sarcasm? Or not so veiled perhaps?? I’m not sure if he wants a administrator that has no idea (?? Mmmm) or if he anticpates the imminent arrival of John O’Neil (now that he’s cleared out from FFA). *shrugs shoulders*
Comment by Blackjack — November 23, 2006 @ 8:26 am
Being an administrator of TASMANIAN Soccer would be one of the the most unenviable tasks one could imagine .
Our administrative practices are reflections of our business practice .
We do it differently here , its not the same as the mainland and so on .
For Tasmanian Soccer to progress we need the steel hand in the velvet glove .
Because of our small community any decision is debated just like we are doing now .
As far as Steves job is concerned we need someone who is efficient , prepared to work above and beyond the call of duty , turn a blind eye and a deaf ear .
If any of you can find such a man or woman let Steve Gasparinatos the President know .
I know of such a man but he has a red cloak and wears his underpants out side his clothing.
Comment by Brian — November 23, 2006 @ 4:40 pm
well well dear left back and blackjack you are so critical at the last administrator duo -Smithy and Pitchy and also not happy about the new CEO , if you can do a better job go a head go and do it !!!!!!!! put your hand up for the job .
Comment by Carlin's Boys — November 23, 2006 @ 9:00 pm
Hey Carlin’s Boys fair comment , however tell the readers what did Smith and Pitchford do for the game - what legacy did they leave behind!!
The New CEO has done a great job ; Look at what Martin has done - Institute programs - money from the government for rep programs - North v South male and female rep games - allowed Hobart United in to form a 10 team league , introduced promotion relegation to Premier League.
Appointed Dave Abela to head coaching job , got the showgrounds for us to play on and the list goes on!!!
Left Back
Comment by Left back — November 24, 2006 @ 7:51 am
Why do you (Left Back) insist on lumping David Smith & Steve Pitchford in the same sentence as if they were Presidential running partners? These two guys are poles apart on their footballing ideology.
And just for your own information, it was David Smith who was behind the promotion of Hobart United…Martin picked up the baton is all.
Speaking of money for State Rep sides, where is that money?? How did it assist this years State players?? Each player was faced with shelling out $2500+ and to my knowledge there was NO financial assistance. So where is that money?
As I said in a another topic…as you have the ideas, do it. Don’t whinge.
Comment by Blackjack — November 24, 2006 @ 8:57 am
Some content edited/deletedÂ
Point taken on the rep players though good point , i thought all the money was for the TIS male female program , thats why we haven’t seen it yet , but if u know different prey tell.My club have looked into the 7 as side but were told that because of Wellesley sevens and clarence would not get the support…. but will keep working on my ideas
Left Back
Comment by Left back — November 24, 2006 @ 10:04 am
State rep sides were funded completley by the parents of the players concerned not by FFT in 2004 Soccer Tas (then) sponsored the players in U15 &u16 a small amount, very small amount and that over the last 6 years I have been involved is it.
Comment by corner flag — November 24, 2006 @ 10:32 am
Thanks Corner Flag but I think we are trying to determine (unless I’m mistaken) what happened to the funding promised by the ALP during the last State election.
My understanding was that a total of $800,000 was to be received over four years. $400,000 was directly allocated to the development of the Footballing arm of the Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS). The other $400,000 was to assist State Representative teams to attend National Championships and similar.
My point is that none of the 2006 allocation for State teams appears to have been used to assist our Tassie U14 & U15 teams to attend the National Champs in Coffs Harbour. It cost each of the players (and their families) close to $2500 to attend the Coffs Harbour titles this year. So the question needs to be asked…what happened to this years funding assistance for these State teams.
Maybe someone from the FFT (office or board) could advise.
Comment by Blackjack — November 24, 2006 @ 11:02 am
We are getting way off topic here. I will start another topic on State Rep Team funding. Any discussions can continue there.
Many Thanks
Comment by Blackjack — November 24, 2006 @ 11:10 am
Interesting mindset of left back. Lets get the picture correct. Smith left months b4 Pitchford started. Martin Shaw took over from Smith as CEO, and Pitchford started a few days later and in a position under direction from Martin Shaw. Pitchford (unlike Smith) was never in a position to be running the game. The showgrounds was already in place b4 Shaw arrived - process was underway when smith left and Itchins as acting CEO progressed it further.
The additional funding has, as i understand it, not yet been received - so it would have been difficult to use it to assist in 2006 state team expenses. I believe the Club Presidents are aware of how the funding is to be allocated.
Comment by sj — November 24, 2006 @ 12:07 pm
I am intersted to read the above . Regrettably diverse points are intoduced instead of sticking to the one subject . To follow some of the arguments above it is neccessary to scan several subjects then place the comments in date order to follow a realistic argument .
I was interested to note the comments re promotion and relegation .
It was I who at the Boards’ requested submitted papers on The State wide Cup , Promo and Releg , and a couple of other matters I can not recall ( A Seniors Moment ) .
Marttin gave these matters his full support and took them to the Board room .
Black jack you may wish to make the following a seperate subject .
To many opinions stated as facts.
Comment by Brian — November 24, 2006 @ 4:01 pm
Brian, see ‘Rep Team Funding’…
Comment by Blackjack — November 24, 2006 @ 8:06 pm
Haha… you guys down there reckon you’ve got the short end of the deal… We up north are well well worse of then you guys FFT doesn’t really seem to take note of anything that happens up here, from a players point of view anyway…
And if it’s any indication that North Vs South series was a total shambles and a write off from our point of view. It’s fair indication that we’re pretty fed up with FFT’s crap with the team that was put out on the park, with probably only 2 players actually warranting there positions in the team, and a coach that has never achieved anything in his life while in charge at Burnie
I can’t see FFT’s attitude changing, but i guess we can manage up here as we have been doing for a fair while…
Comment by Northerner — November 26, 2006 @ 11:33 pm
Nice 2 c some humour Northerner, but what else can we do cry? - this arguement re admin, North vs South, money distribution etc has been going on since I started the game(86) and no doubt before that! isn’t it amazing that when we had rothmans as a sponsor we actually had price money for clubs the state teams were all financially covered, ex medal winners got invited and nobody who was invited was told to reach into their pocket. Not to mention a state league was actually running. i don’t know anything re the clubs and their running but I am interested that nobody has actually put them under the microscope would it be a fair comment that they too might have made some mistakes?!!
Comment by Brett Pullen — November 27, 2006 @ 3:43 pm
Just a little comment to all. Well done Black jack regarding this web site.The only credibility….. I am questioning in your website that I would like to see people after sending the comment sign it by real name.We are living in a democratic country every one can express their own opinion why don’t you sign your name ?
Regarding the northener comment I think FFT has changed in the last 2 years ,how many coaching courses have you attended since Mr Abela travelled to the northen part of the state ? This year we where lucky to put in place fulltime junior state teams playing the U15 in the southern U19 and U14 playing in the U17 and provide better opportunities to perform at better level at the nationals.At the nationals comments from other state coaching director compliment our teams on the way we playing the games. As FFt State team coach during this year I was fortune to see the Festival junior competition in Hobart and also the Launceston cup I have notice good quality young players which clubs should provide them with good quality coaches that are prepare to improve this players instead more interested winning games.Yes win a game I do agree is part of the game but as a coach I would like to give more opportunity to young players in the AIS or A-league clubs and national competition is a platform for it . The last player left tassie for the AIS was Foad Commandari …….
Yes James Sherman, Henry Fagg, Chris Sanita, Joshua Heerey, and plenty others they left because they had compete at Nationals.
we need improve the standard of the game in Tasmania the game is changing and Youth is the the only way to go. for to many years Clubs spend to much money for seniors coaches ( winning premiership) . Well done Clarence and Kingbourough for the set-up of an Academy in your club.
Comment by francoprevidi — November 30, 2006 @ 10:20 pm