First Team Management

Spiv · October 14, 2025, 12:16:46 PM

From https://www.kltown.co.uk/2025/10/14/update-first-team-management/

We know there have been questions about the club's managerial position, and we wanted to share an update.

Following recent changes, Joe Simpson was asked to take interim charge of the first team. He has shown real professionalism, maturity, and commitment to the club during a challenging period.

After careful consideration, the club has decided to continue with Joe leading the team, supported by an experienced structure around him. Paul Jones has returned to assist on the coaching side, and an experienced external advisor has joined to support Joe across all areas of management.

This approach provides stability and continuity while ensuring Joe has the right backing to keep the team moving forward. We'll continue to review the situation on a week-to-week basis and make decisions in the best interests of the club.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and unity. It would be great to see as many of you as possible backing Joe and the team this Saturday against AFC Fylde at the Docherty Walks Stadium.

Blue_and_Gold · October 14, 2025, 12:18:40 PM

With Mark Robinson as Director of Football presumably?

Mallard · October 14, 2025, 12:34:16 PM

Why can't the external person be named ? Not James Rowe is it ?

Blue_and_Gold · October 14, 2025, 12:37:41 PM

Quote from: Spiv on October 14, 2025, 12:16:46 PMFrom https://www.kltown.co.uk/2025/10/14/update-first-team-management/

Following recent changes, Joe Simpson was asked to take interim charge of the first team. He has shown real professionalism, maturity, and commitment to the club during a challenging period.

Good luck Joe.

TonyM · October 14, 2025, 01:34:42 PM

Quote from: Mallard on October 14, 2025, 12:34:16 PMWhy can't the external person be named ?...

That was my first thought unless they are currently in a role and working their notice which hasn't been made public yet?

Also not sure a "week to week" review is really the right approach, surely if Joe is the right man today and the club have recognised that there needs to be more structure in place to support him then surely that is good enough for the foreseeable? The main worry I had looking at Joe vs Scarborough was the lack of anyone to bounce ideas off and if the club have now addressed that then I would rather see them publicly back him for the rest of the season. Transition from coach to manager isn't always easy but agree (from what I have seen from the outside) with the club's comments about how Joe has conducted himself so far and wish him all the best.

Linnet465 · October 14, 2025, 02:12:24 PM

Whoever it is hope Joe and him make a formidable team.

Mallard · October 14, 2025, 03:03:00 PM

Not sure a week to week basis is fair to Joe, the players or the supporters.

Can see the scenario that if the team were to get beat badly at home Saturday would Bal then we scrambling around looking for someone to come in. Feel
He has had time to assess the market to look at what's available and who might fancy it.

At least with Cleeve he was always proactive and made a decision. Bal just comes across of not knowing which way to turn for the best.

Is this really the deal the Trust members voted on.? I do wonder if they held the same vote tomorrow would they get the same result. All seems back of a fag packet with this new regime.

Blue_and_Gold · October 14, 2025, 07:26:59 PM

Quote from: Mallard on October 14, 2025, 03:03:00 PMNot sure a week to week basis is fair to Joe, the players or the supporters.

Can see the scenario that if the team were to get beat badly at home Saturday would Bal then we scrambling around looking for someone to come in. Feel
He has had time to assess the market to look at what's available and who might fancy it.

At least with Cleeve he was always proactive and made a decision. Bal just comes across of not knowing which way to turn for the best.

Is this really the deal the Trust members voted on.? I do wonder if they held the same vote tomorrow would they get the same result. All seems back of a fag packet with this new regime.

I would guess that financial restrictions would also be part of not bringing a Manager in at the moment (apparently Physio has had his hours cut) and continuing with Joe on a week to week basis.

If the Club really wanted Joe to hold the Management position and had chosen him above all the other candidates,surely they would give him a contract rather than having him work on a week to week basis.

From comments on other social media sites, it looks as if the honeymoon period is over for Bal.

Welcome to the Real Kings Lynn.

Tennylad · October 14, 2025, 08:51:13 PM

Could Backie be the man Joe will bounce off . Local jobs for local people. The Trust love that . Welcome to the league of gentlemen.

peter · October 15, 2025, 09:28:15 AM

Back to square one Money or lack of it!

Blue_and_Gold · October 15, 2025, 10:52:48 AM

Quote from: peter on October 15, 2025, 09:28:15 AMBack to square one Money or lack of it!

I don't agree with single Benefactor model.

However we have that at Lynn and we have a supposedly wealthy Owner, so I really can't see the point of it unless he's here to throw money into the Club and buy success.

It makes it even more Bizarre that we have an employed person, with no personal financial liability, running the Club.

The Owner is on the other side of the World, and his only business in the Europe is based in a small Town called Kings Lynn.

All seems very strange to me.

And before anyone says if Jo wasn't here we wouldn't have a Club, that's not true.

There was at least one other potential buyer(s), who hopefully are still around and interested.

Sam Spade · October 15, 2025, 11:17:11 AM

Or, maybe, the new owner has taken on what he sees as a longer term project and that a sustainable business base is not built by just throwing money about.

Mallard · October 15, 2025, 11:19:47 AM

I'm not getting this short of cash theory.

1. Bal was on the record of saying Jo was going to pump £300k plus into the project this season

2. Record numbers of season tickets sold.
3. Reported 30% player budget cut.

4. Manager and his assistant from the North replaced by one local guy. ( Rowe)

5. Cheaper training facilities at Lynn Sport compared to Ely.

6. Bigger gates so far this season.

7. The Cleeve factor so hopefully the commercial revenue has increased.

8. Trust money coming into play at some point.

All of the above points to no money issues. Unless Jo has now decided he's not prepared to go with his original 'investment' and instead what's his original investment back??

Maybe it's time for Bal to open up and give the supporters an update on what's happening.

As Johnny Nash sang there are more questions than answers.

Blue_and_Gold · October 15, 2025, 11:35:53 AM

Quote from: Mallard on October 15, 2025, 11:19:47 AMI'm not getting this short of cash theory.

1. Bal was on the record of saying Jo was going to pump £300k plus into the project this season

2. Record numbers of season tickets sold.
3. Reported 30% player budget cut.

4. Manager and his assistant from the North replaced by one local guy. ( Rowe)

5. Cheaper training facilities at Lynn Sport compared to Ely.

6. Bigger gates so far this season.

7. The Cleeve factor so hopefully the commercial revenue has increased.

8. Trust money coming into play at some point.

All of the above points to no money issues. Unless Jo has now decided he's not prepared to go with his original 'investment' and instead what's his original investment back??

Maybe it's time for Bal to open up and give the supporters an update on what's happening.

As Johnny Nash sang there are more questions than answers.

I think it's been said from the very beginning that he wanted this "mystery" money back.

We don't even know if it's a club debt or a Cleeve personal debt.

And whatever it is, Cleeve and Jo (Bal) can't even agree (only by the odd 200k or so) what the amount even is!

Blue_and_Gold · October 15, 2025, 11:36:47 AM

Quote from: Sam Spade on October 15, 2025, 11:17:11 AMOr, maybe, the new owner has taken on what he sees as a longer term project and that a sustainable business base is not built by just throwing money about.

You think?

It's a bit like when Peter Hill Wood wound up the Arsenal AGM one year, 'thanks for taking an interest in our affairs'!