Re: Mark Robinson Complaining : Sun Mar 27, 2022 11:52 am  

He's been there for something like 18 years in various coaching positions doing a decent job. But they sacked Glyn Hodges so you never know.

Watched a podcast where he & i assume 2 other AFC luminaries were being interviewed (sort of thing Broncos should have done pre-season). Has some interesting ideas so I would stick with him even if relegated. Next year their success might depend on what happens to Jack Rudoni. Looks a talent & need a good fee for him if he moves which looks likely.

Re: Mark Robinson Complaining : Mon Mar 28, 2022 11:36 am  

And now Mark Robinson has departed. Vote of confidence from the boards on Wednesday. Left by "mutual agreement" on Monday. A dreadful performance on Saturday in front of a sell out crowd (empty seats were sold) despite no win in 20. Boos around the stadium for the first time due to the totally inept second half performance.

CEO gone. Head Coach gone. One member of the backroom staff who played professionally curently at the club. Not sure who the replacement is yet. The Assistant is in his 20's and was a U12's coach moving through the Academy ranks.

Re: Mark Robinson Complaining : Mon Mar 28, 2022 11:41 am  

Smithers99 wrote:

And now Mark Robinson has departed. Vote of confidence from the boards on Wednesday. Left by "mutual agreement" on Monday. A dreadful performance on Saturday in front of a sell out crowd (empty seats were sold) despite no win in 20. Boos around the stadium for the first time due to the totally inept second half performance.

CEO gone. Head Coach gone. One member of the backroom staff who played professionally curently at the club. Not sure who the replacement is yet. The Assistant is in his 20's and was a U12's coach moving through the Academy ranks.

Broncos have put the kiss of death on AFC.

Re: Mark Robinson Complaining : Mon Mar 28, 2022 12:04 pm  

A catastrophic run of results no doubt but sacked with 3 games to go! How is that to work out any other way than badly with no replacement of even close to the necessary standard. Surely you drop the hammer sooner or not at all,
A salutary lesson that it’s not just LB management who make odd decisions. Having said that I would be surprised to hear that AFC failed to open their ticket office (metaphorically speaking) for a must win game during a relaunch season.

Re: Mark Robinson Complaining : Mon Mar 28, 2022 1:28 pm  

BigTime wrote:

A catastrophic run of results no doubt but sacked with 3 games to go! How is that to work out any other way than badly with no replacement of even close to the necessary standard. Surely you drop the hammer sooner or not at all,
A salutary lesson that it’s not just LB management who make odd decisions. Having said that I would be surprised to hear that AFC failed to open their ticket office (metaphorically speaking) for a must win game during a relaunch season.

It's actually seven games, but your point remains valid. The problem is it's become very toxic and in 12 days time they at home to "that team". There are already issues with letting Franchise fans travel alone rather than being bussed in. A likely thumping together with a team that's totally lost their way is asking for trouble. This will be Franchise's first ever match in Wimbledon (Merton/Wandsworth boundary caveat) and if this had carried on there would be very few officials left at the club in a fortnight.

This is a "sacking" to prevent bigger issues coming to the surface. I guess with a small chance they can survive the drop.

Football wise the club is in an utter mess. Has any team in the history of sport sold out a match on the back of a 20 game winless streak. The latest PL Bond is within 100,000 of the 3.3 million target. But no CEO, no head coach/manager, owners (Dons Trust Board) in disarray. Player recruitment run by a guy from a Betting company (Football Manager is one of his tools).

I see a lot of similarities between the two clubs, lack of staff, believing players from a lower level are the solution, bad comms etc. AFC Wimbledon still have the fan base (fourth biggest crowd in England on Saturday, albeit with limited matches played) and volunteers. London Broncos appear to have broken the bridges on both of those. One club his a single owner, the other is owned and run by committee. Both seem to be failing by who the appoint in key roles.

Re: Mark Robinson Complaining : Mon Mar 28, 2022 4:23 pm  

FWIW, I can see you breaking your losing streak vs "Franchise".. Its these sorts of games which help raise the players, and this could be your launch pad to survive.

Beat the Franchise, and you will be well set to survive.

Re: Mark Robinson Complaining : Mon Mar 28, 2022 5:42 pm  

If AFC were to beat MK that would clearly give them a lift but so would any win after such a long winless run. But with Gillingham finding a bit of form, it's the equally bad form of Fleetwood that might keep them up. 2 more important games than MK are Fleetwood v Gillingham & AFC V Fleetwood. Is 7 games enough to experience a new coach/manager bounce? Not sure but as Smithers99 says the club seems in disarray currently.

Re: Mark Robinson Complaining : Mon Mar 28, 2022 5:53 pm  

I really hope Hughes isn't being fed the line that this move hasn't worked because the hosts are in disarray, but past form would point to him swallowing that crap, just so he doesn't feel bad about the rotting carcass of a club he has left.
AFC Wimbledon may well be in a bit of a spiral, but they at least can fill the stadium with paying fans.
I hope smithers concerns about the visit of the franchise aren't merited. I've seen nastiness return to football post covid and that game has a real powderkeg feel to it.....

Re: Mark Robinson Complaining : Mon Mar 28, 2022 6:31 pm  

orangeman wrote:

I really hope Hughes isn't being fed the line that this move hasn't worked because the hosts are in disarray, but past form would point to him swallowing that crap, just so he doesn't feel bad about the rotting carcass of a club he has left.
AFC Wimbledon may well be in a bit of a spiral, but they at least can fill the stadium with paying fans.
I hope smithers concerns about the visit of the franchise aren't merited. I've seen nastiness return to football post covid and that game has a real powderkeg feel to it.....

For the football club it's reboot time. To go from nothing to a League team with a modern ground and have just about removed all external debt (so it's unsecured) has been exceptional. The model for running the club now needs changing. There are currently two boards, the Dons Trust and the PLC, although the later as a 5-4 majority of DTB members! It's not clear which board is making what decisions. There is a temporary Chair (in place of the departed CEO) who is part of the AFC minority. He is a major businessman but currently (assuming he's taken on the CEO roles) is managing the club (off the field, stadium etc), the on-field side (ultimately he hires and fires the coach), whilst reviewing the whole model to decide how the CEO is replaced (potentially two roles, one being a Director of Football). It's solvable if people put aside their personal agendas. They are extremely lucky to have no hit on the attendances.

Regarding Franchise the concern is on the streets. The Dons Trust are surprised it isn't a bubble match. I'm sure inside the stadium the atmosphere won't be great, but will be very safe. It's the walking to the multiple stations that is the concern. If Franchise fans start goading, there may be some supporters who snap. Likely to be older fans where the decisions 20 odd years ago remain very raw.

Doesn't help that the other slightly problematic match is four days earlier against Charlton. There was an incident at London Bridge station pre-Christmas and Charlton fans weren't happy. The interaction outside the ground this year has been fantastic. I hope neither of these games will result in any issues, but it's a risk. Hopefully both visiting set of supporters will treat the ground amenities with respect, such as seats and toilets!

Re: Mark Robinson Complaining : Wed Mar 30, 2022 4:30 pm  

Too late, but AFC Wimbledon have appointed a management duo with plenty of experience in Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki. I can at least name the main club each played for. Officially only appointed until the end of next month.