CHRISTIE QUITS BRADFORD
Skysports.com understands Archie Christie has left Bradford City after
turning down a new role at the club.
Christie, who joined the club in the summer from Dagenham & Redbridge, had
been working in the joint role of head of player development and chief scout
at Valley Parade.
The 43-year-old claims he had been offered the role of Chief Executive
Officer of Football at the club, but he has rejected the position and is
leaving the club for personal reasons.
"I have left Bradford City with immediate effect," Christie told
skysports.com.
"I was offered the CEO of Football at Bradford and I was given a month to
decide on it, but I have decided to turn it down.
"I have now left Bradford City and plan to spend some time with my family."
====
NOTE : BFB site closed down Friday Nov 4th - Final message see http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/
---
Interesting article on the boy from brazil site
http://www.boyfrombrazil.co.uk/2011/11/archie-leaves-bradford-city-two-days-after-mark-lawn-cheers-for-marines-youth-team/
or
http://bit.ly/rLuC67
===
HENDRIE QUICK TO DEFEND MARK LAWN
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Mark Lawn did NOT cheer for City's opposition in the FA Youth Cup at Valley
Parade.
An internet story claimed the joint-chairman had clapped and encouraged
Marine on Tuesday night in a public spat with Archie Christie.
But the report, which appeared within hours of head of player development
Christie's resignation, has been dismissed by John Hendrie.
The City legend was sitting NEXT to Lawn outside the 1911 Club for the
youth-team game and confirmed that he never once backed the visitors.
Hendrie said: "I can vouch that what has been claimed is absolute rubbish. I
saw the story and couldn't believe what I was reading because it never
happened.
"The comments purported to come from Mark Lawn allegedly took place in the
second half. Well, I was sitting within four feet of him for the whole of
the second half and extra-time.
"Phil Parkinson and Steve Parkin were the other side of him. Archie Christie
was in the row in front and Dave Baldwin was a couple of seats further
along.
"If anything like that had taken place, don't you think we'd all have heard
it? The only vocal one there was Archie Christie bellowing at the ref."
Hendrie is no longer connected directly to City after leaving his post as an
age-group coach during the summer.
He stressed he was making his point as an "independent observer".
He said: "I'm not paid by the football club and nobody has forced me to say
anything. I do the radio now and again but I'm not tied to anyone. But
someone has to stick up for Mark here.
"I've had my disagreements with Mark Lawn in the past. We've had our
differences of opinion on different things and I've not always agreed with
what he has said or done.
"But I will say it how it is and there's no way Mark should be getting
criticised for something that never happened."
The T&A understands that City have had to draft in extra security for this
afternoon's game with Cheltenham after the police expressed their concern.
Hendrie said: "Somebody has left the club but it was his choice. Let him
move on and let's get behind the club.
"Instead of people putting their energies into vilifying the chairman over
rumours that are totally untrue, they should be supporting their team
towards a victory. We're here for the club."
===
ARCHIE CHRISTE MYSTERY A REAL PUZZLER
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Archie Christie was bold and brash and as loud as ever.
You always know when he's around and Wednesday lunchtime was no different. A
one-man Tour de Force blowing across the bar.
We were sat in a corner table of the Cedar Court Hotel - or Archie Towers as
it became known by staff both at the club and working in reception.
The hotel at the end of the M606 had been Christie's home twice a week for
nearly six months.
He was part of the furniture; a very vocal, outgoing sofa of a presence.
A permanent guest who was even willing to help the staff on occasion and
throw out the odd boozy straggler if required. A Tony Soprano character
sprawled out in City polo shirt, mismatching shorts and flip flops.
But there was something else about our meeting.
Behind the forceful phone manner with agents, the winding up of the bar
staff and the cringe-worthy gags, I sensed that something maybe wasn't quite
right.
We spoke about the influx of players that he had brought to Valley Parade.
How pleased he was to see Ritchie Jones establish himself in the fulcrum of
the midfield; how convinced he was that Mark Stewart and Chris Mitchell
would still prove their worth given the opportunity.
He talked of the hush-hush offer of a new senior role to become the football
chief executive officer and the increase in power that would entail.
Then he introduced me to another potential acquisition from Brazil and
reminded the young player that he had to finish breakfast by 9.15am. "And
drink lots of water. You'll need it ."
I assumed this was business as usual for the man of many titles and
positions.
A day just like any other, talking to anyone who wanted to listen and maybe
a few - like the businessman he reprimanded for putting his feet on a nearby
table - who didn't.
But Christie seemed a little pre-occupied; a bit distant even when eagerly
describing the YouTube footage of the striker he wanted to sign. Something
was gnawing away.
The following day, of course, we discovered what it was. Christie and
Bradford City had gone their separate ways.
It's not the first time that he had threatened to walk away. I'd heard of a
couple of previous occasions at least.
But this one was for real. His desk was empty, bags packed and the keys for
room 403 were handed back to the front desk.
Given his strength of character, the sudden departure should come as no
surprise.
But it leaves questions unanswered. Speak to five different people and
you'll probably get five different versions of why he has gone.
Christie had health issues and recently spent a week in hospital. But he
maintains that his decision was based on the fact that the new role "wasn't
for me."
Then there were internet rumours that sprung up of rows behind the scenes
with Mark Lawn - stories which brought a bewildered reaction from the
joint-chairman.
It's not hard to imagine two strong personalities rubbing each other up the
wrong way on occasion.
But would it be enough for one to walk away?
Christie, a former soldier, didn't strike me as the type to be upset with a
bit of name-calling.
But perhaps beneath the bluff exterior there was a more sensitive soul, who
felt that his work was not being appreciated. His pointed reference to only
one of the chairmen, while saying his goodbyes, alluded to the perceived
conflict of characters behind the scenes.
We may never know for sure. Even in the soap opera that is Bradford City, it
seems strange that such a big full-on character should walk away so quietly.
No comments:
Post a Comment