The Axe

Goalkeeping coaches (and the goalkeepers they coached) Terry Gennoe 1991- Jun 1997 b. Shrewsbury 16 March 1953 (Bobby Mimms, Tim Flowers, Matt Dickins, Frank Talia, Shay Given, Chris McCrone) Roy Tunks Jul 1997- October 2004 b. Wuppertal 21 January 1951 (Brad Friedel, Alan Fettis, Anthony Williams, Chris McCrone, Gary Stewart, Alan Kelly, John Filan,Tim Flowers, Michael Bingham, Alan Miller, Ryan Robinson, Keiron Renton, David Stevenson, Peter Enckelman, David Yelldell) Kevin Hitchcock October 2004-June 2008 b.Camden Town 5 October 1962 (Brad Friedel, Steve Drench, David Yelldell, Peter Enckelman, Richard Lee, Frank Fielding, Jason Brown, Bjorn Bussman,Guunar Nielsen) Eric Steele June 2008-August 2008 b.Wallsend 14 May 1954 (Jason Brown, Frank Fielding) Bobby Mimms August 2008-December 2012 b. Bulmer,York 12 October 1963 (Paul Robinson, Jason Brown, Mark Bunn, Andreas Arestidou, Bjorn Bussman, Jake Kean, Frank Fielding, Matt Urwin, Chris Dilo, Seb Usai, Gergorz Sandomierski) John Keeley January 2013-November 2015 b. Plaistow 27 July 1961 (Jake Kean, Seb Usai, Gergorz Sandomierski, Matt Urwin, Chris Dilo,David Raya,Simon Eastwood,Paul Robinson, Jason Steele,Ryan Crump) Laurence Batty November 2015 –Jun’16 b. Westminster 15 February 1964 (Jason Steele, David Raya, Simon Eastwood, Ryan Crump,Andy Fisher) Phil Hughes Jul’16-Feb’17 b.Belfast 19 November 1964 (Jason Steele, David Raya, Andrew Fisher,Josh Powell) Ben Benson Mar'17- (Jason Steele, David Raya, Andrew Fisher, Charlie Albison, Aaron Dillon,Oliver Byrne,Jayson Leutwiler,Christian Walton,Joe Hilton) Benson played in goal for a couple of junior teams in the Carlisle area before deciding to become a coach, specialising in goalkeeping.

In those nine years with the club sinking inexorably all we have received in the way of communication are reports on how things are improving and how the future is bright. Only Lambert has ever dissented from the party line. The consultation meetings are a waste of time since it only gives a platform to those with a vested interest to propagate further spin. Hats off to those who attempt to put them on the spot but the cynic in me tells me that evasion, obfuscation and lies will prevail.

Is it our overseas scouting network? Think I recognise the picture on the right, it's the Dutch scout.

You have earned a role as head of marketing. I'm impressed.

Have to say if I was marketing Rovers' half season tickets I'd hang on as long as possible in the hope of thinking up a reason why someone would buy one.

Agreed. There cannot be an innocent mistake. Up to non UK personnel to check there documents although I'm sure that most Premier league clubs have a procedure to deal with this.

I'm told that Robert's father and Greg's grandfather were brothers.

My understanding was that it was something to do with the recognition of the international validity of the licence. I think from memory Diouf had a similar problem. I do know that Mokoena hired a Manchester lad to drive for him and the lad played as a semi-professional in a league in the North-West. Mokoena started to turn up to watch him, refused a free ticket and paid at the gate like everyone.

I always thought Mokoena was found not to have a valid licence after a speeding offence.

Everyone on this topic have hit the nail on the head but it will change nothing. No-one at the club is ever going to convey the message to Venky's. Black would have succeeded Kean if he had not told them what a mess their close season recruitment had been. Berg told that that monthly trips to India were a poor idea. Appleton and Lambert told them what a mess the club was in. Hunt wrote a famous letter. Look at the length of time they remained at the club. Who have been the longest serving managers? Kean, Bowyer and Mowbray who have nothing but praise for the owners. The same applies to the administrators. Do you honestly think anyone employed at Ewood is going to step up? Ironically our only hope of salvation might lie with Suhail but after striking out with Lambert and Senior and his involvement in the Coyle appointment he might not be willing to stick his neck out.

I made no comment on Bell's ability but pointed out that a number of men who know far more about football than I do rated him sufficiently for him not to be classed as a useless player.

When exactly did I say that Bell was a great player.

No doubt Mr Warnock would defer to your judgement.

So League 1 & 2 sides can get by with useless, terrible footballers.

This criticism of players is really getting out of hand. By the time a player reaches the Football League he has been approved by all sorts of men who know the game. If you want to take Bell's case Uwe Rosler I'm sure would be happy to point out his qualities. He was also the subject of a bid by Neil Warnock and Steve Bruce, Alan Irvine and Harry Redknapp had him extensively watched. Are you honestly trying to tell me that they would have bothered with a useless player who is terrible at football. He was voted to a Division One team of the year. If you want to make the point that he is not performing to these standards, fair enough but sweeping derogatory remarks scarcely raise the level of debate.