Grizzly Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 The process and results of hiring a coach is probably one of the few issues we have close to unanimity on the board. Should the Voyageurs make an official statement/press release stating our disappointment that the CSA has not run the hiring procedure in a professional manner? I have seen similar fan protests in other countries and at the very least it puts pressure on the board members who are used to working in anonymity without any accountability. The issue is not whether or not Simoes or Mitchell should be hired but: the recommendation of the hiring committee is ignored for seemingly political not financial reasons the senior Men's team is not being given the priority is deserves the history of incompetence and unaccountability of the CSA We could send such a document as a press release to all of the major media outlets as well the CSA, all the provincial soccer associations and the Minister of Sports/Recreation of the federal and provincial governments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolando Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Hell of a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 We should because somebody needs to be held accountable for not doing a proper job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massive Attack Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 We should probably plan something for the May 11 U-20 game against Argentina. There will be a lot of V's at that game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpg75 Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Grizzly The process and results of hiring a coach is probably one of the few issues we have close to unanimity on the board. Should the Voyageurs make an official statement/press release stating our disappointment that the CSA has not run the hiring procedure in a professional manner? I have seen similar fan protests in other countries and at the very least it puts pressure on the board members who are used to working in anonymity without any accountability. The issue is not whether or not Simoes or Mitchell should be hired but: the recommendation of the hiring committee is ignored for seemingly political not financial reasons the senior Men's team is not being given the priority it deserves the history of incompetence and unaccountability of the CSA We could send such a document as a press release to all of the major media outlets as well the CSA, all the provincial soccer associations and the Minister of Sports/Recreation of the federal and provincial governments. This is a brilliant idea and I'm all for it. Also, what about an online petition? With all the new/closet casual soccer fans that have sprouted since Toronto FC came about i'm sure we could get thousands of people signing it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancouver Fan Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 I'm in favor as well. Every week that goes without a national team coach in place keeps the program from going forward.Again,they are letting the players and fans down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnipeg Fury Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Sign me up..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadasBest Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Totally agreed. We should press for a release of which Board Members voted which way, and send them some letters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Get a big banner in the stands for a start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktci Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack We should probably plan something for the May 11 U-20 game against Argentina. There will be a lot of V's at that game. I like this idea. A press release which includes that the Vs will be unveiling a banner/chanting something/turning their backs to the field at some symbolic time (or some combination) to register their displeasure. For example (though it'd require a lot of coordination and expense), what if we could get the flags of the 93 countries ranked higher than Canada into one section with a banner that highlighted the fact that the CSA's mismanagement of the MNT had Canada ranked behind all of those countries. 93 flags (and some obscure ones at that) would be a powerful image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussoccerfan Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 I hope that the media pays attention to a protest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertuzzi44 Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 I'm all for Grizzly's idea. I cant believe it has almost been a YEAR since the Men's National Team had a coach. This is unbelievable, and, more importantly, unaccetable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 I think this is a great idea. We need to make ourselves heard on behalf of the soccer fans in this country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maccaliam Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Fantastic idea boys. We need to make our voices heard, as at the minute, the CSA isn't listening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dave Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 It is often that dictators are ousted from their positions of privelage after they commit one final act of despotism... they come to believe they are indestructable, and in their hubris push the sullen masses one step too far... VIVA LA REVOLUCION!!!* *(perhaps a drunken, half-in-jest rallying cry?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Kennett Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Excellent idea! And, we should write a collective letter and send it beforehand to the major media outlets to alert some of the sportswriters to the issues at hand. I would certainly hope that Dobson and Forrest give some real stick to the CSA on Soccer Central this Saturday. It would be the perfect start to a camaign if those two soccer broadcasters did a 5 minute segment on the CSA's amazing record over the last few years! Go for it, boys! BTW Are there any Voyageurs in the Vancouver area? Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrennanFan Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 good idea. now somebody write the damn thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Let's get Polish Lynx Fan to write it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Daniel Let's get Polish Lynx Fan to write it! I believe he's collecting money for the banner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted April 27, 2007 Author Share Posted April 27, 2007 quote:Originally posted by BrennanFan good idea. now somebody write the damn thing. We should probably wait a few days for a few more details to come out and for some of the claims of the article to be confirmed. It would be pretty embarassing if we made a statement based on one article that could prove to be untrue or to have some inaccuracies. Once we have enough reliable sources than someone can write a text. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussoccerfan Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=25573&sc=92 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted April 27, 2007 Author Share Posted April 27, 2007 On reflection I think it is better to act quickly with a proviso about the current information. If the CSA directors realize that this decision is creating more controversy than anticipated and may indeed lead to consequences regarding their membership to the CSA board, it is possible the decision could be reversed. So here is my text of the letter. If people agree that something should be added/changed/shortened that is fine. I will have no more time to spend on this until late tomorrow night so just make the changes and send it out as quickly as possible when everyone is happy with it. Proofreading is also appreciated as I am sure there are enough errors that can be found. It would be good if it could be sent by one of the moderators as an official press release like we used to do with the Voyageur Cup. I think we should send it as many media outlets as possible, to the CSA, provincial associations and politicians. It should also be posted on the main page of this site. In particular we should send it to the CBC and if possible to Craig Forrest and Nigel Reed who are doing the commentary for the TFC match. The Voyageurs Protest the Hiring Procedure for the Canadian National Soccer Coach The Canadian Soccer Association has been without a head coach for the Men's Canadian National Soccer Team since the resignation of Frank Yallop in June 2006. For a similar amount of time the CSA has also been without a Chief Operating Officer and a Technical Director. A search committee was established to select a new coach which consisted of the executive committee of the CSA and also involved consultation with members of the Canadian national team. The candidate selected by the committee as the top choice to fill both the positions of Men's Canadian National Team head coach and as technical director was the Brazilian, Rene Simoes. After months of delays in making a decision the Board of Directors did not approve the hiring of Mr. Simoes despite the recommendation of the search committee. Recent media reports have stated the reasons for this decision were not the financial demands of Mr. Simoes but rather the political motives of board members who are in opposition to Colin Linford's presidency of the CSA. As the main supporter group for the Canadian National Team, the Voyageurs find the current situation completely unacceptable. It is not our place to determine who is the best candidate for head coach though Mr. Simoes seems eminently qualified for the position. It is, however, the job of the search committee and we find it completely unacceptable that its recommendation be ignored for political reasons. The Gold Cup, which is North America's soccer championship, and even more importantly the qualification competition for the next World Cup are approaching rapidly and it is imperative the national team hire a well qualified coach soon enough that he can adequately prepare the team. The selection process has taken far too long and has not proceeded in a professional manner befitting of the national governing body of a major sport. In 1986, Canada made its only appearance in the World Cup. Since then we have failed to qualify for 5 consecutive World Cups including the recent one in Germany. During this time the CSA has not operated in a professional and competent manner and the Men's National team has not been a priority for the organization. In addition to the difficulties of qualifying for the World Cup, the national team has suffered the additional difficulties of inadequate funding and preparation for the tournament. The priorities of the CSA have been focused on recreational soccer. While recreational soccer is indeed an important aspect of developing Canadian soccer, a national sports body must also be committed to developing elite players and facilitating the success of the Canadian national team. It is inconceivable that the directors of Hockey Canada would be permitted to give low priority to the success of the Canadian National Hockey team in tournaments like the Olympics, World Cup of Hockey and even the yearly Hockey World Championship. In fact, Hockey Canada seems to give more priority to fielding competitive teams in minor tournaments like the Davos Cup than the Candian Soccer Association does to qualifying for the world's largest sporting event. The poor performance of the Canadian Soccer Association over the last 20 years is due in large part to its directors not being held accountable for their unsuccessful policies. Despite soccer's popularity as a recreational sport, the low profile of the sport has allowed the CSA to be operated by bureaucrats whose decisions are not put under very much scrutiny. Technically, members of the board of directors are responsible to the clubs and amateur soccer players in their provinces yet very few of these players and organizations are aware of the role that their provincial representatives have in the running of our national teams. The fact that a majority of Canadians are unaware that Canada even has a Men's National Soccer team is a sign of the failure of the CSA to promote the team properly. Yet it is this anonymity that allows the same group of directors to function in secret and not be held accountable for the failures of their policies. One of the reasons that Hockey Canada is well run, is that if the national team performs poorly, the reasons are analyzed and the necessary changes are made. In the case of soccer, failure to qualify for a World Cup results in business as usual. 5 failed qualification campaigns have not produced many changes in how the CSA operates. As long time fans of the Canadian national team and promoters of soccer in Canada, the Voyageurs want to change how the governing body of our sport is operated. We have suffered through two decades of incompetence at the CSA and it is time for a positive change in an organization we have lost all confidence in. It is time that the CSA be made accountable by the media, politicians and soccer enthusiasts in Canada. It is time to take back our sport from the unqualified bureaucrats who have made Canadian soccer the laughing stock of the sports world both nationally and internationally. The CSA`s budget consist of a significant amount of tax money as well as a portion of the fees that every registered soccer player pays and it is time to analyze how this money is spent. It is time to scrutinize how the various members of the board have acquired their positions, what their qualifications are and above all to hold them individually responsible for the decisions they are making. Canada now has professional soccer players playing in most of the major soccer leagues in Europe including the English Premiership, the German Bundesliga and Spain`s La Liga. We have the talent to qualify for the next World Cup if the team has a good coach and is given the proper preparation. It is time for the CSA to properly support the efforts of the Men`s National Team to qualify for the World Cup instead of continuing to bring Canadian soccer into disrepute. The Voyageurs demand that the recommendation of the hiring committee be honoured by the Board of Directors. The Voyageurs demand that the Canadian Soccer Association and its individual members operate in a more professional manner and be held accountable for their actions and we will do everything in our power to ensure that this is the case in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashvegas Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 Very articulate and professional. I am in full support of this communication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red card Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 who are the board members? if we get names, we can specifically target...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 quote:Originally posted by red card who are the board members? if we get names, we can specifically target...... Here we go: http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/directory/board.asp?sub2=10 Executive Comitee Colin Linford (President) Victor Montagliani (V-P) Dominic Maestracci (V-P) Vince Ursini (Director Finance) Angus Barrett (Director) Mike Traficante (Director) Rob Newman (Director) TBD (COO) Directors Fred Kern (Alberta) Steven Reed (British-Colombia) John Knox (ontario) Sean Drain (Manitoba) Doug Redmond (Newfoundland) Bob Laver (New-Brunswick) Steve Dalziel (Nova Scotia) Gerald MacDonald (PEI) Dino Madonis (Quebec) Jeannette Kuc (Sakatchewan) Brian Gillen (Yukon) Roger Vail (NWT) Nick Fillippone (Director: Professional) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.