Gradi: Fans booed manager after the last defeat at home to Torquay 3-0!
We have been here before of course but somehow you believe this time he means it, Dario Gradi has just entered his seventh decade and doesn't have to put up with the crap dished out by some in the Crewe crowd last weekend when they sunk to another loss.
This was followed up by being knocked out of the JPT northern section quarter-finals to Oldham 3-1 after equalising in the 54th minute, their sixth defeat in the last ten games that has only brought three wins, and has decided to step down as the boss at Gresty Road.
Assistant manager Steve Davis will take control of first-team affairs at Alex.
Gradi, 70, was appointed as manager in 1983 and spent 24 years in charge, before two years as technical director and another two as manager.
He will remain in his role as director of football and board director, won four promotions during his time in charge of Crewe.
Following the defeat by Torquay, Gradi insisted the fans would not drive him out, saying: "The fans aren't booing the players, they are booing me and that is up to them. I won't leave this club because of them. I shall hand over when it suits or when someone else tells me it is time to go. It certainly won't be because of the supporters. We started badly which was my fault. The shape we started with was wrong but once we changed things our football was as good as theirs. I thought we had the ball in the box and worked the goalkeeper enough to have got something out of it."
However, a statement by www.crewealex.net said the move was down to the added pressures of the new Academy status rules would bring to the day-to-day running of the club.
It read: “The Football and Premier Leagues have published plans aimed at furthering developing youth development programmes at clubs. These plans will have significant impacts on clubs both financially and organisationally. The Board believes that youth development should still be a major investment for the club and intends to exploit any opportunities that arise from such changes, despite challenges it will face. As a result, Dario Gradi, while continuing in his role of Director of Football and board director, will hand over first team manager responsibilities to Steve Davis, and concentrate on the future development and direction of the Academy.”
Something our own Head of Youth Ricky Duncan would know all about but at least he's lucky enough not having to pick the senior squad as well!: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
But he now hands over the reins to 46-year-old former Northwich and Nantwich boss Davis, who played under Gradi at the Alex between 1983 and 1987.
Davis will be assisted by Neil Baker, who has been at the club for 17 years as assistant manager, coach and scout.
The Shrimpers next play the Railwaymen at Roots Hall on Saturday, February 18th, 2012; kick-off 15.00.
Players from the Crewe academy who have gone on to full interntional appearances: David Platt, Geoff Thomas, Neil Lennon, Rob Jones, Robbie Savage, Danny Murphy, Seth Johnson, Dean Ashton bringing in around £25m for the club!
The Gradi Files
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dario Gradi MBE | ||
| Date of birth | 8 July 1941 | ||
| Place of birth | Milan, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Crewe Alexandra (director of football) |
||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1969–1970 | Sutton United | ||
| 1971 | Tooting & Mitcham United | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1978–1981 | Wimbledon | ||
| 1981 | Crystal Palace | ||
| 1983–2007 | Crewe Alexandra | ||
| 2008 | Crewe Alexandra (caretaker) | ||
| 2009– | Crewe Alexandra | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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(Manager info from Wikipedia, for the full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dario_Gradi)