www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/h ... _1_3609796 After reading todays article on Callands departure it seems like we could be heading for a strange match tomorrow and maybe the rest of the season. "Courier Sport understands that Fax have not trained at all since last weekend’s 20-16 Northern Rail Cup final loss to Leigh, leaving just today’s usually brief session to start and finish preparations for the meeting with the North Yorkshire side. And it appears Ball will have to manage without the input of Fax’s football consultant, the former Great Britain and Bradford coach Brian Noble. It is believed Noble, who is on a month-by-month deal which effectively only ties him to the club until the end of next week, has not been present since Blackpool for personal reasons and is not due to be at the Shay on Sunday because of his broadcasting commitments with the BBC" This cannot be good for the lads nor is it going to have a positive effect going into tomorrows game. Should we be worried as fans...

www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/h ... _1_3609796 After reading todays article on Callands departure it seems like we could be heading for a strange match tomorrow and maybe the rest of the season. "Courier Sport understands that Fax have not trained at all since last weekend’s 20-16 Northern Rail Cup final loss to Leigh, leaving just today’s usually brief session to start and finish preparations for the meeting with the North Yorkshire side. And it appears Ball will have to manage without the input of Fax’s football consultant, the former Great Britain and Bradford coach Brian Noble. It is believed Noble, who is on a month-by-month deal which effectively only ties him to the club until the end of next week, has not been present since Blackpool for personal reasons and is not due to be at the Shay on Sunday because of his broadcasting commitments with the BBC" This cannot be good for the lads nor is it going to have a positive effect going into tomorrows game. Should we be worried as fans...

Does anyone know who's got the ball? Has someone taken it home?

If we have not trained this week, that is unforgiveable. If Brian Noble has had personal problems, that is understandable.

The lack of training is a surprise, especially when we are having to win most games in the run in. It is very unprofessional and could be one of the factors that ultimately cos Calland his job. He did say he'd give them a couple of days off, but a week, that a joke.

It seems strange that when Noble was away due to personal reasons the training situation goes out of the window. Is it a case of while the cats away the mice will play.

I am currently reading some very unprofessional twitter posts from some of the players.
I'm afraid to say the endemic culture we have moaned about for some time is there for all to see.

If i were Michael Steele i would remind some of these 'boys' who is paying their wages.

We'll find out the impact tomorrow I guess.

Who's twitter are you alluding to? All i see is shock and confusion and support for Matt. Not their fault if they've been left in the lurch about things, must be hard not knowing who you'll be playing under or why its all happened.

How many days a week do you think the players train? A couple of days is nearly all week isnt it?

I do know he was maybe a little relieved in a way at Sundays loss as it saved him £15000 in bonuses!!!

I would have thought at least 2/3 times a week not including Saturday morning. Give them mon/tues off have a debrief/training weds, train thurs and then in sat for final match prep. Training schedules need to be adjusted to accommodate situations like this.

The players train tuesday, thursday and saturday.

So people are just reading more in to this than there is. They were due in Saturday morning.

So what happened with the Thursday session?

Didnt we train 5 times a week last season, just aksing? We looked fitter last season then this id say. We looked sharp last season.

Happens everyday in the private sector world, people come and go, who's my boss from one week to the next i dont know sometimes, whether i have a job next month i dont know, whether the companies going to be sold, closed. You just have to get your head down and crack on. I sincerely hope the players support Damian Ball on Sunday and give it there all, its a game we need to win, whats done is done. Move on...

Many people on here work 5 days a week full time and play sport at the weekends also, they also train midweek, 2 nights, maybe more, surely you can also see its not ideal 'if' they haven't trained this week as a team. I know many sports clubs that wouldn't pick people if they hadnt attended training, for a semi professional side not to train is a bizarre state of affairs. I dont think its a case of reading more into it than there is, were reading into it whats been reported.

According to the courier calland found out about leaving on thursday 5:30 ish if i remember correctly so thats probably why we didn't train.

Could Proctor, Gonzalez, Ball, Larder, senior players not arrange atleast a game of touch and pass?
Or was 'Oh Matts left, lets go home and play XBox' ?

Am sure they could of. But a semi-pro team wouldnt be playing touch and pass for a training session.

They were given the time off as a reward for how they performed on Sunday and also giving them time to recover. It would have had no adverse affect on them i feel and we would have been ok with just the light session on Saturday.

hmm, ok, i dont think theres much point us getting onto each other, we disagree. Perhaps i expect too much. Rich is right on this one though, well see the effects for ourselves tomorrow, theres a lot of ammunition for folks now though if they dont back Damian Ball and give it everything.

We are dealing with semi pro athletes here and I'm sure the preparation they have had over the last few weeks stands them in good stead. They above everyone need to be very professional about the situation we are in currently. Bally and co just need to pick the best possible team to give us 3 points.
I just want to also say the timing is a little strange BUT having had the privilege of working closely with the board for FaxBuilder they are all very dedicated and ambitious individuals as well as being successful businessmen. I personally am excited about what the ensuing days and weeks bring. The board I have worked with this season have done everything in their power to ensure a successful club on and off the field. Many know my opinions of MC and what he lacked in terms of his communication skills as well as his club commerciality i.e. Speaking to sponsors and addressing the diners. I am firmly in the belief the board firmly have this under control and have a successor lined up that will steer us through our next period. Yes look back on the last few seasons fondly but also look forward to what's around the corner. I think with the resources MC had especially in the previous 2 seasons that he should have achieved more. On the other hand I still watched my club attend 3 finals. I wish Matt all the best but think he had taken the club as far as he could. I welcome with open arms whoever we appoint and look forward to this coach working closely with the trust to help us help the club even more. Let's applaud the board for a very brave decision and one which obviously hasnt come easy. Come on lets pull together and move forward together.

apart from prep over the weeks being enough. It might be....I hope so....

This decision does seem very strange ....

We all know that the start of the season was very poor and in all honesty Matt was probably lucky to keep his job - if the money had been there I am sure he would have been shown the door. (Lets be honest there were enough on here calling for his head).

I understand that Matt has a good job over in Rochdale and maybe both he and the club knew we was not the man to take us to the next level.

If we get a licence on Tuesday and its a big IF ..... I believe Noble will be the coach - and a top coach at that - he will have a blank canvas to work with and the necessary funds. If a licence comes on Tuesday we are already behind and the club will need to look to 2012 very quickly - this is just not with the playing squad but from Top to Bottom.

If this is not the case I doubt very much can have happened in a week - after all we were all more than happy with last weekend (apart from the result)

Wot he said

I agree, although I'm not sure a successful coach should be judged on,

"communication skills as well as his club commerciality i.e. Speaking to sponsors and addressing the diners."

Leave that for those who can and leave him to coach.