Does Grayson have Bates backing?

So, Mr Bates has again come out in the media to criticise somebody within the club. In recent times he has had a go at players before they left the club i.e. Johnson, Kilkenny and Schmeichel. He has also criticised the clubs supporters, infamously calling us 'morons'.

It seems now that his latest target is the team and more notably Simon Grayson. Today he has come out and stated clearly that 7th in the league is not good enough, our performances have not been good enough and we have given results away rather than the opposition earning the win.

I don't know if it's just me, but upon reading his statements it seems like he is publicly putting pressure on Grayson to get better results as in his words we should be in a 'loftier position with a higher points tally'.
It does seem quite rich from a man that has failed to invest very much in the team to bring in the quality and show more ambition to get the club promoted, as well as been unwilling to negotiate above anything but his terms with current players in the team.

This latest rant does imply that he will not be willing to put up with recent performances much longer. Which makes me wonder if Grayson has had the backing of him at all this season? After just missing out on a play off position last season (quite an achievement in our first season back in this league), you would have expected that we would have built on what we had. Instead, we lost some of our better performers and have only been able to bring in free transfers and loans to replace them... Andy Lonergan being the exception. We have been extremely fortunate that some of our younger players already at the club have stepped up this season, otherwise it could have been a very different season.

I do think it is very unfair and unhelpful of Bates to come out publicly and undermine everything that the manager, coaching staff and players are trying to acheive with seemingly limited resources. Personally I think we are doing ok in what is a very tough league, and Grayson is doing a very good job with what he has at his disposal.

We know only too well what happens when a chairman tries to cover his own back by putting pressure on the manager. I remember a certain Mr Ridsdale sacking O'Leary when we were 6th in the league... And we all know how that turned out with a succession of poor appointments to follow and the rest is history....

Bates needs to get back in his box, stop mouthing off in the media as often as he does and back our manager who has got us this far and clearly loves the club. If he feels so strongly about us finishing higher than last season and trying to gain promotion.... Then why not INVEST IN THE TEAM and stop bad mouthing the players, management, and fans at every opportunity......    MOT!!!