So the ridiculous rumours were true. Gerry Taggart has stepped away from BBC radio Leicester before even picking up the mike at a league match.
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Gerry-Taggort-leaves-BBC-Radio-Leicester-station/story-22699716-detail/story.html
Taggs was brought in to replace Alan Young, presumably to heighten the profile of the stations commentary team now they will be doing premier league commmentary. Or maybe its to appeal more to the younger side of the audience. Either way Gerry was offered a job, opportunity of work in his industry, but now turned his back for a "better opportunity" - true Gary Megson style!
Matt Elliot has stepped in temporarily. But in the long term you can guarantee the station wont go back to Alan, even if it is obvious he would bite their hand off! But the station are missing the point, if they want to connect with fans, young or old, they have completely overseen the rapport he has built during his time on the airwaves.
With days til the start of the season, the radio station now have a nice bullet shaped hole right below their big toe.
Taggs leaves
posted on 13/8/14
I'm not sure what fans are expecting - BBC Radio Leicester is a local radio station - not 5 live. Not even talksport.
The best they could get in the last 3 years was a politically incorrect but loveable Scottish bloke who clearly has a drinking problem.
There are clearly not many ex Leicester players who have the gift of the gab that haven't been snapped up already so they have to make do with whats available.
If fans are expecting a co-commentator who has made 500 appearances with Leicester and who has the analysis skills of Gary Neville and the passion of Robbie Savage then they're going to be disappointed.
Alan Young was probably the best of a recently picked bad bunch but his "I wouldn't mind hanging out the back of that" comments and his off-air drinking issues made his position untenable. So we have to take whats left. And that will probably end up being Julian Joachim
posted on 13/8/14
BlackStarr not sure where you've got this drink problem thing from? Also I've never heard Alan say something derogative like that on air.
posted on 13/8/14
While I haven't heard it myself, I've heard second hand that he's talked about having the odd tipple or "one or two".
Alcoholics generally cannot have just "one or two".
posted on 13/8/14
Izzet - the drink problem has been talked about for a while. I'm not saying he is an alcoholic but reading between the lines, a guy that has a well documented history of depression gets sacked by Radio Leicester for reasons that are 'not related to his on air performance'.
Ian Stringer then asked the BBC on air if they will be offering help to Alan Young for his problem. So its either drink or depression you would say. Depression is unlikely due to the reaction of Young himself. Having suffered badly with anxiety and depression myself, I've never encountered a situation where the employer says you are too stressed or depressed to work and the employee strongly disagrees - resulting in a termination of the contract.
Drink has been cited as the reason by a number of people, some of whom know him well - but I take your point we don't know for certain.
As for his "hanging out the back of that", that was a mic still switched on moment but as I understand it was not broadcast. Safe to say however he isn't top of the politically correct list
posted on 13/8/14
Obviously it goes without saying that the "hanging out the back of that" comment is only a strong rumour - I shouldn't really present it as fact so thats my bad
The drinking issue though I personally believe is the main factor behind BBC Radio Leicesters decision to get rid. On top of that, Youngy said he was angry with the club which has led many to believe that it was Leicester City that put pressure on Radio Leicester to move him on.
The only sure thing we can say is that the club got rid based on his off air behaviour - not his match day performances.
My point is - we aren't going to get anyone much better
posted on 13/8/14
BS the hanging out the back is those reptiles at SKy who got sacked for masoganist behaviour.
I don't think its drink but look where we are playing this season and whoever summarises will be representing Leicester the BBC & the Club. So who ever takes that role has to reflect our new found position.
As for Tagg's good for him i thought his recent knowledge and coaching insites where good so good in fact i think he could get in trouble with NP at some point.
posted on 13/8/14
"Whoever summarises will be representing Leicester the BBC & the Club. So who ever takes that role has to reflect our new found position."
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I don't believe that is the reason, but if it is then Radio Leicester should hang their heads in shame.
posted on 13/8/14
Thanks Nev - just shows what chinese whispers can do, I had two people telling me Youngy had said that..
Radio Leicester seemed fairly clear that it was nothing to do with his match performance and Ian Stringer asked the bosses if they would be helping him with his problem. Based on that I can only assume its a personal issue and take BBCs word for it that it was nothing to do with his on air commentary.
Youngy seemed angry at certain people in the club, I just wonder if they feel uncomfortable with him and have leant on the BBC a bit - who knows.
posted on 13/8/14
Dung
Your good a reading behind the lines of a nevism have another look a my comment.
As for Geoff Peters the reason he's so good he did Stringers job until he was lured away to Ibiza.
posted on 13/8/14