My son Jonny Ball rang me in tears last night to say Gaz had passed away and that impressed on me just how much Gaz had meant to him I knew they were friends from when Jonny played for his team but I hadn’t grasped his admiration for the man as a manager and a person.
Personally for all the years I new Gaz I never really got to really know him as he was always busy with the football And I tended to often chat with his Dad who is also a top bloke I would however like to comment on Gary’s footballing skills not as a player but how he conducted himself with the players in the squad.If I was to ask Jonny which manager honestly told you his thoughts he would answer Gaz because he was always open about his thoughts with him in terns of letting you know exactly where you stood, this is something I have often wondered about over the last few years “why don’t most Managers tell their players the truth like Gaz did ,if your bringing in another player tell them, if your looking to get rid tell them, if your not going to sign them and it’s getting close to the start of the season tell them and give them the opportunity to look elsewhere, that’s what Gaz did and he was respected for it.I’ve never understood why managers as players had this done to them then when they stepped up as managers did exactly the same themselves.
You managers out there learn from Gaz and do as he did you will be better thought of in the long run.
Top bloke,top manager,see you on the other side Gaz.

I apologise for that, just I had some confusing messages last night.
I was hoping it wasn’t so.