Episode 81: 1967-68 The first season in the top flight. Part 1

Transfer rumors or news was virtually non-existent.

And I think the events of the 17th of August begin to explain why.

There was one outgoing, and that was Barry Lowe's.

He was the winger that Jimmy bought from Barry to try and see us over the line in the promotion race.

He hadn't been a success, and he was sold to Swindon on the week before the season started.

And then...

Everything changed on Thursday, the 17th of August.

Jimmy Hill announced his resignation.

He was stepping down as manager after five and a half years at the top.

And he called the players in for 11 o'clock on that Thursday morning, announced it.

And it became apparent that He'd known through most of the summer that it was going to happen.

He'd been talking to the directors.

The directors had been desperately trying to change his mind, but he'd made his mind up.

And so whereas the players were shocked, the fans were stunned, the directors were fairly sanguine about it.

I think it had sunk in that they'd known for some weeks that Jimmy was going.

So I'm all right in thinking he wanted a extended contract.

This is the story that Jimmy Hill gave.

Yeah, that was the story that emerged later.

That wasn't available at this stage.

That came out later when he wrote his biography and he talked to people about exactly what had happened.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think he mentioned Ted Drake, who'd been the manager at Chelsea, who'd been given, I think, about 1960, 61 time, had been given a very long contract.

And then he'd been sacked within two years.

And Jimmy wanted to have more security in his life.

But having said that, I think he was destined to go.

Transfer rumors or news was virtually non-existent.

And I think the events of the 17th of August begin to explain why.

There was one outgoing, and that was Barry Lowe's.

He was the winger that Jimmy bought from Barry to try and see us over the line in the promotion race.

He hadn't been a success, and he was sold to Swindon on the week before the season started.

And then...

Everything changed on Thursday, the 17th of August.

Jimmy Hill announced his resignation.

He was stepping down as manager after five and a half years at the top.

And he called the players in for 11 o'clock on that Thursday morning, announced it.

And it became apparent that He'd known through most of the summer that it was going to happen.

He'd been talking to the directors.

The directors had been desperately trying to change his mind, but he'd made his mind up.

And so whereas the players were shocked, the fans were stunned, the directors were fairly sanguine about it.

I think it had sunk in that they'd known for some weeks that Jimmy was going.

So I'm all right in thinking he wanted a extended contract.

This is the story that Jimmy Hill gave.

Yeah, that was the story that emerged later.

That wasn't available at this stage.

That came out later when he wrote his biography and he talked to people about exactly what had happened.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think he mentioned Ted Drake, who'd been the manager at Chelsea, who'd been given, I think, about 1960, 61 time, had been given a very long contract.

And then he'd been sacked within two years.

And Jimmy wanted to have more security in his life.

But having said that, I think he was destined to go.