Tomas Montén has been fired from HV71.
Then sports director Kent “Nubben” Norberg rages – against the media.
– In this case, I am incredibly disappointed in some, he says to SVT.
HV71 is in a deep crisis and last Saturday there was a crushing loss at home against Malmö. The score was 8-0 and during the match large parts of the audience left even though the match was far from over. It was also the last straw for HV71 and sports director Kent “Nubben” Norberg – who chose to act.
Tomas Montén was hired as head coach by HV71 for this season but was only allowed to stay for a total of twelve games. After only three wins and a last place in the SHL, admittedly shared with Oskarshamn, Montén was fired. Instead, club director Johan Lindbom will lead the team. He was the head coach when the team won its last SM gold, in 2017.
Kent “Nubben” Norberg believes that they fired Montén because he “doesn’t want to expose his employees to this kind of treatment”. At the same time, the sports director rages against the way the media and experts have treated the coach.
– It’s a witch hunt that Tomas has had to put up with since round four. There is a person behind it and many forget that of course, it is tough at the elite level. But then there are some reporters and pundits who like to pick on a few. Some they don’t dare hack into. In this case, I am incredibly disappointed in some who have been leaders before and do not have greater judgement, says Norberg to SVT.
“That is not right”
Norberg believes that it seems he or Montén have been doing well during the start of the season, and that you sometimes forget that there are people behind it.
– Nobody feels good about this, that’s obvious. We know it’s a results-oriented industry. The person does not feel well, even if it is a facade to the outside, he says.
Norberg places great importance on how the media handled the HV71 crisis, and also believes that many experts in the media behave in a way that is over the line.
– There are more teams that have been down there, but Tomas, they have found fault with everything they do. I understand those who have not been coaches or leaders who are so-called experts, but then there are those who have been leaders who have been fired. Driven today, there is so much media compared to 15 years ago. It is not right that it was here that people hardly dared to go out. Then you have ended up wrong.
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