I took a new gig a few years ago, and the old director kept strong communication with the kids. It effectively created a sect within the group loyal to him, and they couldn't get past him. They went to his house at Christmas for a party type of thing. Eventually I had to get the superintendent involved and lost the job because of so may kids leaving band and so much infighting in the band because I wasn't the old guy. There was nothing I could do while he kept stoking the fire from the outside.