We need to make a decision this week.

[Davefevs]

14 minutes ago, Pezo said:

Direction and style has to come from the top, if you want a Bristol City style that's not paper thin then it can't come from a manager. 

If you remit Pearson on what style he wants then you have to accept there is no Bristol City style only a Pearson style. When Pearson leaves we will have the same upheaval we are having now in having to replace half the squad to fit a new style.

The idea of the DOF or CEO is they don't get sacked every 6 months for poor on the pitch performance.

Unless I have misunderstood what you meant then all that maximising of the business side is really Bristol sports remit - they are the brand holders and ticketing specialists.

The top is SL.  In a normal business you’d have a cascading hierarchy, but not always be even, depending on the businesses and / or functions beneath.  Everything flows from SL.

SL could easily decide the structure is split football and non-football, and Pearson be his Direct Report, and AN Other be non-football?  He probably won’t but it’s quite possible for your HoR, Scouts and Analysts to report into the Football Manager.  They wouldn’t report individually, but they can have department managers.  I purposely use HoR rather than DoF, because I think there’s a big difference, nor do I know what model we might go for.  Just using it to delineate roles that could under a football manager than above in a structure.

I don’t think SL will go that way, I don’t think NP would want that per se, but football is weird because you could have a DoF on a fraction of the manager’s wage, who in turn is on less than some of the players.

So I don’t necessarily agree you have to appoint DoF or CEO first....not in the world of football anyway.

As for the business / commercial side, much of that is under Mark Kelly, Ashton Gate Ltd, not BS (who do a bit of the marketing).  I’m really interested in Gregor’s article the other week which said MA had come up with new revenues streams.  I think he’s been fed some BS, or more likely MA has embellished his part in successes of what Mark Kelly’s team have done.  Don’t forget, (not aimed at you), MA would let us think he built the whole training ground, if you gave him half a chance.

[Red Exile]

What if it's largely being made up as Steve Lansdown goes along? 

 

[Harry]

This thread is quite depressing. 
It highlights how much control 1 man was given. And now that 1 man is jumping ship, it’s evident he’s leaving behind an absolute ruin. 
 

The House That Mark Built

 

[Johnny Musicworks]

6 minutes ago, Harry said:

This thread is quite depressing. 
It highlights how much control 1 man was given. And now that 1 man is jumping ship, it’s evident he’s leaving behind an absolute ruin. 
 

The House That Mark Built

 

Ashton Gate is certainly not a ruin, quite the opposite and arguably MA was a good part of that. Therein lies the problem though because football-wise we are a ruin and MA also has to bear a good responsibility for that in terms of player recruitment at least. My feeling is that MA had too wide a brief and should have stuck with or have been given responsibly for the business side but not the football side. i hope that lesson has been learned but I won’t hold my breath.

[Harry]

24 minutes ago, Johnny Musicworks said:

Ashton Gate is certainly not a ruin, quite the opposite and arguably MA was a good part of that. Therein lies the problem though because football-wise we are a ruin and MA also has to bear a good responsibility for that in terms of player recruitment at least. My feeling is that MA had too wide a brief and should have stuck with or have been given responsibly for the business side but not the football side. i hope that lesson has been learned but I won’t hold my breath.

Certainly not saying AG is a ruin. 
It’s a metaphorical view of the mess that Ashton is leaving behind him. 

[pongo88]

5 hours ago, bris red said:

Decisive action is needed by the board. As has already been said SL will have seen enough now to make a decision, let’s hope he see’s sense and appoints Pearson within the next week - he can then truly start getting to work. 

City doesn’t really have a meaningful board any more. Mark Ashton used to do most things, but now he’s gone. Jon Lansdown used to do something but now he’s moved to the Caribbean. Steve Lansdown is semi retired in Guernsey but pops up occasionally to do something out of desperation if the first two couldn’t manage it. There are others who occasionally get listed as a director, but in reality they haven’t got any real power to hire and fire managers or coaches. 

[Kingswood Robin]

Yes, need to get on with it. Or we'll be signing more injury prone, haven't played for 3 years, left on the shelf for a reason type players.

[chinapig]

15 minutes ago, pongo88 said:

City doesn’t really have a meaningful board any more. Mark Ashton used to do most things, but now he’s gone. Jon Lansdown used to do something but now he’s moved to the Caribbean. Steve Lansdown is semi retired in Guernsey but pops up occasionally to do something out of desperation if the first two couldn’t manage it. There are others who occasionally get listed as a director, but in reality they haven’t got any real power to hire and fire managers or coaches. 

A Board should have a majority of non -Executives who challenge the Executive.

I'm not sure we have ever had that, though as the club belongs to Steve I guess he might not be bothered much about corporate governance.

A mistake if so as hearing independent voices can be valuable.

[Rudolf Hucker]

6 hours ago, Pezo said:

IMO we need a C level before we appoint NP. Imagine bringing in a C level only to find out they want to do things differently to the manager/head coach. You don't want a C level exec having to buy into a managers way of working that's bound to fail.

It starts from the top IMO.

SL is the top. He’ll decide whom to appoint as the next manager. He’ll decide upon the structure he’s comfortable working with to run the football side of Bristol Sport. He’ll appoint its administrator(s).
 

Nobody interferes with the rugby decision making of Pat Lam. The structure SL introduces will likely mirror what is proving successful for the Bears. Thus the “C” level administrator you crave will, I suspect, will have little or no say in playing matters.

[Rudolf Hucker]

4 hours ago, red panda said:

These things take time,

Go, sit on the stairs and think about what you’ve said. 

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

SL is the top. He’ll decide whom to appoint as the next manager. He’ll decide upon the structure he’s comfortable working with to run the football side of Bristol Sport. He’ll appoint its administrator(s).
 

Nobody interferes with the rugby decision making of Pat Lam. The structure SL introduces will likely mirror what is proving successful for the Bears. Thus the “C” level administrator you crave will, I suspect, will have little or no say in playing matters.

A COO on around £300K per annum (about right for the size of business especially if he has no say in recruitment apart from wage/transfer negotiations) and a DOF on £200K per annum would be a far better way to spend half a million quid than the way we currently piss it up against the wall.

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

1 hour ago, Harry said:

 

 

Nice project with loads of potential just needs a bit of work. It'll look great when its finished.

[Rudolf Hucker]

Just now, Numero Uno said:

A COO on around £300K per annum (about right for the size of business especially if he has no say in recruitment apart from wage/transfer negotiations) and a DOF on £200K per annum would be a far better way to spend half a million quid than the way we currently piss it up against the wall.

... or SL could simply give the £500kpa to OTIB and we’ll run it. 

[CyderInACan]

18 minutes ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

Nobody interferes with the rugby decision making of Pat Lam.

Pat is Director of Rugby. If we're to mirror that (success) Nige to have the equivalent title, one would presume?

[BigTone]

19 minutes ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

Go, sit on the stairs and think about what you’ve said. 

Sit back and relax. Take a few Tramadol and wash then down with a few drams of JW.  It'll all be sorted soon enough. Stay cool Bro.

[Buster Footman's T shirt]

6 hours ago, bris red said:

Decisive action is needed by the board. As has already been said SL will have seen enough now to make a decision, let’s hope he see’s sense and appoints Pearson within the next week - he can then truly start getting to work. 

The Board? We dont have one anymore. 

[BigTone]

19 minutes ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

... or SL could simply give the £500kpa to OTIB and we’ll run it. 

No need. I've already told him I'll do it for £250k pa plus a free matchday pie.

[Southport Red]

3 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Sit back and relax. Take a few Tramadol and wash then down with a few drams of JW.  It'll all be sorted soon enough. Stay cool Bro.

Apropos of nothing, I was the person who brought Tramadol to the UK

[Red_Alligator]

3 minutes ago, BigTone said:

No need. I've already told him I'll do it for £250k pa plus a free matchday pie.

The matchday pie eh Tone? Throw in a free programme and a comfy seat and I think we're talking corporate hostility.

[BigTone]

Just now, Southport Red said:

Apropos of nothing, I was the person who brought Tramadol to the UK

You are the man .......... or just a vision of my chemically induced fertile imagination

[BigTone]

1 minute ago, Red_Alligator said:

The matchday pie eh Tone? Throw in a free programme and a comfy seat and I think we're talking corporate hostility.

Done deal just as long as I don't end up with Cheese sitting nearby. My eardrums can't cope these days.

[Rudolf Hucker]

9 minutes ago, BigTone said:

No need. I've already told him I'll do it for £250k pa plus a free matchday pie.

Damn. Gazumped. 

[RUSSEL85]

@Kid in the Riot As someone close to the club and ITK (certainly more than most), do you know anything regarding NP? 

[Rudolf Hucker]

7 minutes ago, Southport Red said:

Apropos of nothing, I was the person who brought Tramadol to the UK

I bought some ouzo back from Greece once, about twenty years ago. (It’s still in the cupboard. Unopened). 

[BigTone]

1 minute ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

I bought some ouzo back from Greece once, about twenty years ago. (It’s still in the cupboard. Unopened). 

You rebel

[Rudolf Hucker]

3 minutes ago, BigTone said:

You rebel

It’s what I do. 

[Southport Red]

14 minutes ago, BigTone said:

You are the man .......... or just a vision of my chemically induced fertile imagination

Yes I am the man. I was in charge of the UK launch (we licensed it from the German company that developed it). 

[BigTone]

20 minutes ago, Southport Red said:

Yes I am the man. I was in charge of the UK launch (we licensed it from the German company that developed it). 

So all hallucinations are your fault 

[Major Isewater]

39 minutes ago, Southport Red said:

Apropos of nothing, I was the person who brought Tramadol to the UK

Who did he play for ?

[Southport Red]

3 minutes ago, BigTone said:

So all hallucinations are your fault 

Yes. No need to thank me

[Pezo]

1 hour ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

SL is the top. He’ll decide whom to appoint as the next manager. He’ll decide upon the structure he’s comfortable working with to run the football side of Bristol Sport. He’ll appoint its administrator(s).
 

Nobody interferes with the rugby decision making of Pat Lam. The structure SL introduces will likely mirror what is proving successful for the Bears. Thus the “C” level administrator you crave will, I suspect, will have little or no say in playing matters.

SL is the top but he is not involved in the day to day running of things and I don't think he wants that in his life. He wants to enjoy everything that's happening in all of his businesses and be a figurehead, I wouldn't be surprised to find out he is quite pissed off with having to get first involved in the management appointment for us and now the C level replacement as well. 

The senior exec appointment should be made by the board which he is no longer on and the manager appointment should be made by the senior exec. Bristol City can't exactly be fun to own - it's certainly not fun to watch the sporting side of it at the moment. 

To be completely clear I don't crave a C level administrator - it's just to model that most clubs including us seem to operate under. 

[Clutton Caveman]

6 hours ago, Numero Uno said:

Why would you put yourself through it though if you have been told there is no future for you at the club? I wouldn't bother and would be totally indifferent to it all.

I'm (perhaps optimistically) putting it down to the fact that over the next five weeks he knows he has to be calling these players into his office and telling them they are surplus to requirements, which I would imagine is a pretty shitty part of the job unless you are some rogue psychopath (no names but would be a good fit at the Theatre of Tents) and therefore allowed his frustration to surface in interview.

If we wanted to raise some money I think plenty including me, would bid for the benefit of showing some of our squad the door.

[Numero Uno]

9 minutes ago, Clutton Caveman said:

If we wanted to raise some money I think plenty including me, would bid for the benefit of showing some of our squad the door.

Run an IPL style auction!!!

[Red Exile]

13 minutes ago, Pezo said:

SL is the top but he is not involved in the day to day running of things and I don't think he wants that in his life. He wants to enjoy everything that's happening in all of his businesses and be a figurehead, I wouldn't be surprised to find out he is quite pissed off with having to get first involved in the management appointment for us and now the C level replacement as well. 

The senior exec appointment should be made by the board which he is no longer on and the manager appointment should be made by the senior exec. Bristol City can't exactly be fun to own - it's certainly not fun to watch the sporting side of it at the moment. 

To be completely clear I don't crave a C level administrator - it's just to model that most clubs including us seem to operate under. 

I think the point missed is that there is no functioning Bristol City Board in any sense that it is independent of SL. I'd question whether there ever has been in his time in charge?

According to the club website the 'Board' is Steve (owner), Jon (Chair), Steve's friend Doug (Director), the CFO Gavin Marshall (who has kept a remarkably low profile!) and CEO Mark Ashton. If Steve wanted a quiet life he might have made more effort to engage other voices over the past 20 years. 

[Davefevs]

22 minutes ago, Pezo said:

SL is the top but he is not involved in the day to day running of things and I don't think he wants that in his life. He wants to enjoy everything that's happening in all of his businesses and be a figurehead, I wouldn't be surprised to find out he is quite pissed off with having to get first involved in the management appointment for us and now the C level replacement as well. 

The senior exec appointment should be made by the board which he is no longer on and the manager appointment should be made by the senior exec. Bristol City can't exactly be fun to own - it's certainly not fun to watch the sporting side of it at the moment. 

To be completely clear I don't crave a C level administrator - it's just to model that most clubs including us seem to operate under. 

The problem is one (at least one) board member is being controlled by SL.

Amazing how many times the board, which included MA and JL, have to ask the owner isn’t it.  No true board in reality, just in name.  No decision gets made truly by the board.

1 minute ago, Red Exile said:

I think the point missed is that there is no functioning Bristol City Board in any sense that it is independent of SL. I'd question whether there ever has been in his time in charge?

According to the club website the 'Board' is Steve (owner), Jon (Chair), Steve's friend Doug (Director), the CFO Gavin Marshall (who has kept a remarkably low profile!) and CEO Mark Ashton. If Steve wanted a quiet life he might have made more effort to engage other voices over the past 20 years. 

Spooky

[Pezo]

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

The problem is one (at least one) board member is being controlled by SL.

Amazing how many times the board, which included MA and JL, have to ask the owner isn’t it.  No true board in reality, just in name.  No decision gets made truly by the board.

Spooky

And there is the problem IMO - people in roles that aren't empowered to complete that role, a board that's supposed to have power over the executive but actually has limited power. 

[Pezo]

16 minutes ago, Red Exile said:

I think the point missed is that there is no functioning Bristol City Board in any sense that it is independent of SL. I'd question whether there ever has been in his time in charge?

According to the club website the 'Board' is Steve (owner), Jon (Chair), Steve's friend Doug (Director), the CFO Gavin Marshall (who has kept a remarkably low profile!) and CEO Mark Ashton. If Steve wanted a quiet life he might have made more effort to engage other voices over the past 20 years. 

Sorry run out of likes today but yeah. 

The old saying is a fish rots from the head - what happens if the head is just a nebulous concept? 

[Red Exile]

9 minutes ago, Pezo said:

And there is the problem IMO - people in roles that aren't empowered to complete that role, a board that's supposed to have power over the executive but actually has limited power. 

Yep - that's exactly the problem..I recall precisely these sorts of discussions a decade or more ago.

If Steve is feeling the heat it's because he's not reached out. He's wanted complete control. It's not as though Bristol isn't full of bright people who could have supported him. He's had 20 years to identify them.

[Tin Soldier]

I think anyone with a brain cell in business would acknowledge that the set up at BCFC is wrong. BUT SL wants control so this is how it is. Chickens have defo come home to roost.

[Rudolf Hucker]

42 minutes ago, Pezo said:

SL is the top but he is not involved in the day to day running of things and I don't think he wants that in his life. He wants to enjoy everything that's happening in all of his businesses and be a figurehead, I wouldn't be surprised to find out he is quite pissed off with having to get first involved in the management appointment for us and now the C level replacement as well. 

The senior exec appointment should be made by the board which he is no longer on and the manager appointment should be made by the senior exec. Bristol City can't exactly be fun to own - it's certainly not fun to watch the sporting side of it at the moment. 

To be completely clear I don't crave a C level administrator - it's just to model that most clubs including us seem to operate under. 

I’ve no doubt that Steve is well pissed off with the everyday stories of country folk being dramatised at AG. He must be nearing 70 and looking forward to retirement, or at least a break from the frontline management of our football club. But this is a problem entirely of his own making, so his to resolve. 
 

Football clubs have different motivations than other commercial businesses.  Of course there are overlaps and similarities in processes but rigid management organisational structures are not a snug fit because too often in football, heart rules head. 
 

At the end of the day, we’re a football club. Whatever organisational structure we adopt must be centred upon one thing and one thing only - success on the field. IMO we need tracksuited rather than suited management as our first priority. 

[Curr Avon]

8 hours ago, BigTone said:

It'll happen soon enough

You should have said, "It'll happen soon enough, you mark my words."

 

[Red_Alligator]

I'm sure that there is a lot of work being done, in good faith, with due diligence etc.

All I'm asking of SL is that he takes the opportunity to put football men in charge of team affairs. 

That's one of the main reasons why I'd like to see NP given a go. Bags of experience in the game, some success behind him, and crucially I'm sure, an established network of contacts in the game.

 

[Offside]

Completely agree with the OP. This uncertainty does no good whatsoever. 
 

For what it’s worth, I was expecting results and performances to be better under NP. But maybe our awful form just lays bare what a mess we are in. Many of us were crying out for an experienced manager last summer, so let’s give NP a go and, with the departure of MA, it’s the perfect time for an overhaul - coaching, recruitment, medical staff, the lot. And the sooner that all starts the better. 

[BigTone]

3 hours ago, Southport Red said:

Yes. No need to thank me

Oh, there is 

1 hour ago, Curr Avon said:

You should have said, "It'll happen soon enough, you mark my words."

 

Apologies, you mark my words 

[Loosey Boy]

10 hours ago, Super said:

Still got a horrible feeling we will ditch him and go for Robins. 

More likely to be Alex Neil than Robins me thinks 

[brad blit]

Well unless it’s done by April 30th 3pm we won’t hear anything for 3 days with this social media strike.....

[Will b11]

Surely somethings got to be announced before may 4th when the lose your seat deadline is

[Cardy]

No announcement before May 4th could be commercial suicide unless the deadline gets extended.

My scenario is if Pearson is announced before the deadline then I’m all in for next season. If he isn’t then I’m £650 better off.

If he is announced after the deadline we still won’t be renewing if we have lost our seats due to the club not being organised enough to get the decision made in time. We will pick and choose games based on other factors which will have taken over the priority for Saturday afternoons.

If someone in the ilk of Robins is appointed then we are out for the foreseeable future. 

 

[Redrascal2]

The way the last manager search was handled and the time it took and now delays in naming Pearson with so much work to be done on the squad. It is as if Lansdown has no understanding or simply is not bothered about the impact it will have on next season in terms of what team will be on the pitch or the effect on season ticket sales or crowds at Ashton Gate. I simply cannot understand it.

[Harry]

I hear both parties want to do a deal but they are still quite a way apart. Contract length seemingly the sticky point, but I’m sure they’ll meet somewhere near the middle. 

[steviestevieneville]

24 minutes ago, Harry said:

I hear both parties want to do a deal but they are still quite a way apart. Contract length seemingly the sticky point, but I’m sure they’ll meet somewhere near the middle. 

This I assume isn’t unusual . if you're in NP’s position he would probably want 3 years id guess . Possibly SL 2 . 
surely though there’s a wage % on pay off . A lot of fans think that if you're sacked one year into a four year contract you get paid the balance . However I’m sure it doesn’t work like that . Surely you’ve failed so no one would expect to be paid full price . 
 

[Mr Popodopolous]

15 hours ago, GrahamC said:

100%.

I look at some of the smaller established Championship clubs like Blackburn, Millwall & Preston.

They have managers like Mowbray, Rowett & Neil, who whatever their individual qualities are all established & experienced at this level.

Our bright idea last summer was to give it to someone who had managed a L2 club for 15 games.

They must piss themselves laughing at how we are run.

Fans not particularly happy- sacked. That's the two bolded names.

"Smaller" is an interesting choice of words for the first in your list- by what metric? Blackburn have spent more time in the top two divisions- let alone trophies and European competition- by far over their history than us. If it's the here and now then yes less attendances, revenue, in some respects less facilities.

Barnsley appoint relatively unknown foreign- they definitely fall below us in the revenue and infrastructure stakes, yet they're flying. Brentford too though they seem to have stalled in recent weeks- too many draws.

[Davefevs]

6 minutes ago, steviestevieneville said:

This I assume isn’t unusual . if you're in NP’s position he would probably want 3 years id guess . Possibly SL 2 . 
surely though there’s a wage % on pay off . A lot of fans think that if you're sacked one year into a four year contract you get paid the balance . However I’m sure it doesn’t work like that . Surely you’ve failed so no one would expect to be paid full price . 
 

Your pay off terms CAN be whatever you write into the contract.  Every contract can be different.  Often the contract term is to ensure compensation if your manager gets poached, not the terms of a payoff.

[steviestevieneville]

33 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Your pay off terms CAN be whatever you write into the contract.  Every contract can be different.  Often the contract term is to ensure compensation if your manager gets poached, not the terms of a payoff.

I can imagine that , as managers have egos & would go into each job as if they were the man to turn the fortunes . Like a woman taming a bad boy  

 

[havanatopia]

22 hours ago, chinapig said:

Having met Steve once presumably there needs to be a 4 week gap to his second interview. Anything else would not be rigorous.

But if his PowerPoint skills are not up to scratch he's a gonner.

So that's why Ashton is hanging around. Get the presentation sorted for Nige! No wonder it's taking eons.

[Andy082005]

23 hours ago, GrahamC said:

What the title says, really.

There is no logical reason to delay this any longer now, there are only 2 games left, so SL will have seen enough to make a decision either way on Pearson’s future.

I can see both sides of this argument, results have been really very poor but also taking over an injury ravaged squad with so many out of contract who seem unable to be motivated, is a tough task.

My view for what it’s worth, is that I would appoint Pearson but not on the rumoured 3 year deal, I’d give him two years with a review built in after 12 months to then extend if things are going well.

Any talk of top six is fanciful, next season is all about finishing half way at best, we need major surgery & realistically you don’t get every decision regarding signings right.

If SL does have doubts there is no point in now continuing with NP though, as the new man needs appointing as soon as possible.

I don't think the delay is coming from SL. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the other way round, and Pearson is delaying until he gets what he wants. 

[GrahamC]

7 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Fans not particularly happy- sacked. That's the two bolded names.

"Smaller" is an interesting choice of words for the first in your list- by what metric? Blackburn have spent more time in the top two divisions- let alone trophies and European competition- by far over their history than us. If it's the here and now then yes less attendances, revenue, in some respects less facilities.

Barnsley appoint relatively unknown foreign- they definitely fall below us in the revenue and infrastructure stakes, yet they're flying. Brentford too though they seem to have stalled in recent weeks- too many draws.

Neil had 4 years & had run his course, that’s fair enough.

Mowbray isn’t popular, I know.

Blackburn might have the history but their attendances are low, their catchment area tiny & the days of Shearer & Sutton are long gone.

I am not deluded, I know clubs like Forest & Sunderland are bigger than us, but these 3 are definitely smaller.

I was making a general point anyway & didn’t want to get bogged down re individuals, all these appointments had CVs to back them up, so did Ismael at Barnsley in a completely different league.

We however appointed LJ’s assistant, as I said before, someone who managed Oldham for 15 games FFS, there is only one conclusion to draw from that, we act small time & aren’t even in the game.

[red panda]

1 hour ago, GrahamC said:

Neil had 4 years & had run his course, that’s fair enough.

Mowbray isn’t popular, I know.

Blackburn might have the history but their attendances are low, their catchment area tiny & the days of Shearer & Sutton are long gone.

I am not deluded, I know clubs like Forest & Sunderland are bigger than us, but these 3 are definitely smaller.

I was making a general point anyway & didn’t want to get bogged down re individuals, all these appointments had CVs to back them up, so did Ismael at Barnsley in a completely different league.

We however appointed LJ’s assistant, as I said before, someone who managed Oldham for 15 games FFS, there is only one conclusion to draw from that, we act small time & aren’t even in the game.

Dear Captain Hindsight

I raise you Scott Parker.  He had less managerial experience than Holden, but that appointment worked out well.  Every appointment, whether an old hand or a newbie, is a gamble.  Some succeed and others fail.  That's football.  If there was a sure fire way to pick a successful manager, all 92 clubs would be doing it.  But there isn't.

Sorry if this ruins your narrative. 

[GrahamC]

1 minute ago, red panda said:

Dear Captain Hindsight

I raise you Scott Parker.  He had less managerial experience than Holden, but that appointment worked out well.  Every appointment, whether an old hand or a newbie, is a gamble.  Some succeed and others fail.  That's football.  If there was a sure fire way to pick a successful manager, all 92 clubs would be doing it.  But there isn't.

Sorry if this ruins your narrative. 

It doesn’t actually ruin my “narrative” at all. 

As I had pointed out Ismael was a significantly different appointment from a Mick McCarthy say, but both arguably successful.

Everyone starts out somewhere, as Moyes did at Preston. 
Holden however had done absolutely nothing whatsoever that would suggest he would ever be a success, no “hindsight” at all, if you look at the reaction to his appointment it was amazement, shock & incredulity. It simply suggested we weren’t remotely ambitious & wanted to drift along.

Parker was a gamble & it came off, so fair play to Fulham, but like a Lampard or Steve Cooper, another one in the same vein, Parker’s standing within the game & Holden’s were just chalk & cheese.

[mozo]

10 hours ago, Harry said:

I hear both parties want to do a deal but they are still quite a way apart. Contract length seemingly the sticky point, but I’m sure they’ll meet somewhere near the middle. 

Thanks Harry. Any rumours flying round about Pearson's staff?

[Clutton Caveman]

17 hours ago, Pezo said:

And there is the problem IMO - people in roles that aren't empowered to complete that role, a board that's supposed to have power over the executive but actually has limited power. 

I think he will sit on his hands as per usual and will get a huge shock when he checks the season ticket sales from his customers.

[bcfc01]

I realise that there is a lot to consider with this appointment, not least Pearsons staff and replacement for MA. But I can't help feeling that this has all the hallmarks of when LJ was sacked and DH got the job. 

Hope I'm wrong and SL can bring himself to tear up the majority of what he's implemented over the last few years and admit it hasn't worked, rather than carrying on with it and employing another head coach to work within the "system."

Can't see him changing tack, but living in hope - nothing new there..

[Pezo]

6 minutes ago, Clutton Caveman said:

I think he will sit on his hands as per usual and will get a huge shock when he checks the season ticket sales from his customers.

Well I'm sure he can see the statistics already and I assume they don't look pretty

[Mendip City]

23 minutes ago, bcfc01 said:

I realise that there is a lot to consider with this appointment, not least Pearsons staff and replacement for MA. But I can't help feeling that this has all the hallmarks of when LJ was sacked and DH got the job. 

Hope I'm wrong and SL can bring himself to tear up the majority of what he's implemented over the last few years and admit it hasn't worked, rather than carrying on with it and employing another head coach to work within the "system."

Can't see him changing tack, but living in hope - nothing new there..

Depends on SLs mindset but sticking to his plan probably involves a relegation and rebuild now. It’s getting tedious now.... 40+ years flipping between tier two and three. 
Hopefully a new way forward can be found and that has to focus, first and foremost, on getting the first team back on a more secure footing over the next year or two (which doesn’t mean you can’t play academy kids... just means it’s even more important they have strong characters around them). 
I’m with you - hope more than expectation. 

[exAtyeoMax]

21 hours ago, Harry said:

Certainly not saying AG is a ruin. 
It’s a metaphorical view of the mess that Ashton is leaving behind him. 

Are they carrying on with the MA recruitment set-up or are they going to change it to more like it used to be? (Keith Burt type)