Whilst watching football at the real end of the spectrum in
the Conference North over the Easter weekend, I was introduced to the news of
yet another managerial casualty the 35th of this 2012/13 campaign sadly being
Martin O’Neill of Sunderland. This made me consider what Robbie Savage pointed
out in February of this year and Paul Ince only very recently, about managers
having some form of transfer window introduced to protect them in the same way
players are. While changes at football clubs, in the appointment of a new
manager can spring a change in fortunes on the pitch for the better, this is
not always the case. In the Premiership there have been some odd departures at
clubs who have been competitive, most recently Martin O’Neill who I considered
one of the genuinely good managers in the Premier league. Nigel Adkins
departure from Southampton was cruel as he had taken them from League one to
the Premier League and had them competing and in a position to stay up, not way
adrift of everybody. Where do the Southampton hierarchy expect the club to
finish? 17th would be amazing for them, now in charge at Reading due
to another odd sacking of Brian McDermott. He had Reading fighting and seemed
to have a great spirit within the squad. What is so bad with being relegated?
If that is to be the fate for Reading, they would potentially keep a fair
portion of the squad and if McDermott was still there, somebody who understands
that level of football. All I can seem to think is that owners and the money
involved with the Premier League make these changes in a last ditch hope to
stay in the top flight of English football.
In the Championship there is the prime case at Blackburn
Rovers where Steve Kean was forced to resign even when the club were at the
time in the top six of the Championship table after a steady start to life in
the second tier of football. Now facing a very important battle to stay in the
Championship, does beg the question was it the best thing for Blackburn Rovers
to lose Steve Kean? The managers since him had not been given the chance to put
their own impression on the club, Henning Berg who was given a 3 year contract
by the owners Venkys, managed to just see out 57 days and Michael Appleton who
only managed ten days longer than Berg. What are the owners after? Also what is
the global advisor position that exists at the club? It’s not a global advisor
they need; it is somebody who has a real understanding and passion for English
football. This desired need by clubs to
get to the promise land of the Premier League, where the money for television
rights has just increased again for next season must be one reason. This is
something that I consider will get worse, as owners desire this immediately,
meaning managers may not get a second season to improve a squad if not
successful or as this season has shown, even one season. Wolves are another
club where the appointment of a manager has not lasted a season in Stale
Solbakken and even going back to last campaign in relieving Mick McCarthy was a
very pointless act as now they sit very close to getting relegated, have things
improved? Nottingham Forest have also not seen a great deal of improvement
after sacking Sean O’Driscoll on Boxing Day 2012, they currently sit 5th but
not secure in the playoff places and could still miss out via them in May.
A manager transfer window may perhaps bring some time for a
manager to be able to prove he was the right appointment to the club, but it
may well cause more issues? There is also this pressure to succeed that needs
to change within the game that has been created by money. While I appreciate
that any supporter would love for their club to be the most successful and
winning all it can, just having a club existing and being competitive is just
as rewarding. When you consider what happened to Leeds United almost going out
of business, the constant situation at Portsmouth and the point’s deduction at
Coventry City meaning their bid for the playoffs have been ruined because of
excessive debt. Teams cannot always be at the top of the league, players miss
chances that could have changed a game or make a mistake by the same result. I
am a fan of Chester FC who has just won their third league in a row since
reforming after going bust. They will be competing in the Football Conference
next season and my worry is how long will the current manager have due to the
success so far. If we finish just outside the relegation zone I would be over
the moon with that, but I know how difficult it is to erase what has gone before
and start again with a fresh approach.
