Dean Holden is a gamble for Bristol City - but the right one for the club at this time Our Robins writer on the new head coach The debts are racking up for every club outside the Premier League beyond those subsidised by parachute payments. Back in May EFL chief Rick Parry explained on the current financial horizon that there is a storm affecting English football beyond the top tier. "We have a great deal of uncertainty around next season and the undetermined matter of when we'll be able to return with crowds, which for the EFL is absolutely critical. We're much more dependent upon the revenue and atmosphere generated by crowds than the Premier League," Parry explained to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee. A £200m shortfall was expected by September, though that may be helped by further financial help and the transfer window remaining open. And it's against this backdrop that Bristol City announced their new head coach last week. While a long wait resulted in Lee Johnson's right-hand man being appointed, we can see the factors in Dean Holden's favour. The club only made a profit in their last accounts by selling players - and for some big amounts - over the preceding year. Therein shows the tough landscape. With crowds yet to be officially allowed back, there are still many unknowns and possibly dark futures. Now imagine you're interviewing a prospective candidate to be the new head coach at Bristol City and they know little about the U23s and believe that some big spending will be needed to make the Robins competitive. A second candidate believes they can compete for the top six, but at the same time as realising the potential of Antoine Semenyo, who previously attracted a bid from Chelsea. Given the shifting sands that football are balanced upon then would it not be sensible to at least fully consider what candidate no.2 offers? Remember that financial fair-play does not allow limitless spending and neither does spending equate to success. Bristol City will have done their homework on every candidate and hence partly why the process took so long. Ah, the 'process'. For those asking, why do finances matter now if originally City were looking at the likes of Chris Hughton and Steven Gerrard? Do consider that at times it is possible to have your cake and eat it. Maybe an exciting candidate was willing to be interviewed and work under a certain budget. How do you know until you talk to them? Aim for the stars at first and see how high you get, no? The £1m salary may have been acceptable to everyone. "We have a particular type of person we want to come in, there's been a lot of good work here by Lee, we don't want to lose that, someone has to come in and build on that," Steve Lansdown told TalkSport on 7 July. "The aim is to get us into the Premier League as soon as we can." The second bit may have been a necessity off the back of the first part, though many fans have pointed instead to Lansdown's talk of a need for "a breath of fresh air". The Robins have explained that they want a coach who will develop young players and will not be afraid to 'trade'. Was Chris Hughton prepared to accept that? Either way, it is time to move on. And so Dean Holden is appointed. With just five Championship games to his name as a head coach, it is undoubtedly a risk to give what is a great job - stable ownership, who promise financial backing and time at the helm to their head coaches - to the 40-year-old former Bolton Wanderers defender, who was encouraged to coach by Dean Smith when the pair were at Walsall together. It is a brave decision from City to appoint Holden, and maybe last summer was not the 'bold' one the Robins promised but instead it was this. Such controversial but courageous decisions are not beyond the City board, CEO Mark Ashton, Jon and Steve Lansdown and Doug Harman. Some others: Selling Lloyd Kelly and Adam Webster last summer to progress (it nearly worked to be fair) Sticking with Lee Johnson when he crashed to a record number of defeats as Bristol City coach in 2016/17 Dispensing with Steve Cotterill just months after the 2014/15 double had been achieved A 125th anniversary Bristol City kit that divided opinion Most of those decisions have turned out okay in the long-run. And if supporters want to emulate what Brentford and Swansea City are doing then they must trust City to get this right and make those intrepid decisions. The Bees sold Neal Maupay last summer and didn't buy a replacement instead trusting Ollie Watkins to move centrally and replace the Brighton-bound striker. Likewise, Swansea City appointed the inexperienced Steve Cooper a year ago (incidentally after a lengthy interview process too), who had never been in charge of a club before that. Their reward was a playoff place come the end of his first campaign that few predicted. Cooper's clear plans for how his team should play were said to be persuasive, and Holden's clear vision was also cited by Ashton and co last week. We are told that Bristol City's training has been 'buzzing' in the last two weeks where rain and sunshine have been in good measure. The additions of England coaches Keith Downing and Paul Simpson have added a zest to the proceedings and the pair will hopefully help this young squad move soar to new heights. It needs balancing up with that of course the players who enjoy a good relationship with Holden will have preferred him to the unknown of another coach coming in, and there may be questions on how best to motivate the central actors. Good early results may be necessary but if not at least a 12-month rolling contract lends room for manoeuvre in a year if things don't work out. The money does matter, as mentioned. Jon Lansdown explained his frustration to this writer last week at Holden's unveiling at not being able to hold any events at Ashton Gate Stadium, understanding it from the fans' perspective and their grumbles, as well as the clubs' that a chief source of income has dried up. And so if ever there was a time to gamble it is now at this special time. Alternative perception: "sticking to your knitting" - a phrase used by Steve Lansdown previously - could yield results. It's time to see if fortune does really favour the valiant. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dean-holden-gamble-bristol-city-4433295
"Sticking to your knitting" - a phrase used by Steve Lansdown previously - could yield results. I like the new crew, I like the enthusiasm being displayed up at Failand, I am impressed by the new, honest leadership, now it's a case of wait and see, I think 10 games should give us an idea of the direction of travel, after that is in the lap of the gods.
I could buy into all the above if he hadn't said what he did in his Talksport interview. Wasn't he aware just a few weeks back, 5 months into Covid, of the fiscal situation facing City this season. I find it hard to believe. They were wrong employing LJ and the same folk are now appointing Holden. Difference now is they're all ready building bridges and managing expectations for our very ordinary, at best, upcoming season.
Everyone knows that Holden is a gamble, but I genuinely hope he succeeds. But the interesting part will be that if he doesn't, how far down the pecking order the board will go next time around if they appoint an internal replacement. Kit Man ? Tea Lady ? Physio ? Ball Boy ?
Of course it's a gamble, almost every appointment is; however, this is a bigger gamble than most, if it doesn't come off we could be in the smelly brown stuff as I doubt Chris Hughton will want anything to do with us, should he even be available if this gamble fails. That said, a lot of clubs so far seem to have promoted from within in the last month, so perhaps it is a sign of teams cutting their cloth accordingly...?
If Hughton is the best manager around, why have us, Bournemouth, Birmingham and Watford all gone elsewhere? There is a reason he has gone over a year now without a job.
It's a good point, maybe CH has a reputation as someone who wants money to work with, which normally isn't an issue as year on year most clubs spend more, but with COVID-9 this year, I think a lot of clubs outside of the Premier League (and even some within the PL), will have to operate on smaller budgets this coming season. This will, of course, be music to RP's ears, as he can then say 'I told you so' when MA doesn't spend as much with DH as the Head Coach as he did when LJ was manager......
Massive gamble and he needs to start well or it will be curtains forhim and Ashton me thinks. Fully understand the cheap option in these times though. But he who spoke with forked tongue gives us something different to what he wanted.
any appointment is a gamble … and we all hope any appointment succeeds .. from the article...…………. the scribe states CITY were interested in SG /CH yet MA categorically states from a point of view BCFC didn't have an interest … = media rumour mongering! ............... "the first part, though many fans have pointed instead to Lansdown's talk of a need for "a breath of fresh air"." .. breath of fresh air doesn't necessarily mean someone unrelated to the club!!!!!... simply means change of helmsman … reference to CH MAYBE NOT accepting the challenge is a codswallop comment … was never in the picture …
The same could be said about Johnson of course, some said he would walk into a job. Anyway this is where I am, underwhelmed yes mainly because of the shocking 5 week disaster PR surrounding his being given the job. But as always he will get my support, all I ever ask from any BCFC team is that they give 100% something lacking especially in the 2nd half of the season. I hope he is true to his word and plays a fast attacking style of football, I also hope that we give youth and younger talent a chance, Taylor Moore, Vyner, Walsh, Morrell certainly and any others deemed worthy, I don't think we need Williams, I don't think we need another keeper, given how dodgy Bentley was towards the end of the season O'leary is either good enough or he is not, or a winger even if Eliasson does go, we need a couple of strikers given the position with Diedhiou. Pring is 22 years old and perhaps ready as a back up left back, Jonny Smith is another due a chance, also Bakinson and maybe Morton, Janneh looked a real talent before his injury.
Eddie Howe said he might get back in the game after Christmas so I'm sure he's waiting in the wings for a future challenge.
Makes sense the best chance of taking on a under performing in either the prem or championship. He's a good bloke and a good coach, sadly it would appear that the owner of Bournemouth became bored and stopped pumping money in, club is now up for sale.
I have a strange feeling that Bournemouth are about to fall off the radar and that would be a great shame because they were a leading light in the belief that even small clubs can get in to the Premiership. Sean Dyche is another in the that same managerial mode that has achieved much with so little and I often ask why Bristol City have never come up with the same success especially when you consider our fan base compared to theirs.
Well recently 3 consecutive 2nd half of the season meltdowns aided by 3 consecutive incredibly poor/negative January windows + investing far too much time twice on an Arsenal player who was never going to sign for us.
Indeed like most teams who are promoted from the championship, sadly the premiership protects them from punishment and the championship seem to be going in the same direction for those who break the rules but fail to gain promotion.
