I think reckless in terms of not having anyone lined up (at least according to WLS) and it being a short off season period and with expected mass player departures. At least that's how it appears because the communication is so poor.
Well yes, I wasn't saying that that was his only function, but hiring and firing managers must be down to the DoF, I would have thought.
I don't blame him for sacking Warburton. I'm glad the clown is going. But if Les is responsible for player recruitment I think it's fair to question what value he brings.
Originally, a DOF was there to be the link man between the manager and the owners. Well it used to be the case at clubs ive been involved with. Nowadays they seem to have the power to do anything, everything and nothing. Personally, i dont see the need for them, its just another opinion along the route that can make things get lost in translation.
I'm wondering whether the decision was made back in January when the alleged target signings didn't materialise and we got the dud loans. Laughable bids for players who could have been the difference must have been gut wrenching when we were doing so well. I'm sure that's when the wheels came off...
Teflon Les has the best job in the world. Nice salary, no pressure, not responsible or accountable for anything. I am glad the decision has been made to let MW go as I’d be very nervous to be starting the season with him in charge. Time for a fresh start.
Man City and Liverpool both have Directors of Football, its worked out ok for them. I suspect its down to the quality of the person in the job. My understanding is that they run the football side of the club, the CEO runs the commercial side of the club, and owners don’t have to get involved with stuff they don’t know much, or anything, about. In theory it has to be better having some genuine knowledge between Harry Redknapp and Tony Fernandes’ money, doesn’t it? We saw what happens when you don’t….. The old style of the first team manager running everything surely isn’t sustainable in modern football, at least at its higher levels? Its also open to a lot of conflicts of interest, which is a polite way of saying corruption. Our issue might be the person in the job, or the job not being set up properly. Or both.
They werent necessary years ago but with most club owners now living on a different continent, things have changed.
I've always been in two minds about the DOF role. As has been said, giving managers total control and blank cheques hasn't worked, and can lead to major financial problems. At the same time, is the solution to this having yet another managerial position, that can be filled by someone with no training or experience, but who happens to have experience working in football? I'm reminded of Peter Kenyon and Alex Ferguson, where it seemed Ferguson looked after the football playing side, and Kenyon looked after the football business side...and that seemed to work, but not without its problems. What was key seems to have been that they trusted each other, and worked well together. At some point trust was lost between Warburton and Ferdinand...and clearly that relationship being a good working relationship is key.
Had no sound for the game but great to read Clive say Warburton got thunderous applause before leaving the pitch yesterday. It looked on the TV like he was thanking for applause before the game too.
A nice depressing read for a Sunday morning... https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/footb...ding-on-the-platform-watching-you-go-–-report
https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/57702/standing-on-the-platform-watching-you-go-–-report Enjoy, the usual stuff. Oops, Steels beat me to it.
Meh.....I certainly won't miss Clive's blinkered love for Warburton. I wonder if he'll overlook so many of the next Coach's failings?
I did appreciate his summing up of the club being in a no win situation. Keep a manager who's lost 12 of the last 18 games and you better bloody hope next season starts well. But like-wise sack a manager who (most of) the supporters are on-board with and you better bloody hope the season starts well. I dread to think how toxic things are going to get if we lose our first few games.
