Bashley have just been promoted to Div. 1 South of the Southern League. That's Step 4. That's a good level. There are some very talented people working at that level who would have no problem making the step up to the Football League. A large number of the players are likely to have Football League experience. Indeed, a Step 4 manager has just been appointed as manager at a Football League club.
Bob man, haway. It doesn't matter what you say, and it may be 100% correct, I don't think you'll change one mind if you post 24 hours a day. It's like the Mags trying to convince everyone that their owners are lovey-dovey liberals and in no way the Saudi state. Not one person I know likes Methven and wishes him well. Sorry but all I want to do is forget he ever existed and get on with supporting what I think is a better club without him. In fact, the club looks exactly how I'd like it despite the sniping from people so negative that they almost seem to want us to fail so they can carry on whining. Everything from KLD having no money of his own to the manager quitting is trawled out to try to throw a wet blanket over the club and supporters. Well it ain't working with me, I think we're on our way at last, Haway!!!
They might do. He's previously been involved with some good non-league clubs. Depends if they've got the financial backing really.
In what capacity? As far as I know it was Whitehall and Eastleigh since hanging up his boots and before joining us.
We had a decent little academy looking to progress, his words when he was appointed :- “A thriving academy is the bedrock of any successful football club. "I am looking forward to working alongside the academy team, with the aim of building on the great foundations that are already in place and cementing our reputation as one of the best environments in the country for young footballers to develop and progress.”
Yeah, he was manager at Whitehawke, who are good club in the Isthmian South. Difficult divisions to get out of the Isthmian divisions at Step 4. Big clubs drop down and get stuck there. Eastleigh, despite their Donald connections, are well run club too. Weren't Donald and Methven cost cutting at this point? Its difficult to be successful when there's no money and your better players are being moved on. He also appears not to have been in post for that long. Success in an academy is a long term thing. Not defending Donald/Methven by the way but I will stand up for non-league football. Like I say, working in non-league in no way implies that you're not good enough for the Football League.
A bit of context. I am now coaching/managing at the same level in non-league as Bashley FC. I actually think the standard is quite high, and I would encourage anyone to pop along and watch a game or two in their area. We are pre season now and trialists are coming in, and some have pro environment experience, and it shows. As much as I enjoy what I do, and am proud to do it, I would not imagine myself director of the academy at Sunderland, or even a coach for u18s up. Like players and managers it is all about levels. I am at mine, Paul Reid found himself far too high I suspect and was out of his depth.
Well said Bob, i still don't get why people try to give you a hard time for passing on what you've heard in good faith. Whilst the way they bought the club may have appeared dodgy based upon the way they described it, at the end of the day 25 million was going to SBC whether it came from the club or the owners. I think if they had simply said "we've paid 15 million for the club (give or take) and the 25 million parachute payment has gone to ES to clear the SBC debt everyone would have been ok with that. Prolem was they tried to hide the way the club was purchased,
Can I ask was the appointment of Moyes, Coleman and the other daft arse any better. But they seem forgotten.
There are people at Step 4 who can and do make the leap though, which was my main point. I don't know Paul Reid so can't really comment on his particular case but it shouldn't be assumed that people at that level aren't capable of working higher. You don't know until you try.
Most supporters were happy with the Moyes appointment, he was just an absolute disaster… Parkinson was never ever wanted by any supporter - dinosaur who shouldn’t have been anywhere near SAFC. Joke of a bloke too.