http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/article/ward-becomes-director-of-football-1451094.aspx........... Clarke takes control of first team................
Mmmmm - don't know what to make of this. Undoubtedly a good thing in the long run but Higgs claims that: “We believe this is now the right time to make the switch..." - why now? Do we really need management changes at this crucial point in the season? The proof of the pudding will be in the eating - the next few games will decide whether this is indeed the 'right time' or whether it's a desperate last throw of the dice which is doomed to fail. I just don't know any more. However, best of luck Clarke - get the team playing for you and don't play people out of position, and we may just live to fight another season....
I like Darrell Clarke from what I've seen of him. He clearly has passion and drive. This has happened very suddenly, though.
Shocked. However I think Ward will still be running things. Just making Clarke manager will relieve tensions from fans calling for Wards head and Higgs head. Just my opinion though. If I am wrong, giving Clarke his 1st managerial job in the football league in a relegation battle trying to stay in the football league is just crazy.
It was always going to happen, but yes, the timing is a little strange. Having said that, I've been calling for John to be moved out/upstairs for quite some time now, so I'm happy that it's happened. Clarke needs to stop our negative style of play, playing people out of position, playing 4-4-2 with no pace on the flanks etc. etc. If he does that, we may survive. He also needs to put a rocket up some of our senior players, especially those up front and get them playing for the shirt again. The crucial bit of our season now starts tomorrow v Morecombe. Let bygones be bygones and let's get behind Clarke and the team so that we can grab all three precious points. If we win our home games and snatch a single draw away, then we'll stay up.
I don't agree. I think that Ward has lost the dressing room and run out of ideas and this is a nice way of sacking him. I think that Clarke will have responsibility for tactics and team selection and that JW will deal with the off-field aspect.
I think there#s a lot of work to do to get ready for the new stadium. Ward has the experience to get the club set up on a sound footing for the future. Hopefully we'll get a bit of a bounce with the "new" manager which should be enough to keep us up.
More words from JW on his move 'upstairs': "It's the right time," Ward told BBC Points West. "People will look at the league position and say 'why are you doing it now?' but it's been on the cards for a long time. "I spoke to the chairman about four weeks ago saying we need to look at it now and give Darrell the opportunity to move on - arranging pre-season games and contracts etc. "Unfortunately we've had one or two adverse results and it looks a bit awkward but it's been in the pipeline since the start of the season."
Always had the utmost respect for John Ward, one of life's good guys. I hope it works out for him and BRFC.
I think JW has done the honorable thing. He saved our ass last season but has lost his mojo as has the team. Clarke is the new Ferguson.............mark my words.
