Phelan is still considering his options for Walsh's replacement in an already depleted backroom team but is close to handing Tony Pennock a full-time deal that would see the academy boss join Neil McDonald as a first team coach. Pennock has worked closely with Phelan since the exit of Stephen Clemence and is known to have impressed City's head coach. "I would like to step up, yes," said Pennock this week. "I've done this job for nine years now and there comes a time when you either do it for your whole career or you try something different. "I'd like to do it but I also understand that Mick has a contract until the end of the season and it'll be his decision ultimately. I'll respect that 100 per cent. It's been a great experience for me over the last few weeks. We've not had the results we've wanted but having seen the boys work as hard as they have, I know they're desperate to turn our luck around before the international break." http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/dieu...9866608-detail/story.html#KK5QpOJWKqMX4sOb.99
I think that is a good move, he has done a really good job with the academy, but this looks to be a the next natural step for him.
Is this the first time we've seen comment from the club that Phelan's deal is only until the end of the season?
So what happens to the academy then? He was brought in as a specialist to oversee the academy. It's still only a Cat 2 which is lower than some much smaller clubs. First team coaches must be 10 a penny, surely we need him more in the academy. Give him a pay rise to stay there if necessary.
I know it was reported, I asked if this was the first time someone from the club had said it on record.
Yes, I thought there was supposed to be a change in attitudes nationwide whereby youth coaching was seen as more of a vocation and not a stepping stone. Do Southampton's youth coaches look to be a number two to the first team manager elsewhere? The Allams were instrumental in getting Pennock I think. Something good they did for once. They should stop Phelan shifting Pennock.
You mean apart from when it was announced? Not sure what you're getting at here. In the world of ****e that is our club at the mo, there is really "nothing to see here".
What do you mean? I'm not getting at anything. I asked a question, by definition I don't know the answer otherwise I wouldn't be asking. If the answer is no and it could be shown where, then that's all i wanted to see.
I'm between a rock and a hard place on this one, I have the greatest of respect for Tony Pennock, and for the fantastic work that he's done with the academy, at the same time I just have a feeling that the need is currently greater around the first team squad, and that his input there can only be seen as a positive.
Maybe stating the obvious, but to me it smacks of Phelan either not being able to convince those he wanted to come join the circus (understandably) or Ehab either refusing to bring more staff to the club or else fu_ck_ing around on the contract side of things. Not meant as any criticism of Pennock. Seems like he's a very good guy. Another week passes, 1 more out, no new support brought in. Absolute shambles.
It's a great chance for him personally to move up the ladder or is it? He won't be given a longer deal than Phelan so at the end of the season when they could both get the shove we could be a decent academy coach lighter.
Is Pennock definitely stopping all work with the academy? Or is he just getting a bigger hand with the first team? If he's going to be focused completely on the first team, then who's going to coach the kids? Obviously there are other coaches who do the younger kids, are they all stepping up too?
To be honest I think Pennock should get the top job. I wouldn't move him from his post to help Phelan out, someone else will step into running the academy, Phelan will get sacked at some point this season and Pennock will inevitably go with him.
