With various posts appearing about Ward going/staying/moving upstairs I wonder who the real No.2 is now. Of course Darrell Clarke is nominally Assistant Manager, and Marcus Stewart is Development Squad coach. The reason I ask is.............................. Yesterday both Clarke and Stewart were in the dugout. It seemed to me, looking across from the other side, that Ward spent far more time consulting/talking with Stewart. There was one time when a substitution might have been made when they were in a long discussion on the edge of the 'team area' The other day I went to watch City U21s play QPR U21s. Again, it was Ward and Stewart who sat together in the Williams Stand watching the game. It might all be academic. All three may work as a team, each chipping in with their views and expertise. But, as I mentioned at the beginning, if Ward moves upwards/sideways or out; and the board continue with their stated aim of developing a Liverpool style management succession, who in the boot room is next in line?
Things went better with Ward and Stewart than when Daryl Clark arrived. Clark may be a decent coach, but we've definitely lost the passion of playing for the badge etc. I still really hope Ward stays. We need a bit of stability, and Ward's experience will definitely get us moving in the right direction eventually.
