Manager on planning for next season. Darrell Clarke believes he is the man to lead Bristol Rovers back in to the Football League. Although the manager is still hurting following Roversâ relegation at the weekend, he believes the club should be aiming to bounce back at the first attempt. He said: âWe want to be getting promotion in the first year, itâs as simple as that. âIt is not going to be easy, I know what that league is all about and it is going to be difficult, but that is our aim. âI have sat down with the Board, I have let them know where I want to go with it. I believe I am the right man for the job. I know what this league is about. âI will be judged on results when I have got my own squad together, and I believe the fans will give me a fair crack of the whip. âI am distraught for everyone at the football club, and all the supporters. âI am very angry inside and very frustrated, but I also have a determination to want to put it right next season and build a squad that I want, that will represent the shirt in a positive manner. âWe are going in to a league that is a very difficult league, but I am determined for the new challenge and I will be ready for the 30th of June when we come back for pre season.â The manager admits some difficult decisions had to be made yesterday when informing players who would be leaving the club. He said: âI had individual meetings with the players yesterday, on my own, and it is part of the job I never like doing, as it is never nice. âWhatever you may think of a player it is still not nice to tell them you are releasing them. âDifficult decisions were made on certain players, for example Seanan Clucas who I think is a very good ball stopping central midfielder, but we have Ollie Clarke and Tom Lockyer. âIt is up to me to build a squad with the right balance and the right players, and sometimes decisions are tough. âWe donât want to lose our best players. Michael Smith is under contract, and he deserves his offer of an extended contract. âYou have to try and keep your best players to give yourself a real fighting chance. âI only want players here that want to wear the shirt, and want to represent the club in the right light.â
i have to say though that i like that from DC. not once did he say "me and ward have discussed things" or "me and ward decided this" or "me and ward spoke to the players". it was all "me" and "i" from DC. he is his own man making his own decisions. when he took over from ward i was worried that he will be a yes man to ward. however after hearing his 1st interview away from ward and higgs, after taking over from ward, he stated he had different ideas to ward and they didnt always agree with certain things and is now looking forward to doing things his way. now he has the summer to get the players he wants to apply his ideas. the more i hear and see of DC the more im liking him to be honest.
I've said my piece about DC on another thread. It looks like he's staying, so I'll back him. But talk is cheap, it's what happens on the pitch 2014-15 that matters.
100% agree with that. its a shame though that some on the OS forum are talking baout clarke like he has already signed players for us and failed or that he has already gone and talking about new managers that we should get! instead of getting behind him.
usually i give the manager full support and usually i back the manager even when the massive majority want their head on a plate. apart from buckle that it. i wanted him gone before he joined! i sai i will back DC and i will do. but i may change my mind once the transfer window shuts. we need pace and need 2 strikers who can score 25 goal plus each. harrold and brunt cant do that but they can put in their share though. once DC got HIS squad then i will judge him. if i think he has done poor in his recruitment i will say so. he will be judged on results but i will judge him on his signings. last season ward didnt sign what we really needed and we all knew what we needed at the start apart from ward. that cost us big time.
