Bit of an odd post but oh well. I was watching a programme called Football Mundial on Sky Sports this morning and they did a piece on European Coaching badges being done by English Coaches/Managers mostly ex players. Most of these guys were using the badge to help their managerial careers but would also hep a coaching career. I noticed Dean Wilkins was one of the people doing the badge. Personally I think he's a brilliant coach who gels well with the Southampton set up, players and staff alike and definitely one of Pardew's better choices and did well to stay well away from the bomb that exploded with Pardew being, as we are led to believe, the main course of it. I was just wondering what anyone else think's of him and the rest of the coaching staff and if you think that maybe Wilkins is using the badge to develop his managerial career which went stale since his time at Brighton finished with the exception of his relatively unsuccessful stint as caretaker manager (3 games - 3 loses but I forgive him) of us where, if I'm not mistaken, he suggested that he would have been interested in the job full time. I know it's not a blinder of an article but would love to hear your thoughts on the coaching staff at SMS and in particular Dean Wilkins and his ambitions.
Nigel was happy to keep him on the bus and seems to like him and that speaks volumes for me and it seems in football generally people can either manage or coach but not always both and more importantly it seems the players must like him.
It does say a lot for both Dean and Nigel that he survived the fallout from Pardew's departure. I believe that Dean was told his position as coach was safe when he took over as temporary manager, which was why he stayed. So Nigel had to keep him, but since then they seem to have developed mutual respect and work well together. Dean's probably doing the courses for his own reasons, but I'm sure Nigel is encouraging him as he is a great collector of qualifications himself. It helps if a manager is a great coach, but not all coaches make great managers.
The few things I've heard from football people, suggest that he is a very good caoch. Never met him, but sounds a decent fella.
Yeah, I know it's not a great measurement of his coaching skills but whenever I see the team training with him they seem to be enjoying themselves and i think I would prefer that then having them drilled into the ground, although I'm sure he doesn't give them an easy time anyway.
I always watch the way he is with the team out on the pitch or in the stands. He seems to have a good rapport with them. Seems to have alot of respect from the club.
We've got a great coaching setup at the moment, Dean Wilkin's included. The morale that's been within the team for a while now speaks volumes for Adkins and co.
