O'Driscoll knows he could be victim of Bristol City's transition.. Monday, October 14, 2013. HEAD coach Sean O'Driscoll accepts he could become a casualty of Bristol City's transition process. While a majority of City fans are prepared to be patient and give O'Driscoll the time he needs to rebuild at Ashton Gate, a vociferous minority are already calling for change. City have failed to win any of their ten games in League One and now find themselves lodged in the relegation zone after results elsewhere went against them at the weekend. please log in to view this image Bristol City boss Sean O'Driscoll That is too much for some fans, who believe O'Driscoll is living on borrowed time. Even the Midlander acknowledges the possibility of losing his job if City's disappointing start to the campaign is not arrested soon. "This isn't about me, it's about Bristol City Football Club," said O'Driscoll, who took over as head coach in January and was unable to stave off the threat of relegation from the Championship. In a brutally honest assessment he added: "I've said all along that, football being football, I could end up being a victim of this transition process. "The wholesale culture change at the club was never going to be easy, and not winning a game in the League so far has understandably only served to heighten nervousness and cynicism among some sections of the fan base. "I can't bury my head in the sand as to the disappointments and anger that the fans of this football club have experienced over the past few years, just as I can't be arrogant enough to think that not winning a league game this season is acceptable to anyone. "It's not acceptable to the coaching staff and the players, so there's no way it's going to be acceptable to fans who haven't had much to cheer about for three years." O'Driscoll has made every attempt possible to inform supporters and encourage them to understand the difficulty of the job he and his staff have taken on, writing detailed programme notes, conducting extensive media interviews, attending fans' meetings and even taking part in inter-active podcasts on the club website. He accepts not all fans will share his point of view, but feels he has gone a long way towards winning over the others. He said: "Managing a football club isn't a popularity contest and you accept there will always be people who cannot see past the final score. Last week's performance at Port Vale was a perfect case in point. "But just as you cannot allow good results to mask more deep-rooted problems, so you can't let poor results mask some of the positive things that have occurred at this club since the start of the season. "People will make up their own minds whether they want to accept or believe what you're telling them, but they should have the opportunity to challenge the decision-makers at the club face to face, and hear answers in the full context of the big picture, so we can all try to bring this club together for long-term gain. "I've received some very supportive letters and emails from fans over the past few weeks, as well as some not so supportive ones, and the reaction at the end of the Colchester United game also told a story that most fans are happy to give the players their support if they can see there is effort, endeavour and commitment. The more opportunities you to have to communicate directly with fans, hopefully gives them the opportunity to better understand on all fronts and vice versa." http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/O-Dris...s-transition/story-19929435-detail/story.html There are going to be some of us calling for his head, others are going to say, " What a nice chap, he is doing his best and needs more time", what ever side of the fence we sit on the performance and results to date have been abysmal and a complete failure, by all that's right and fair we can't continue to put up with this disgraceful, pathetic charade in the name of transition, something has got to change and quick, manager or style of play I just don't care, I just want my team to survive.
'I could end up being a victim of this transition process' So could Bristol City. We hear from SOD but the Board's silence is deafening.
I think he is reflecting on the fact that 3 other L1 managers have been shown the door this season with at least 2 of them having won games. Having stated so clearly the need to get the club into comparative financial health (which I believe is their overriding priority) the board would lose what credibility they have left so soon into what is likely to be a lengthy process. I genuinely believe they would see us in L2 and have the club in a better financial state than start all over again with a new manager and another clear out of players. It would not surprise me if the model they are looking for is like Exeter http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24458891 To be clear this is not something I would welcome just my take on the situation. I still believe we will survive in L1,but it might be very close.
Your board is hanging O'Bismal out to dry. If he is implementing their austerity/transition policy someone needs to make a strong statement of support. As it is their 'deafening silence' can be interpreted as indifference/lack of moral fibre/insensitivity/distancing/disapproval............ He increasingly is a lone voice............................
I don't think SoD has been hung out to dry. The Board are constantly talking about the 5 pillars in the match day programme - it's been in Harman's column and Jon Lansdown's. They could always come out and give SoD the (dreaded) vote of confidence - but that would just spark a new set of rumours. SoD has been given a difficult job to do and he's doing it.
Full Form Table up to 6 games, it's been even worse since.... http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-one/2013-2014/form-table/full
