Bristol City's long pursuit of a new head coach needs settling - before it damages the club Fan unrest and frustration boiling over but it can be fixed with positive news It's 32 days since Lee Johnson was given the elbow and left Ashton Gate following Danny Ward's low shot past Dan Bentley. And still no new managerial arrival looks to be close. City's dallying is starting to become a regular occurence. The club left their transfer business to the very last minutes in summer 2019 with Benik Afobe announced very late on deadline day, 8 August - even after the deadline itself. Their winter market moves took place so late that deals to sign Markus Henriksen and Filip Benkovic had to be completed in London and on the road, with City's media team shifting camp down to the capital and the hotel that the Robins were staying at ahead of playing QPR. There was no action on the Ashton Gate Stadium roof that cold Friday night. And now - following Steve Lansdown taking to the radio to explain that Lee Johnson was partly sacked when he was to enable a new man to come in and have as much time as possible to prepare for the new season - an appointment is still not close and is dragging on. A bad habit is developing. Especially given that City were the last of the Championship clubs to announce their season card renewal policies and now with no news on their home kit for next season. That blockade on information needs tearing down soon. Bristol Live understands that both Chris Hughton and Dean Holden are still left in the race to become the new City head coach, however neither has yet been given a second interview. Paul Cook has spoken with City but that has not progressed - his chances were described as 'unlikely'. There may be other candidates but Bristol Live is not aware of any further close appointments at this stage. It is beginning to look like a two-horse race. The club told players that a new appointment was expected 7-10 days after the season ended. Semantics? Was it to be working days only? We'll give CEO Mark Ashton and the board the benefit of the doubt there. But the, assumed, procrastination is not helping. Neither did chairman Jon Lansdown's teasing tweet on the weekend. Bed sheets were raised on Tuesday night as several Bristol City fans made their feelings known on the possible appointment of interim head coach Dean Holden, while Ashton was targeted too. Feelings are running high among supporters and fans are restlessly eager to hear from the club see the direction that will be taken. Meanwhile, the players and staff are no different: what will become of Korey Smith, Ashley Williams and Niki Maenpaa, who are all out of contract now? They need to know their futures. Likewise, no announcements on younger players even. Young talents Sam and Callum Pearson, Barney Soady and others have signed new terms months ago but these are yet to be officially communicated by the club. Those players were told off internally for sharing the news before it was done officially, but the news was made months ago and they are but young guys with great news to pass on. Is everything held up for one big splurge to come over the next days? Bristol Live understands that at least one top talent in BS3 is waiting to see who the new man in charge is and what chance he may get over the coming seasons before committing his future. And staff are no different. If Hughton is appointed, new backroom team may be needed; and there is a spare place available to be filled if Holden gets the job too - replacing himself, with talks taking place on who this may be. Either way an appointment must be made before pre-season begins less the squad is affected for the next campaign and fans grow further disillusioned. Transfers? Our understanding is there will be few but if anyone is to be replaced then the Robins will not be in a good position having missed out on players moving early in the transfer window. The players return for pre-season next week. Time is ticking. Crunch-time approaches less more and serious damage is done. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-citys-long-pursuit-new-4396361
Serve the Management right for the protests that their actions have generated. I have no sympathy Fair enough to take the time that's necessary but this is just stupidly excessive. Why are we always behind when it comes to stuff like this and when the Transfer Window opens we're often left with what others don't want All down to bad management, poor planning and red tape within the halls of AG I think.
I'm glad they've emphasis 'assumed' procrastination because nobody apart from those involved knows what is happening behind the scenes
Won't be so bad if the appointment turned out to be a decent one, one for all of us fans to get behind...
It seems certain individuals are making a dogs dinner out of this appointment, as the article said it'e becoming a bad habit. 1st - Last minute deadline day signing of Benik Afobe in the Summer 2019. 2nd - Their winter market moves took place so late that deals to sign Markus Henriksen and Filip Benkovic had to be completed in London and on the road. 3rd - Lansdown taking to the radio to explain that Lee Johnson was partly sacked when he was to enable a new man to come in and have as much time as possible to prepare for the new season. 4th - Both Chris Hughton and Dean Holden, neither has yet been given a second interview. 5th - The club told players that a new appointment was expected 7-10 days after the season ended. Semantics? Was it to be working days only? 6th - Jon Lansdown's teasing tweet on the weekend. I've listed these from the article but what a way for the clubs top echelons to conduct them selves, nearly 5 weeks and they are still strutting around like half cocked hens.
It's from MacGregor isn't it? I doubt he'd have plucked that from thin air to be fair - there's a good chance all those points are correct imo.
well it isn't rocket science to know that Dean is unlikely to get a second interview … he is currently the man in charge, his next interview will depend on "the appointment" his or anothers ... … as for the others until the heirachy under SL SORTS OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES...BIG ONES... not much likely to happen really would never have thought that … they must be the 30th media outlet to come up with that..... another padded statement to fill column inch's ..as obvious as saying on a cloudless sky at high noon the sky is blue... The phrase "our understanding" is sheer poetic licence they don't have a clue/source really and covers them for spreading untruth's .....EVIL POST would be no good as a football team ….all dribblers …..
It seems to me you have a little vendetta with the Bristol Post, you continually, bitterly chip away at them, as I have said before it's our local paper,people on our forum some live all over the UK and some worldwide, most of us like and enjoy the reporting and information they supply, my advice is if you don't enjoy it, don't read it, it's your choice.
I have to admit that I personally find the constant ads and pop ups annoying. I don’t really have a problem with the reporting (when I can get to it) and I think the pop ups and ads are a normal thing with local papers - it’s the same here with the Swindon Advertiser.
R+W, if the pop ups and ads are a pain, download Adblock Plus off the web - it's free and works a treat. Sometimes sites recognise you've got an adblocker on and will ask you to disable it for their site, but that's then up to you, not them.
Got to agree with this, my son set me up with AdGaurd AdBlocker and AdBlock Plus, they work a treat and as Sparky said, you are in control.
in away he was spot on …! gave Dean all the time amazing so positive that CH WAS the only other besides DH …and CH well, CH ...DIDNT EVEN GET A FIRST INTERVIEW !! THERE WAS and were being eliminated from the short list … 10 down to 4 down to 1 …..
