Now we have all had a few hours to digest and consider the decision to shuffle the pack a bit at the SOL and I have had the time to read the local press and club website, I have come to a completely new thinking as to Bruce's immediate and maybe even longer term position at the club. I think he is actually in a much stronger position tonight than he was in my thinking 24 hours ago and this is why. I can think of no business that would allow its single main manager to accompany or attend a finance raising series of meetings in the Asian continent, if it were also about to dismiss his services in the near future. One thing I have learned in business over the years is that investors or potential investors like stability not unrest. Nothing would deter a potential new stream of investment more than an unstable and constantly changing management structure in the business they are about to pour their money into. Trust me its the biggest no no in business. Even 2nd rate products can attract investment for growth and development, so long as the structure and management teams are stable and long term. For Ellis Short to announce he is the main man now and then 24 hours later sanction Bruce's trip with Niall, as the manager of SAFC, to develop and source new investment, tells me that Bruce, far from being under the scrutiny of Short, has his complete and utter trust and support. I believe that the decision to extend his contract now was always part of the stability plan and the decisions made in the last 24 hours to be honest reinforce that feeling. Unless of course there is a complete collapse and we lose say 7 or 8 of the next 10 or 12 games and are bottom 3 in January (still a distinct possibility by the way) Bruce will, IMO, be seeing out his full contract until 2014/15 season. Any new investor will want to see that as the plan for the club and the fact Bruce is being included to meet and talk to these people, shows Short and Quinn value him far more than a lot of our supporters do (me included). So, to be blunt, whatever we think he has i.e. 3 games, 6 games or until January, my gut instinct now tells me Bruce isn't going anywhere this season and may well now be manager for the next 2 or 3 seasons to come. Like it or not, we are going to have to get on with life under Bruce and just pray to the Gods he can have a positive effect going forward because baring total disaster, he isn't going anywhere soon IMO now.
Don't agree. You say nothing troubles investors like instabillity, but nothing excites them more than a strong brand let by a charismatic manager. If we got a new high profile manager then it would have even more clout with potential investors. Can you really imagine Short saying, 'no, cant sack him because I've already told him he's going to Korea with Quinny.'? The statement about Steve travelling abroad is just an indirect way of trying to say his possition is stable. Its the thinking man's vote of confidence, without the media fallout. Just my opinion.
Well i think Bruce is here long term unless as Cest says we are on a run of losing games that are impossible for bruce to defend Short believes in Quinn Quinn believes in Bruce The players believe in Bruce Now if only the fans can beleive i believe we can be a success, i still think we may get a striker in Jan
IMO if ES leaves it to late to replace SB he is wasting his money on flights for Quinn & co as no ****er will want to invest in a team that is struggling at the at the wrong end of the table.
Both Cest & Soulsec have very true and valid points in their posts. Meaning we don't have a scooby, and time will tell. Cleared that up then.
Alternatively get SB out of the way when Short is chatting with others? Also it may be that investors would be more impressed if we had a manager that was highly regarded. So I think just cos' SB has gone off with SNQ does not mean that he is more secure.
lol never thought of that Elliss could be holding interviews now while N.Quinn is finding some ninja squad to do bruce in.
There's nothing more destabilising in football business than a relegation. A little closer to that chill wind and we'll see what happens.
Better be careful here Cest or you will be a BiB abd me a BoB, I see what you say but have this sernario. This trip was not arranged yesterday but some time ago and maybe Bruce and Quinn had to go, Right now Bruce is the manager so it would be strange without him. Like sunderpit said it also gets him away for a few days. My view is we will either have a new manager within 2 weeks or Bruce wil see his contract out, a new manager would not surprise me.
I don't think the Koreans give a toss whether Bruce goes there or not - they know Short well and they know he's good at what he does. That's the feller they'll trust to come good, and if he says 'I've just become Chairman, and wanted to clear out some deadwood', they'll take that.
Precisely what Steve Bruce is adding to the mix by going to China is neither here nor there. The fact that he is there at all is equally irrelevant. This trip has been planned for quite some time, and it may be the case that he remains in post to fulfil come contractual obligations of some sort during his time there. Short may be looking at this from a purely "business" perspective and not a football one. He's not going to tell everyone "I'm sending him on a trade mission to Korea but will be sacking the useless twat when he gets back" now is he?
Has the world ended???? I agree with Cest again, spot on and exactly my assessment of things. Come on Cest give me something to argue with you about
Some of your thoughts can be from right out left field at times Cest but they're always well thought out. Lately I've struggled with some of them but understand they come from a love of all things SAFC. What you've written above was exactly my thought last night. However I'd still prefer Bruce to be at home organising the troops for what will be his MOST important period to date at SOL. As sure as the sun rises tomorrow, if he doesn't get the results sorted at home he'll have no need to concern himself with the sale of a few shirts.
With Bruce away it could be a good time to do some interviewing...? Nah. Overall, I tend to agree that SB is safe for now. It's nowt to do with foreign trips though. I just think the Board don't want to add to the instability at the moment by sacking him. The new players are Brucie boys and I suspect they think he'll get them playing together soon. Whether he will or not remains to be seen, but they probably won't think seriously about booting him until well into the new year.
Been out running so your probably right!!! My house mate who is a Forest fan recons they are getting O'Neill, will be interesting to see what happens there. I keep winding him up saying they will get Keane.
Short is a business man who was sold the idea that Sunderland were a sleeping giant who would fill the stadium every game, so he was on to a winner as the only way for SAFC was onwards and upwards. Short wants to see bums on seats for his investment hench Quinns reaction to the stay away fans in the pubs. He will have noticed the sway of opinion regarding Bruce and the fall in attendances, he will also know what needs to be done as IMO there is a large section of the fan base who believe the damage has already been done. I firmly believe that if results do not improve from now to say christmas Bruce will be gone and a replacement will be place prior to the January window and funds made available.
