Hughes SACKED

The news disappoints me personally, but certainly doesn't surprise me.

I've said it before and I will say it again. Hughes brought progress to the club, whilst acknowledging he made mistakes along the way - which manager doesn't? When a manager has demonstrated he is capable of taking the club forward and when the inevitable bad patch hits - which it certainly has - the club, fans, players and manager need to stick together and work through the tough period and come out the other side better for it.

Remember Parkinson's 1 win in 21 games? Did we sack him? No. Did the club stick by him and work through the tough patch? Yes. What happened? We finished the season strongly and laid the foundations for a play-off finish the following season. A more recent example for everyone is Neil Harris at Gillingham. Dreadful first half to the season, could easily have been sacked - particularly with the arrival of a new owner - but wasn't. Yes, he was given money in Jan but he was valued by the club despite results, shown faith and he's improved them massively.

Afraid to say the current ownership and senior leadership of Bradford City have once again failed to learn their lesson. The sack and hire culture doesn't work. I just hope they get 'lucky' on this occasion as it smacks of knee jerk actions to me.

Given the rubbish we fans have had to witness during the last few years I don't blame the fans for their anger, it's our right at the end of the day. The club however, need to stand up to that with clear messaging about how the situation is being managed. It could have been nipped in the bud, or at least softened.

Hey ho, we jump on the merry-go-round again. Let's strap ourselves in. Are we going to strike it lucky this time? It certainly seems directionless.

 

Not sure what you mean Kev. Smallwood showed his true colours?

 

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Agree with most of what you've said, and I've posted regularly to advocate him getting more time. Sadly I think on Tuesday night we reached an inevitable conclusion. I wasnt there but I can imagine what the atmosphere was like at full time, having experienced it at Morecambe. Like you I have no appetite for yet another managerial search, but Saturday would have been unbearably toxic with MH in the dugout if we were to fall behind, so sadly the right decision was made both for MH and the team.

 

Well , the inevitable has happened. As much as Hughes was high profile for the club and seems to be a decent guy.
His football was dreadful. I have not got a clue who should be the next manager, we seem to have tried most avenues this past few years.
Whoever gets the role his hands are tied until January, but lets hope he sees what we all do . Sends back Afoka, Ogeyoke. Pensions off Smallwood, and Derbyshire, wierdest signing ever. Re call East for some energy in midfield, possibly Young, or sell on if he continues his form and re-invest. Tulloch looks to have something, but is raw. Does Ash Taylor exist , i have never seen him.
Enjoy the ride, rollercoaster as always, the gift that is supporting Bradford City.

 

Final thoughts on Hughes from one of his fiercest longtime critics. The one word I'd use to sum up his tenure is brainless. So much of what happened at VP defied logic or rationality. The recruitment, loans, formations, long contracts, substitutions, all the negative aspects of his time with us that have been very well documented by several people on here, never seemed to make any sense at all. I gave up on him a long, long time ago, but even so it's always sad when a manager leaves us. I wish him well.
I never bought into the view that his stellar career as a player was an advantage to us - history is littered with similar illustrious failures. You rarely see a great player become a great manager. So I'd give serious consideration to Mike Williamson. Or certainly someone younger and more ambitious.

 

Gills kept hold of Harris because they saw something in him. That’s why he was n’t sacked. They invested with him. Ironically despite their current points total he is now under pressure because they can’t score.

I don’t know how anyone could see anything in Hughes. It was Cook and Lewis who got us in the playoffs. Without them we would have had a mid table finish and that’s where we were going this season. Sacking managers as often as we do is not the recipe for success but if a club appoints a wrong un, it’s crazy to keep him because we don’t like sacking managers. It’s not that we have just started badly and we are 18th, it’s bigger than that. His home wins in 40 odd games, the fact that other managers constantly out coach him, his recruitment, his budget, the number of players, the switch to 5 at the back and back to 4, the cautious style, the lack of energy, the substitutions, not knowing what his best team was, the fact that a few thousand ST holders choose to stay away because of the lack of passion, excitement, hope and that it’s boring. The list is endless.

 

People keep saying this about Cook and Lewis but if you are praising them then surely Hughes should get some praise for bringing in Lewis and getting the best out of Cook to enable him to have the best season of his career. You can't just blame the manager when players play badly then fail to give them any praise when the players do well.

 

He’s been extremely lazy twice, both occasions led to conceding goals him standing off and watching the world pass by as if he couldn’t give a toss. They were both plain to see, inc Tues evenings second.

 

Not sure how you are blaming him for the 2nd goal on Tuesday, he closed down the player further up the pitch. The player who scored was next to Oyegoke at that point and he ran off Oyegoke

 

Harris has just been sacked by Gillingham. Interesting that Harris was manager but they are now looking for a Head Coach. Potential competition for the Cowley's and closer to where they were born if they still live around there https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2023/october/club-statement/

 

After digesting the news , I didn’t read the forum last night so first found the news this morning.

I know a bit about employment law so my thoughts.

This strongly suspect has been going on for days and certainly didn’t happen overnight, perhaps several days in the making? The clues are in the public domain already.

Both MH and GH, were contracted , have agents and legal representatives and as a result a legal agreement will have had to have been reached in terms of the termination with City’s legal representatives ( Not Sparks or Rupp) acting on behalf of the club. This will probably include discussions on Resign or be Sacked. I would be surprised if the option to resign wasn't offered . That we will never know?

Simultaneously and in parallel, an agreement will have to be reached with K.Mc and to a lesser extent with MT . Initial discussions would take place between Sparks / Individuals however once again legal issues and contract enhancements would have to be drawn up and agreed , again by agents and legal representatives.

I genuinely believe MH knew before Tuesdays game that he was being relieved of his post. On that basis it may explain why he didn’t shy away from applauding the supporters at the end? Some of the responses from the fans really wasn’t necessary in hindsight.


I really wish he could have succeeded for himself and for us as a “ club” , however Sparks has not shied away from the correct decision . It must have been a tough one to make for himself and the owner.

I wish MH and GH the best for the future.

 

From memory it happened before that point you highlight . Smallwood is evident in the middle. I’m sure I’m right , but happy to apologise , but let’s make no bones about it he’s not the player of last season. Why?

 

Smallwood got done by their lad in midfield, who then passed it forward and got the assist.
Smallwood's lack of legs are becoming more and more evident.

 

Thanks , I knew he was involved, or not as the case may be, in the build up.

 

It’s an Americanism . They call managers head coach don’t they?

 

Lewis was a one season wonder. He's been absolutely atrocious this season if we're being honest, obviously there was a good reason Southampton didn't see him in their future plans

 

They do, well according to Gill their mum who uses the same hairdresser as Mrs IB

 

Well fortunately you don't get a say.

If 9 goals in 10 games isn't enough to convince you he is worth a second chance then you are obviously letting your heart rule your head on it.

 

Mixing up Oyegoke with Smallwood is an easy mistake to make. Cut Kev some slack...