Next Permanent Manager (now with Poll amended to include Truemen/Sellars)

Not sure why some people are crying about the wording of the appointment, think Sparks has played it the right way. If things did go south and we'd committed to them til the end of the season then we'd be in a position where we'd need to go back on our word and essentially sack them to bring someone else in.

These lads still have a lot to prove after only 4 games in charge so is committing to giving them the full time job even if until the summer a sensible decision? Also if they're officially promoted to head coaches of the first team will they be happy being demoted back to academy coaches if things don't go as planned? they'll likely look for other management roles elsewhere if that's the case, with this appointment there's no promises and says that they haven't earned anything yet and still have a point to prove.

Temporary managers sometimes do well and then performances dip once they're made permanent once the pressures off, this approach keeps everyone on their toes as anything could happen. Good luck to Trueman and Sellars they've deserved this!

 

Hope BRE and DHM are on the phone to their agents because the statement the club put out today means they are finished here.

 

Damo, bring in Hurst and lose 3 or 4 in a row and the knives will be out on here - thats football!

 

Inspired decision from Sparks then!

 

I get what you are saying but the until the club are mathematically safe, and with the wounds from the Collins/Drury era still not fully healed, I think I understand why Sparks has gone down this route. The interim managers must be delighted - they are growing into a role they probably didn’t expect to land. I get why some would think it may potentially hinder our recruitment - some players may prefer a concrete appointment, but we’ll have to see what moves we make in Jan I suppose. If we keep winning games, that will help.

 

Completely different. Stuart was failing and there was no indication at all that he was going to turn things around. It was the most ridiculous decision to extend his contract at that point.

 

Oh for common sense seems in short supply on here

 

Surely this will just confuse potential new recruits. Unless of course they are actually signing due to Turnbull (and therefore the interim managers are actually just head coaches).

I hope this work out for Trueman and Sellars. It’s a huge risk but it worked for Kammy and Jewell in the past. My criticism is not towards them, they’ve done everything right and succeeded so far, but not having some degree of long term plan when we have a crucial transfer window is just bizarre. 2 weeks ago we were in a hopeless situation with shite players. Yes they’re better organised and tactically playing to our strengths, but 4 good games doesn’t mean that the squad is good enough. Who is really calling the shots in this transfer window?

 

Trueman said: “We are very pleased that Ryan and the board have given us their full backing with this appointment, and the next steps.

“It takes the pressure off us as staff - with regards to no longer adopting a game-by-game approach - and gives us a clearer picture which allows us to focus on the club’s longer-term vision.

If they're happy with the situation what's the issue?

 

The theory is that by trusting a recruitment man with signings the club shouldn’t be left on its knees every time a manager/coach (whatever you label them in that set up) leaves.

you look at Peterborough, they leave the recruitment to Barry Fry and keep churning out players even though they’ve gone through Ferguson, McCann, Evans and are back with Ferguson.

Look at City - when Parkinson went to Bolton and emptied the cabinets we had nothing left. Even if it doesn’t work out under Truey and Sellars, who are essentially coaches, if they leave we aren’t back to square one. Turnbull will be briefed to work with Sparks and the board to ensure the long term objectives are met, even if the coaches change down the line - the direction we’ve been missing.

Edin had the same idea but he implemented it appallingly as he didn’t understand the league and the men responsible for recruitment made some bad calls. He also destroyed relationships galore at the club.

Things are looking up now. It’s great to see

 

Long term view or cheap?
I’ll go latter.
They will keep the job until fans come back into the ground as long as results are not disastrous

 

In others get the Jan window out of the way then see.

 

We'll be in L2 next season, unless something spectacular happens either way. 3 consecutive wins or losses won't change that

And frankly I wouldn't want to be charge of our lot in January anyway, with our average of around 4 points we've got for about the last 10 years!!

 

The contract extension has been mentioned quite a bit on here and I think it’s important for us all to understand the context better. Personally I think it was the right last throw of the dice.
Sparks didn’t want to sack Stuart but knew that the players had lost faith and many expected him to be sacked. He was trying to demonstrate backing of the manager and with it regain the effort from the players/reinstall some fear. It didn’t work so he was left with no choice but to sack Stuart. The recent evidence demonstrates just how much downing of tools there had been.
My understanding, from a very well placed source, is that the contract extension didn’t result in any additional compensation.

He tried something, it didn’t work and quickly made a decision - fail fast and pivoting.

 

The other perspective on this....

If we really are wanting to professionalise our backroom staff, admin and managerial setup then letting T & S continue for a while and then move back to head up the junior setup is a good thing to bring some continuity to our way of playing and overall playing squads.

A bit like you've said, I feel its a good thing we haven't just pulled another manager from the carousel/merry-go-round and instead we want the right person for the job. If we don't have the right person now then let's keep these chaps in get the right spirit and play through the squad. Most of the first team squad won't be here next year anyway so on the balance of things, getting the back room staff right is more important than pleasing the players!

 

This is how I see it as well, and how I think it should be: the recruitment head and staff are part of the furniture, to be changed only if unfit for purpose. The manager/coach should have the final say in a signing, but as, in theory, the managing and recruiting sides will have been co-operating all along, this shouldn't be a problem.

RCB

 

Given myself a few hours to think about this.
Probably the best option for now. None of the mentioned candidates , stood out to me, all very similar .
Keep the two guys in charge on a slightly longer basis, than match by match, see if the past two weeks were a flash in the pan
or good management.
If they continue to produce , then great, we can re -asses towards the end of the season, i can not see us being relegated.
Better candidates might also become available.
If the recruitment team is up and running , working away quietly behind the scenes, then great. It a start to setting up a proper structure to the club. Something many have been calling for. It does not need a massive fanfare announcement for me.
Ryan Sparks seems to be damned by some, whatever he does.

 

I would add a couple of points;
Firstly how much do our interim duo know about the players that Turnbull and the scouts recommend, being involved in Academy players so far(unless it is the cheap option of young loan players)
Secondly with the duo on month by month review will it affect the club's usual policy of trying to flog as many cheap season tickets as possible to fund the players cap.
I would hope the club does keep the cheap S/T window open as long as possible(whilst waiting for us guys and gals getting the jab!).

 

Despite the moaning, I'm not sure what else Sparks could have done at this moment in time. They've defied expectations and turned things around at the same time that manager interviews haven't revealed the right long term candidate. He can't employ someone if there is no one out there at this moment in time. Giving Trueman the job in the interim means he stays at the club when Sparks decides to end it, whether it's through poor results or finding the right permanent manager. Never know Trueman may end up with it permanently if things continue as it is. I'm a lot happier with Turnbull being recruited with regards the Jan window now. Never know he might perform some miracles and offload some of the deadwood!