Ryan Sparks (New Poll As At 28 March 2024)

Yeah but it's a sport that's primarily led by sportsmen who know enough science to manage their own careers, then suddenly they're coaching and managing a squad and you need ACTUAL science-led approaches led by actual scientifically-minded people, and that's a bit of a jump.

Absolutely right that it's crazy, though, but that's where every leader at every club should be putting that in place first and foremost, and not letting fitness coaches come and go with each passing manager as if they're an assistant manager or a goalkeeping coach part of a certain manager's travelling team. Clubs themselves should be equipped with their own staff in those areas, and if Stuart doesn't think he needs it eating up part of his budget because he played until he was 40 and played through the pain barrier because he was hard, then more fool him and the people that let him make that choice, frankly.

The manager is NOT the club, but at Bradford City it pretty much feels like that's the case, and it's a catastrophe every time a manager leaves and a new manager is unable to do a better job, and THAT'S a key reason. Because Bradford City doesn't have everything in place that it needs in place from a Director of Football down a fitness coach. Just because other badly run clubs also don't necessarily have a DoF or a fitness coach is not an excuse for not gaining an advantage over them by employing a full and rigorous team before you even think about employing a manager.

 

I know that he joined in June 2019 and signed a one year contract. I haven't heard an update since, maybe he still is there, maybe he isn't.

 

Bargain hunt springs to mind.

 

Look how Shaun Harvey at the EFL worked out.

 

Business I work for, we have had managers and directors who have been there 30, 40 years and I wouldn’t put them in the charge of the business, there are one or two in their early 30s I’d happily have on the board. Depends on the individual.

That said at a potential time of crisis I wouldn’t have put a novice in charge, the next six months could see the death of Bradford City if he gets it badly wrong. The fact he’s quoted as having being acting in the role as we sink towards non league is hardly a ringing endorsement.

 

Tell me what exactly? I wish him good luck but i would have much prefered an experienced CEO to come to oversee the rebuilding of what is rapidly sinking ship. This club desperately need outside influence from people with a proven success record.

 

He’s the new director of communications.
Fits all the criteria
Under qualified. Check
No interview needed. Check
Already in Rhodes contact list. Check
Square peg and all that. Check

 

What was also worrying how he claims he said I wanted it to be now that it was announced. It's like Rupp isn't taking the club seriously at all. The club is in deep deep trouble and now you like a novice decide when to take over! The club is in its worse position for years.

Since Rupp walked into the club its just like he doesn't care. Passes the book and just not interested in it at all.

 

With a bit of luck Rupp will find a buyer and sell very soon and has only appointed Sparks to reduce the compo when he's sacked and replaced by a real ceo. Oh, and Stuarts new contract is on half his previous money, reducing his compo too.

All about as likely as my dream of a threesome with Nigella and Katya Adler happening. Hey Ho

 

Shaun did well for Shaun that was my point, after listening to Ryan's interview I have no doubt even though he's a Bradford lad if he's sucsessfullI I dont think he'd hesitate to move on, and why shouldn't he, lets hope for us City fans he does the former first.

Dave Baldwin had and sold his business he did so well in his position at Valley Parade he was head hunted by a few clubs eventually leaving for Burnley because the offer was too good to turn down as his wife was having their first child, finishing up as CEO at the EFL and look how that turned out maybe it's the people at the top of the EFL we should question.

 

We do have a fitness coach, he was interviewed in the T&A just the other day.

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18875125.amp/?__twitter_impression=true

From reading that his remit seems to be the same as a fitness coach anywhere else.

 

This is the thread created when Sparks was promoted to CEO. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but there are some interesting comments from people if you can be bothered reading through it

I wonder what @EricMcManus and @Bigrod think about him now?

Oh and no surprise at all, club stalwart and resident happy clapper @Park bantam was fully behind the appointment...in other news, water is wet

 

Changed my vote from 'uncertain' to a resounding No! It's been a total disaster.

 

Just had a read and forgot it was that long ago.

 

Changed my vote from uncertain to no.

 

So he took over when we were 20th. If he leaves now he can claim on his CV that he improved our league position over his time in charge

 

Needs to be quick about it though, can't see it staying that way past Thursday.
Actually, just looked at the table and I'm doing him a disservice. He's probably safe for another week.

 

Hindsight is indeed a wonderful thing but amazing how many folk actually nailed what was coming all them years ago

His time at the club has been one massive fail and if he cannot see thst then we really are fooked and judging by his interview on radio Leeds then god help us.

Simply not a matter of us chucking our toys out of the pram on the back of one season its now the norm for years now

 

So that what he meant by not excepting mediocrity????
Hes tenure has seen us rise a huge 3 places.
Well all is forgiven Ryan

 

Changed from uncertain to no. If he had learnt from past mistakes then fair enough, but to keep rolling the dice and gamble with the league status of our club, is unforgivable. Admit you're out of your depth and either get help or resign. Pride comes before a fall...