David Sharpe appointed Head Of Football Operations

Honestly, I'm just too cynical at this point to believe it's a DoF or meaningful experienced appointment.

Prove me wrong, City.

Prove me wrong.

 

https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/football/news/premier-league-clubs-sporting-directors-football/v7yvfrn4mltrpidvtc4co3t6

Here are some 'sporting directors' from the Premier League.

Note, they aren't just uber-veterans.

 

Simon Francis is taking over at Bournemouth as the current bloke is off to Liverpool

 

Well now that depends whether our current CEO is in full agreement with the appointment. What we do not want is a “let’s see who has the biggest equipment ” It is important that they work together. I have never met Sparks in person but has been described to me as a walking ego!

 

Certainly get that impression of him. The interview he did on Calendar before the BBC Radio Leeds forum was all about him, how he'd done this that and the other and how he'd been given loads of grief!! Was all about him, not the club.

 

Jewell? Why exactly? serious question. The premier league promotion was a quarter of a century ago.

All those Man U knowledgable muppets can't get Salford up.

Let Alexander/Gent get on with the job unless not up to it, in which case they shouldn't be here

 

I never understood why people were so against Stuart being DoF, but there are a number of intelligent candidates that would work without looking to 90 year old Warnock.

Although if Warnock did walk into the building, I certainly wouldn't complain!

 

Serious answer.
Swindon were champions of league 2 when he was DOF only 4 years ago. Its not all about his link to us, he has recent success as a league 2 DOF

 

i think that was more down to the management of Richie Wellens who went on to do a similar thing at Leyton Orient. They were also helped by a few decent loans Eoin Doyke and Jerry Yates who is a championship regular now.

 

Sam Jewell (son) is doing well for himself.

https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/20/chelsea-poach-brighton-recruitment-head-sam-jewell-multi-club-project

 

All overseen by Jewell

 

On 11 December 2018, Jewell was appointed as director of football at Swindon Town.[46] On 25 October 2019, Jewell was fined and handed a three-match stadium ban after using abusive/insulting language towards a match official during a game against Bradford City earlier in the month.[47] On 26 June 2021, Jewell was reported to be leaving his role at Swindon Town, following the departure of manager John McGreal, his assistant, and the club's chief executive.[48][49] This was confirmed a month later in July following the club's takeover, with Ben Chorley appointed in Jewell's place.[50]


?

 

Warnock wouldn't be interested in a DOF role, he always talks about that touchline feeling, doesn't seem like a hands off (on pitch terms) would be a role for him. And he seems to work for about a month or two and move on these days.

Also worth remembering there's no guarantees we are actually looking for a DOF. Rupp just said we were looking for help and everyone is just assuming it's a DOF, it could be anything knowing this club!

 

Wow he looks just like his dad when he was a young.

 

Gardening leave until November. Lucky sod.

 

I'd like to see, whatever help is coming our way, is -

A) Permanent and not a quick fix.
B) Their ideas are financially supported.

It's OK somebody coming along and wanting to put plans in place, but we don't have the funds to implement them. This is where I'd hope to see both Rupp and Sparks step up to the plate. Getting the football side right makes it a damn sight easier for Sparks on the commercial side.

 

More importantly than who will be a DoF is what will be their remit?
How much input will they have in all aspects of the club's football operation?
Do Rupp, Sparks and GA really want a DoF, or will this be a role without any teeth to tackle the dysfunctional aspects of the football operation?
First and foremost, when Ryan finally makes the grand announcement hinted at in Rupp's letter, I want to see if there's any substance to his announcement. What is the role. What's the brief for whoever is going to take up the role and where do the fit into the overall structure.

 

It needs someone who knows this division somebody who knows what type of players we need to attract to get out of this league ..........is Jewell that man in all honesty ?????

We may end up yet again throwing decent money at players that end up dropping down the leagues and completely bombing here.

If we are gonna go down this road then this man has to be the right fot not based on nostalgia i mean how mant times has that happened and its been a big failure ........ McCall god knows how many times ........Jacko and Gregg Abbott ............ i know we would all love the scenario where a former great player came to our rescue and led us out of this shite but maybe it needs someone that wont be emotionally attached to the club and will have the right focus on the huge task ahead

 

That’s the scary bit for me. We’re expecting Sparks to come up with a plan of our needs, when he can’t see what’s wrong in the first place. Let’s hope who ever comes in has already written the plan for Sparks to announce.

 

This. It's pointless hiring a DoF if they report directly to Sparks and he still has the ultimate say on things. Ideally the DoF should report to Rupp, but this won't happen as it'd require Rupp to be more hands on.

I don't get the negativity on here re Jewell. Seems like a great fit and I don't see how we attract anyone better qualified. We probably don't have a big budget for the role and we aren't exactly an exciting project right now.