City Managers Records and achievements

Since Jewell left 20 years ago, we have had: Hutchings (succession), Jeffries (success in Scotland), Law (young then rising manager), Robson (proven manager @ Middlesbrough), Todd (experienced), Weatherall (short term); Taylor (Vastly experienced); Jackson (ex player who had managed other clubs); Parkinson (arguably the best); Grayson (Championship manager!!); Collins (dupe); Hopkins (stern manager); Bowyer (not sure).

Apart from Parkinson, the other 12 managers have failed to put together a memorable footballing team.

A lot is down to the mess the finances were left in, a failure to get serious money behind the club and the visit of Rahic the destroyer.

So a lot of managers, with different styles.

A club which has money behind it which is limited.

You say we ‘accept mediocrity’. When thousands were walking out in the middle of games and/or staying away, how is that accepting things. You may recall that the money for a ‘Fly Past’ had been organised.

I think a lot of us are unhappy about the position of the club, ‘we don’t accept failure’, but as supporters, then apart from walking away, there is a limit to what we can do. None of us are rich enough to propel the club forward.

Frankly the previous 20 years with numerous managers has not seen us make progress.

As you can see with the list above, we have had 14 managers (with McCall), only Parkinson has achieved success measured by promotion.

If I thought there was a manager who, given the squad/budget could guarantee success, then I would happily see Stuart promoted to the role of club ambassador or some such similar position.

His record of wins is very impressive. We were 90 minutes away from the Championship. The dye is cast for the present.

My expectations are promotion.

 

I would have looked for someone else. I usually have concerns about people returning to the club, if they have had a successful, previous spell. I don’t want to sully the earlier memories if it goes wrong.

I also think that successful managers, can have that excellent spell at a single club and then struggle to replicate it elsewhere. If you look at that list, some of them had enjoyed success at previous clubs, yet were unable to do so at Valley Parade.

My position is that, ‘we are where we are’. So on that basis I will support Stuart and the club, although it isn’t unconditional, as I expect to see the team perform far better than in the last two and a half seasons. As I have said earlier, I actually walked out twice in our relegation season, something I have never ever done before.