Julian Rhodes - a list

And a partridge in a pear tree? oh yer, that jokes been done!

I do have a question though - why has Hopkin not brought in his own staff? Possible answers...

1. He's happy with D&A?
2. He's preferred choices aren't available?
3. He can't find anyone perhaps related to 2?

Fairly sure it was said he could bring in his own staff but he hasn't so far.

 

Yer, he was on ifollow whichever station that was.

 

Good shout that Keefly. Not sure what coaching badges he has but we should get him on board, working with the players, instilling the passion and the pride on a daily basis. He can get the badges whilst working with us. Whilst he may not have the badges that Drury does I know who I'd prefer to be working with them everyday!! Send Drury back to work with U18s.

 

I don’t think he is interested in training, he spoke ver passionately about his current work, think he is working with young ppl who have mental health problems. Not as glam but an extremely worthwhile career.

 

Indeed it is.

Shame though, would be ideal.

 

Or maybe a vinny Jones, joey Barton , Roy Keane, Micky Kennedy type of play who smashes feck out of everyone.

 

Nah I think it's time we signed someone who can actually play football haha.

 

Whilst I agree many of the playing staff aren't up to standard, I've read several comments from fans saying we need to release players and pay up their contracts etc.....that simply isn't going to happen.

The squad is bare as it is, especially with injuries, so they simply aren't going to pay players up only months into their new deals when we are struggling to put out a squad!

We cannot realistically clear the decks until the summer, though we might be able to patch the squad up with a few free transfers and might be able to bring a few players in during January.

The problem that remains, however, is that you end up paying money for players in January, and would our chairmen (despite their recent talk) really be prepared to spend, for example, £200k on a League Two forward when we are most likely going to be relegated? We need promotion form just to stay up now. I cannot see them spending cash at all, personally, with relegation now a massive risk.

Rhodes knows what is needed off the pitch though. He will know who was employed in which particular roles before and that is where he can make the most impact as he attempts to get us resembling a football club again after the drastic cost cutting.

We need to restore that off the field structure and get the non-playing staff onside again as they have been leaving in their drovers (we need to get the players onside too but that is Hopkin's job). That will create a better environment. Rhodes can also help build bridges with the sponsors, the relationships with whom have become strained.

Rhodes was not a public face before, and he preferred Lawn to adopt that role when they were a partnership, but for the rest of the season the fans just don't want to see or hear from Edin again. I just hope Edin listens to the advice being given and starts to see himself as a silent investor (ala Stefan) more than a director of football/head scout and all of the other roles he has adopted etc. Sit back and let proper football people run the club - and that will mean bringing in fresh faces of course.

I also agree Abbott and Drury need moving positions. Fresh staff on the training ground will help the players. It cannot do any worse can it? Abbott can go back to scouting? Drury could be found another coaching role? Abbott especially has been a common denominator in some horrendous recruitment, along with Edin. Neither can be let loose on another transfer window- Hopkin needs full control and the chairmen just need to sign the cheques.

 

''Send Abbott back scouting'' That is the absolutely last place I would have him, he needs to be sent to the dole queue.

 

Ha ha, I agree....but if they are unwilling to sack him then at least get him directly away from the recruitment. The club will likely employ scouts all over the shop but we don't have to necessarily take on board their recommendations.

 

Yes, I agree. You would have thought that he would have made a decision by now on his backroom staff rather than just keeping them on if he didn't think they were good enough.

Regarding the Rhodes situation, I'm not really sure what to make of it. Yes he knows the club, been here before for a long time and good to have someone like him at the club but hasn't Rahic been speaking to him for a while now and nothing has changed, infact recently its got much worse. See what happens but I'm not overly convinced anything significant will change.

 

I think the changes will be gradual......maybe they are preparing for relegation now and they know they haven't a hope in hell of patching up relations with sponsors themselves as things stand (the best thing they can do is be out of sight and not be heard)....so they have brought in a 'City' man in Rhodes to try help in that respect?

Our income is going to take a hammering next season and I'd be surprised if we had more than 8,000 season ticket holders back in League Two while they remain in charge - whether the ST are cheap or not. The feel good factor has been obliterated so they need to make sure they get the sponsors back onside.

 

There's 6 months of the season left!! We aren't down yet.

 

Nope. Forgive my pessimism! I was encouraged by the performance vs Portsmouth but I want to see us win these next two cup games and then I might believe the players have the spirit to fight

 

I'd rather they won the league games than cup games but I get your point.

 

Yes but it will help to instill confidence.

 

According to Linkedin Gary has the FA Level 2 coaching badge but he currently is a support worker at Lifeways.

 

Welcome to the board Borderlescott. A good first post. Where have you been lurking since C&B closed?