New Manager

I suppose the pathway might be through leading clubs at lower levels, or other sports clubs. Through my own experience of CEOs in admittedly very different fields, strong leaders recognise their limitations and surround themselves with highly capable people in areas they lack skills or experience. I’m not trying to dig Sparks out, he seems like a bright and ambitious guy, and I can see the improvement in operating revenue reported by the club - though I’d like to understand more about the detail behind that. What I’m questioning, is the basis by which he’s established the credibility or has experience in setting a football strategy and hiring managers (and other staff) to deliver that strategy.

 

Like being bedded in at Featherstone…meets your criteria to a T , FB? We are still short of names worth looking at as an alternative.

 

A lot if nonsense about Sparks talked on here had we garnered a few more points we should have done last season with a bit more positivity. Had we not slackened off against Carlisle at home when we were on top. Or made a defensive substitution at Carlisle after equalising. We could have been sat in league one three years after Sparks took over the CEO job when we were sitting entrenched in the bottom three of the football league. In massive financial difficulties

 

You mean Sparks? Again, not a dig at him, but that was in a relatively junior role. An appropriate stepping stone to the media manager role he took on here, but in pretty much any other organisation you'd need at least 10 years more experience and a significant record of achievement to get to a CEO role.

 

But we aren't Park.

I think Sparks has done a good job with the commercial side of things and I don't doubt that he has done his best on footballing matters too, however I think given where we are sat right now, we have every right to question things.

 

The fact that Hughes blew it is not down to Sparks

 

I imagine that their are some decent managers looking at the Bradford squad and thinking, " WOW, I could do wonders with those players"

 

No strong opinions either way with RS
Acknowledge picking managers is not his strong point
His job would be easier if he did and appointed a DOF
On the other hand MH is a completely different kettle of fish
In an ideal world I would like
Darren Moore or Pete Wild
Too many big name managers have come and failed
Bryan Robson and Peter Taylor to name but two
Past reputations mean nothing in L2

 

Can't agree there he's responsible for all his staff and footballs no different to commerce
Underperform as MH has done and RS should be having words
He may have done but we haven't seen a response as yet

 

Yes, that is of course true, Hughes picks and directs the team tactically.

I do think though that something is clearly not working. We do have the right to be asking questions of the individuals who are responsible for running the club both on and off the pitch.

I think it would be a great shame to lose someone like Sparks given their obvious ability when it comes to the financial side but lets be honest, since Sparks took full control, getting out of League 2 has been the aim and unfortunately we have failed so far and judging by what we have seen up until now, I don't see it happening this season either.

 

Hughes has ten games for me. But your right should we move on we somebody with a burning desire either on the first appointment or a coach eager to succeed. I already have named two Pete Wild and Simon weaver both overachieving at small clubs just as Parky did. However hopefully it won’t come to that because it will be another season down the drain not good for those of us getting on a bit

 

But every manager up to chief executive on the planet starts in a junior role. I started in the apprentice training school and ended up production director of a large engineering plant, then I started in retail transport and became area manager. It’s not always possible to start at the top, even the university graduates I set on, started at junior levels to give them grounding in the trade, but they were clueless in “Life’s” O Level. . You are being over optimistic that there is a production line somewhere of ready made football knowledgable CEOs . We need to be realistic FB?.

 

I started at the bottom myself. No issue there. And as I say, I'm not trying to dig the guy out. I'm asking the question, what has he ever achieved that gives us confidence in his ability to make decisions on the footballing side of the club?

 

10 Games is nearly a quarter of the season Park
If we carry on as we are we will be too far adrift to mount a serious promotion challenge
Seen enough of MH and his negativity tbh not just this season but a good half of last
This may be the season he turns it round who knows but 10 games in my opinion is too long to fail and sentences us to another season in the Khazi league

 

The most important job of a CEO in gootball is to seek out and appoint a suitable manager that can bring success to the football side of the club. Nothing is more important and in that Spatks has failed time after time. He meeds to get the next one right or be replaced. Success comes from the top as does failure.

 

I will wager there is many CEO’s about who have a lot more experience and won nothing. Sparks took over the side when it was heading for the trap door in financial difficulties. Now the club is solvent and producing competitive budgets and the manager who would have walked into any league two side blew the chance of us exiting upwards at the last hurdle within three years

 

If we lose the first 5 of these 10, would you still be prepared to give him another 5.

I don't think you can put a time or amount of games on it. You have to act when you deem it's necessary

 

A self funding football club, perhaps is the best accolade FB . That cannot be denied and is probably admired in the EFL. Bet you cannot name another, maybe Peterborough perhaps? Self funding WITHOUT the financial input of owners?