The implications of relegation

The most basic starting point for any new incumbent stepping into a leadership position, for an organizational turnaround, is a full and frank assessment of just how bad things are and to have a completely open conversation with your boss/board, to establish a common view of the problem(s) and the level of funding and time required to address it. You need to know that you have that backing and financial support behind it, to get to work. And you can't underestimate it. Whatever is said publicly, privately you have to get into the guts of everything that's wrong. If you're not honest and critical in your assessment, you're done before you even begin.

You need to accept that there's a lot to fix and similarly accept that it can't all be fixed quickly. Even with a properly laid and funded plan, executed well, it'll take time and you need a view of the long term goals that you're working to. But that said, you need to look at where quick decisions and changes are needed. You don't have the luxury of time, to stop the bleeding. You need to be bold. Calculated - but bold. You need to demonstrate credibility, quickly, to buy the time and trust to deliver against the longer term plan.

Put simply - the single thing that Sparks needs to concentrate on is strengthening the team in January. Properly strengthening. No half arsed measures and he can't even think too much about recruiting against a longer term strategy at this point - such is the mess we're in. Because if this club goes down, its done. And so is Sparks. Scouting and recruitment needs an overhaul, but right now, he needs to identify at least 4 quality players - a centre back, striker and 2 wingers, to save this club. Its that stark. If we get January wrong, we go down. And then the longer term doesn't matter, because we won't be here.

 

Sparks needs to make sure McCall is on board with this too because on Tuesday night, he was giving the impression he thinks everything will be hunky dory when the injured players are back and the need for new recruits is minimal.

 

Yes, lots of ideas.

It all starts with the off field team, and there's been a ton if discussion.

I know pretty much exactly what I'd be doing were I advising Stefan.

 

That's my worry. I don't place too much emphasis on what manager's say to the press, as its all smoke and mirrors. Its action that counts. If there's any sense that we'll be fine once injured players return, or an ignorance to the extent of strengthening needed in Jan, we're f*****d.

 

I think McCall is more concerned with the morale of his squad and getting them to January before talking about changes and recruits

I hope!!!!

 

Some really good points made. I agree with them mostly. I don't think sacking the manager a week after he signed an extension or less than 4 weeks to the opening of the transfer window is advisable either. It would take too long to get everything ready. I'd argue that giving the management team the backing enables this January window to be more successful. That will need to be proved with the signings and how they bed in with this baba squad we have.

I'd like to see at least 4 great quality signings in the window. Ideally, centre back, centre mid and left winger/left mid. I think McCall mentioned loans would be folk who are in the last year of their contract who we have targeted. A play before you pay kinda thing. Might work, might not but I think it's a sensible approach.

Getting this team away from danger MUST be the priority and MUST be achieved in 3 months or we are in massive trouble. I've got everything crossed for City that we achieve this.

 

Some people need to get real about this January transfer window and drastically lower their expectations. Ive said it in another post but clubs will be keeping hold of their players this season. Clubs up and down the country are having more injuries due to time in-between matches etc. Then with the possibility of players picking up covid then you cant really risk letting the fringe players go. What this means for us is that we are looking at loans similar to Samuels. These 4-5 quality players? Where are they coming from? We wont be paying transfer fees and clubs in and around the top 3 and playoffs will be at the front of the queue for any kind of quality player that does happen to become available. Where are players going to go? Bolton or Salford who are chasing the playoffs, or Bradford who are in a complete mess and fighting for their football league survival. McCall and the club know this imo and this is why we heard the drivel on Tuesday night about not needing much when the injured players are back. Who are all these players that we are due back?? The only player that id have back is Novak which is saying something. Sataunton too but I cant believe our season has come down to relying on an 18 year centre back.
The club have cocked up recruitment for the past 3 years. Now we sit 3rd from bottom in the whole of the Football League and have absolutley zero pulling power. On top of that I have no trust in our owner, our new CEO or our Manager to get it right.

 

My own posts are not a reflection of my expectations. My expectations couldn’t really be lowered from where they are. My posts are a reflection of what’s needed. And if we don’t find a way to deliver, we’re done.

 

In normal circumstances I would agree but the extension should never have been offered in the first place, so on that basis we absolutely should be starting with this to rectify the mistake. If January goes wrong then we are in very serious dangerous of being relegated from the football league, can I ask you on what are you basing this notion that keeping McCall would allow us to have a more successful window?

I cannot disagree with your 4 signings although I assume that you have missed off a striker in your list, however I should also point out that this fact was blatantly apparent in the summer and yet McCall was happy with this squad. Just one basic example of this is - Fil Morais was available in the summer (I am by no way saying he would be the answer) and given where he lives and having spoken to him on many occasion - he would have come and been cheap. McCall chose to renew the contract of DMH!

 

I'm not 100% sure having McCall in this window will result in success. I just think it's better to have a confirmed manager in place for the next season if we are looking to get loans in with a view to permanent signings in the summer. I agree that he hasn't exactly earned his extension, but we are where we are.

I am in support of a new striker in the next window, without a doubt. Minus 5 on the goals column tells me that, let alone the countless missed opportunities in games. I honestly don't think we'll get a good one. Remember Pizzagate?

If we do go down, do you think we'll cease trading or will we just be stuck in non-league for ever?

 

I don't disagree with you but also putting long term faith in the wrong manager will lead to catastrophic failure!

A new striker is absolutely essential if we are to survive, no ifs or buts about it.

My opinion is, if McCall sees out this season then we will go down and languish down there until new investment is found. I cannot imagine Rupp funding us with say 4-5 thousand season ticket holders with the loss of the TV revenue and no more player clawback clauses to cash in.

 

The impact of relegation will lead to another relegation into the National League North in my opinion. I don’t think our club would do too well dropping into the National League, it’s no bed of roses down there, I dare say we’d struggle with this current squad if we were in the National League this season.

We have to avoid relegation at all costs, but alas, this club is well on its way as things currently stand.

I wouldn’t be overly worried about losing Valley Parade, I doubt that’ll happen, Stockport County had their loyal fanbase bringing a good few thousand people in to fill seats. Our fanbase is much bigger and I reckon we’d still get at least 10000 average in attendance. Also BT Sport televise a lot of National League matches so we would have money coming in from that. Makes me wonder if that is the secret aim of the club behind the scenes, it better not be, but who knows ? I wouldn’t put it past them at this point.

 

We have a short term problem (relegation to the Conference) that needs to be fixed alongside a strategy for a long term fix to then move us forward. The short term is let Sparks run the club until early next year when we can hopefully secure Fourth Division football, and replace the entire coaching squad with a ready made short term fix of an experienced manager who bring in his own team.

In the meantime, we move heaven and earth to persuade Dave Baldwin to come back as CEO starting at the season end, and put a robust recruitment plan in place for a new management team who signs a pre-contract agreement as early as possible and starts recruiting new players (behind the scenes) ready to hit the ground running on 1st July 2021.

The short term management team may well end up being the long term replacement, if they are right for that, or could just be a really experienced football manager that we chuck a massive bonus at for keeping us up.

Either way, Stuart has to go if we don't pick up at least 4 points from our next three games. At present I'd trust George Best with my wine cellar, more than I trust SM with my football team.

 

If nothing else the rent on VP would finish us off for good, never mind Rupp coming to the rescue the time is NOW...

 

Well, back in September I was writing this season off as a non attending one, and seeing us drift aimlessly in mid table. How wrong could I have been on the latter point.

This last month as made me realise that we are actually going to be in a battle to preserve our 117 year membership of the football league. I hope Rupp, Sparks and McCall have now realised this. Listening to McCall's recent interviews, it comes across that it hasn't sunk in with him yet. He says he doesn't look at league tables, well it is to be hoped someone has shown him now.

The thought of one of our legends taking us to non league obscurity is a heartbreaking thought.

 

It will end his legend status, thats for sure.

 

And be the first ex premiership club to go out of the league......

 

Certainly the first ex Premiership club, though not the first club that has graced top flight football. We could follow The Stans in that respect, what an embarrassment that would be for our City

 

Wouldn't feel too bad if Stuart got real, stamped his feet and threw his weight around using his playing record and up to now the respect of our fans to get the powers that be to get their heads out of their arses and fast.....