CONFIRMED Mal Brannigan leaves Sheffield United

[Rodley]

This is fucking tragic. We've been crying out for some football knowledge in the boardroom and they appoint a local businessman to oversee 'Football Operations' and player recruitment. Typically Sheffield United. What an absolute joke. Nothing ever changes.

Jobs for the boys, football knowledge is irrelevant. We've been in this sorry state for so long yet they still don't realise the importance of football knowledge in the boardroom. It's just staggering.

Agreed i'd much rather have a "football man" like Trevor Birch or Terry Robinson.

I don't know much about Dave Green's business / commercial credentials, but surely he deserves a fair crack of the whip? Clearly things weren't working with Brannigan given deals were taking so long to get over the line.

 

[Esablade]

Been told off by Mr. Green's daughter for insinuating he wore a questionable hairpiece.

I'm informed this is not the case. It's only the colour which isn't natural, which I'd never have guessed.

It makes him look 70 years younger..at least...

 

[bladeinspaceandtime]

Been told off by Mr. Green's daughter for insinuating he wore a questionable hairpiece.

I'm informed this is not the case. It's only the colour which isn't natural, which I'd never have guessed.

Either that or he has gone prematurely maroon.

 

[Worksop_Blade]

Agreed i'd much rather have a "football man" like Trevor Birch or Terry Robinson.

I don't know much about Dave Green's business / commercial credentials, but surely he deserves a fair crack of the whip? Clearly things weren't working with Brannigan given deals were taking so long to get over the line.

He owns a piling company and has been involved with United for a few years.

Load of old shite.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

There are surely enough "footballing people" involved on the technical board for us to have enough general common sense involved in the decision-making. My understanding is that it's the MD, FD, football manager, head of the Academy. Pre-Prince, wasn't it basically the board as a whole involved in transfers, with just the football manager making his case (I.e just one "footballing person").

 

[wizadry]

If they have the funds they might. Blaming MB for everything is just because of the Clough link. He may have been poor at the job and not been able to sell the club that but if the money is on the table, players and selling clubs tend to take it. We do.

Good post and if Clough is linking back up with MB then we'll soon see if they were to blame or not. If they get Burton in the playoffs or the automatics then I'd say the evidence will lead us elsewhere as to why we keep fucking up, not that I personally need any evidence.

Clough has his limitations and MB seemed to be taking an age with negotiations but what they achieve this season will tell us a lot of what we needed to know regarding their time with us and what is going on behind the scenes.

 

[Grecian2000]

Rob Staton ‏@robstaton 10 seconds ago
#SUFC MD Mal Branigan is leaving the club. McCabe/Phipps: "To get Sheffield United Football Club back on track, change is needed."

Got that right for sure.

We sack a manager who got us from Div3 relegation zone to semi finals of both cups and a play off place in 18 months coz Silly Jim listens to cunts on Twatter. Damn right change is needed.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Good post and if Clough is linking back up with MB then we'll soon see if they were to blame or not. If they get Burton in the playoffs or the automatics then I'd say the evidence will lead us elsewhere as to why we keep fucking up, not that I personally need any evidence.

Clough has his limitations and MB seemed to be taking an age with negotiations but what they achieve this season will tell us a lot of what we needed to know regarding their time with us and what is going on behind the scenes.

I'll be quite disappointed if he ends up at Burton, as I had hoped we'd be selling people to them within a speedy timeframe.

 

[wizadry]

I'll be quite disappointed if he ends up at Burton, as I had hoped we'd be selling people to them within a speedy timeframe.

Hopefully his negotiation skills quicken up and sharpish

Our players might take some negotiating with the wages they're on now though.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

We know which players he'd want and they wont be the one's we want out, but they will be sold at bargain prices and who can resist a bargain eh......

 

[zablade]

The Board has been divided over many things in recent weeks from what I have heard, not least the future of the Manager.

This may not be as simple as Brannigan heading to Burton but more an attempt to unify the board room.

Adkins position is a little safer Today is the way I read this.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

The Board has been divided over many things in recent weeks from what I have heard, not least the future of the Manager.

This may not be as simple as Brannigan heading to Burton but more an attempt to unify the board room.

Adkins position is a little safer Today is the way I read this.

What do some of the board want Adkins out?

 

[wizadry]

What do some of the board want Adkins out?

If Barny was on the board Adkins would already be sliding down a razor blade, doused in TCP using his balls as brakes.

 

[alcoblade]

Derek Dooley was a top "football person". I'd rank him as clueless when it came to input into the club.

UTB

 

[Bladebri]

If Barny was on the board Adkins would already be sliding down a razor blade, doused in TCP using his balls as brakes.

Reading that brought tears to my eyes

 

[wizadry]

Reading that brought tears to my eyes

Sorry

 

[Foxy]

Carl Sheiber isn't new to such a role and has worked for Kevin/Scarborough for some time.

Also never really understood the level of abuse given to people who, for the most part, people haven't got a clue on what they actually do on a daily basis.

Derek Dooley was a top "football person". I'd rank him as clueless when it came to input into the club.

and yet, look at how well we've done since we lost him.

 

[Bladebri]

Sorry

Can't wait for my next shave

 

[alcoblade]

and yet, look at how well we've done since we lost him.

About the same as we've done since my son turned 10, which is probably about as relevant.

Just to note, my assessment of Dooley was based at least on some experience, not some blind criticism. Or the blind praise that most offer him, because he was "nice", and a "football man".

UTB

 

[Bladesman]

Carl Sheiber isn't new to such a role and has worked for Kevin/Scarborough for some time.

Also never really understood the level of abuse given to people who, for the most part, people haven't got a clue on what they actually do on a daily basis.



and yet, look at how well we've done since we lost him.

True but it has to be said that under Mal some transfers did seem to take longer than usual. Although I agree no need to give him abuse.

I assume one of the men being given a role were part of the club under Weir that went chasing the signing of Clarke and Wilson from Coventry back in 2013? I actually thought we would get that deal done.

 

[mosbolad]

There are surely enough "footballing people" involved on the technical board for us to have enough general common sense involved in the decision-making. My understanding is that it's the MD, FD, football manager, head of the Academy. Pre-Prince, wasn't it basically the board as a whole involved in transfers, with just the football manager making his case (I.e just one "footballing person").

Come on Luffbra, how on earth can forum users knock the board with you pointing out common sense things like this!

 

[JohnDenver]

And not a football man amongst the fucking lot of them *shakes head*

On the bright side, Trevor Birch was a football man....

 

[Deadbat]

Carl Sheiber isn't new to such a role and has worked for Kevin/Scarborough for some time.

Also never really understood the level of abuse given to people who, for the most part, people haven't got a clue on what they actually do on a daily basis.

Think that quote sums it up. Most dont have a clue what they actually do and evidence of the disastrous level this club has sank suggests either not very much or what they are doing is totally ineffective.

The club has been mismanaged completely at board room level for a long, long time. Think it is fair for more than a few question to be asked.

Brannigan oversaw more years of failure on and off (transfers) the field and oversaw a ridiculously poor slurry of signings bloating an already poor squad. His departure bothers me in no way.

I do have concerns that more of McCabe's 'yes' men have been shuffled about; none with any real direct experience of dealing with playing/transfer matters as far I can see. Ideally you would like a Dooley type but these seem business types who may hopefully do better in contractual/negotiating side but I have concerns they are very much new to dealing with the football side and unsure how much knowledge / power they would have to stop sanctioning sales/buys if not deemed as advantageous to the club only looking at fiscal matters rather than the 'football' side/benefits of buys and sales.

Mind you things can't get much worse than in recent years could they? Or could they.

Ideally I would have liked an outsider come in (as others have said a Roeder, Curbishley type) who at least knows the game, contacts and can help us pick up and negotiate that gem.

Now we seem to be placing all power with Adkins/Turnbull really from this move? That's how it seems to me anyway as not sure the Greens will have a club about types of signings or specific personnel and unsure who else would be involved (Phipps had admitted he had no idea on this side and said he left it all to Mal Brannigan/Clough in the International Bar around March time)? What other football men do we have on the board that would directly affect transfers/business on the field? Maybe there are others but I dont see anyone jump out.

 

[JohnDenver]

oversaw a ridiculously poor slurry of signings

 

[Deadbat]

There are surely enough "footballing people" involved on the technical board for us to have enough general common sense involved in the decision-making. My understanding is that it's the MD, FD, football manager, head of the Academy. Pre-Prince, wasn't it basically the board as a whole involved in transfers, with just the football manager making his case (I.e just one "footballing person").

I think you are right but my concern is we dont have enough footballing people on this technical board. Managing director responsibity is now shared between Green's and Shieber (none with direct footballing history or knowledge of playing personnel), Nick Cox is head of the Academy but as the website says; his responsibility is
'Nick is responsible for managing the various departments within the Academy to ensure the clubs requirements for homegrown players are fulfilled.'
I doubt he has much to do with incoming/outgoing players in terms of the 1st team.

We do not have a footballing director. We have a chief scout, Lee turnbull and then Adkins (and his coaches). The stucture you discuss is not in place same way as it is as other clubs who have a proper director of football and managing director with football responsibility. Today we have moved even further away from the set up you describe. Still as I said can things get any worse?!!

 

[alcoblade]

It's lack of match fitness that's the problem, Hammond simply wasn't playing enough. It doesn't really matter what a players does or doesn't do to keep fit, if he isn't running round in a competitive match for 90 minutes week in week out his fitness will suffer and take a while to return. Hammond's age compounds the issue as it will take longer to get fit.

All that being said, he has had plenty of time now and still seems a bit off the pace. Maybe his legs are going? Still reckon he'll be a good player to have around though and would rather see others shifted out first.

How much do you think l "just having him around" is worth? £12,000 a week?

UTB

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Foxy can someone outline what these people do on a daily basis then perhaps we can offer some 'justified' criticism ;-)

This just smacks of something we do every year or so with tub thumping speeches appearing on the website about 'goals' and 'moving forward' and 'achieving the next step'

For someone who works in an office environment these phrases are what's known amongst the workers as 'bollocks'

We need a football man or someone who can identify targets, buy them and then they have good careers with us not the shit we've amassed or disastrous deadline day failures that continually happen.

These people Mcabe has shuffled about mean fuck all in the grand scheme of things.

 

[zablade]

Brannigan

What do some of the board want Adkins out?

I belive Brannigan was one the more "Adkins sceptical" on the board, not ideal if he is the one working with him to bring in his targets.

I expect that Adkins will be given more scope now in the JTW to bring in his own players and to move out who he doesn't want even if it's only on loan, however that may still depend on an upturn in results through December, by no means a certainty.

 

[BushBlade]

I think you are right but my concern is we dont have enough footballing people on this technical board. Managing director responsibity is now shared between Green's and Shieber (none with direct footballing history or knowledge of playing personnel), Nick Cox is head of the Academy but as the website says; his responsibility is
'Nick is responsible for managing the various departments within the Academy to ensure the clubs requirements for homegrown players are fulfilled.'
I doubt he has much to do with incoming/outgoing players in terms of the 1st team.

We do not have a footballing director. We have a chief scout, Lee turnbull and then Adkins (and his coaches). The stucture you discuss is not in place same way as it is as other clubs who have a proper director of football and managing director with football responsibility. Today we have moved even further away from the set up you describe. Still as I said can things get any worse?!!

We can get away with all that if Adkins and Turnbull manage to find some good players. The risk with handing over all the responsibility to the manager is that every time it goes tits up, you have a major upheaval. If Adkins brings in his own players and ends up getting the sack before he gets us promoted, the next manager will have the same problem as Adkins has having to manage 'Clough's team'.

 

[UnitedBlade]

Brannigan


I belive Brannigan was one the more "Adkins sceptical" on the board, not ideal if he is the one working with him to bring in his targets.

I expect that Adkins will be given more scope now in the JTW to bring in his own players and to move out who he doesn't want even if it's only on loan, however that may still depend on an upturn in results through December, by no means a certainty.

The FC board was just Scott McCabe, Phipps and Brannigan. If Brannigan was skeptical, it sounds like the relationship wasn't working.

I've no idea if Dave Green will improve matters.

I think a lot rests on Lee Turnbull's plan. Can he pull some rabbits out of a hat ?

Time is ticking for this season.