Director of football?

[tyneblade]

One possibility I've not seen discussed is that Nigel's departure could be based on a refusal to work with a new structure, with more control of contracts and recruitment, above him. Given his admitted failures here that would't be a surprising response from the board, but equally it's something that the Clough family would never tolerate.

If that proposal is still on the table it complicates the current recruitment process and makes the appointment of somebody like Phil Parkinson ,in a purer coaching role, more likely.

 

[Blade56]

With Colin or Adkin as DoF?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I've yet to see what a DoF actually gives to a football club that various other roles don't provide.

 

[Silent Blade]

What does a DoF really do?

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

With Colin or Adkin as DoF?

With the importance of this appointment to the club , board , fans , investors , i just cannot see the board being daft enough to cock this new appointment up. McCabe will have in the back of his mind , previous appointments ( including Clough ) , and will have done his own lessons learnt bit.

The rogue could be the prince , who has a say , from a financial aspect.

What we have to remember they sacked the complete back room staff , so the new manager doesn't have to work with what he's got . He has the opening and facility to bring in his own chosen , select , own team , which may also have to come from another club , if in employment.

I can see them going for a DOF and coach scenario , as Clough failed in trying to be all things to all men and deal with everything .

Warnock is being tipped to go to Bradford as DOF , under the new owners ( ex QPR ) . If it his Parkinson , it would not surprise me if Warnock came as well . Bear in mind McCabe and Warnock do appear to have kissed and made up.

This management team , would i think be more successful and also more palatable to fans , than Parkinson arriving not on a white horse , but donkey , to save us and move us forward.

Morgan would also , i feel , flourish , under this management team , do something for his money , and provide a contribution.

Only a thought , but it would work for me.

UTB

 

[TexasBlade]

The Derek Dooley role, although not a DofF, worked very well and helped Neil Warnock concentrate on the team with Derek keeping the board happy! Funnily enough we were promoted to the Premier League with this arrangement in place.

 

[tyneblade]

I was thinking of the Graham Carr role at Newcastle. Officially in charge of scouting he does much more.

 

[metalblade]

What does a DoF really do?

Takes a big chunk of wages out of the club while sat on his fat arse eating pies ................................ think back to our Turry and you wouldn't be far off.

 

[Blade56]

With the importance of this appointment to the club , board , fans , investors , i just cannot see the board being daft enough to cock this new appointment up. McCabe will have in the back of his mind , previous appointments ( including Clough ) , and will have done his own lessons learnt bit.

The rogue could be the prince , who has a say , from a financial aspect.

What we have to remember they sacked the complete back room staff , so the new manager doesn't have to work with what he's got . He has the opening and facility to bring in his own chosen , select , own team , which may also have to come from another club , if in employment.

I can see them going for a DOF and coach scenario , as Clough failed in trying to be all things to all men and deal with everything .

Warnock is being tipped to go to Bradford as DOF , under the new owners ( ex QPR ) . If it his Parkinson , it would not surprise me if Warnock came as well . Bear in mind McCabe and Warnock do appear to have kissed and made up.

This management team , would i think be more successful and also more palatable to fans , than Parkinson arriving not on a white horse , but donkey , to save us and move us forward.

Morgan would also , i feel , flourish , under this management team , do something for his money , and provide a contribution.

Only a thought , but it would work for me.

UTB

Think Morg's is there for continuity and handover. Don't see him figuring as much in the new set up

 

[Blade56]

Takes a big chunk of wages out of the club while sat on his fat arse eating pies ................................ think back to our Turry and you wouldn't be far off.

Again, I hope that was the old Bladey Blade way mb. Can't See HRH and Jim letting Turry no brain or the Pyramid Carpet guy sit around doing nowt but testing the pies like they did under KM (the old Bladey Blade way)

The times they are a changing. No more failures, Jim is not as soft/nice as he appears IMO he is a hard hitting results man hence pack your bags NN.

Time will tell

 

[AlienBlade]

wasnt the contracts etc all done by someone other than Clough anyway?

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

What does a DoF really do?

Directs football. A bit like the manager, I imagine.

Tbf there may be important differences. Certainly from my experience at u9s managing and coaching are two entirely different skills.

Scaling this up a level or two to the professional game I can imagine someone enjoying coaching during the week but handing over responsibility (to a manager) at match time.

What the exact roles and job titles would be though, I'm not so sure.

 

[BushBlade]

What does a DoF really do?

Depends on the club. In most cases it's mainly recruitment and being the link between the board and the coal face.

Good examples of this are Dan Ashworth, when at West Brom, and Mark Warburton at Brentford, before he became manager. Both came from coaching backgrounds and developed an overall philosophy and approach to recruitment, of managers, players and coaches.

The advantage to this is that they usually stay in job longer than the manager so they can provide continuity. A good example is West Brom during Ashworth's time there; they could change managers fairly frequently without having to change the players while maintaining PL football.

IMO a DoF has to be a 'football person' ie qualified coach with no ambition to be the first team manager. Otherwise, as someone else has posted, they add nothing.

 

[mattbianco1]

What does a DoF really do?

He directs the football....

Basically tells the manager which way we are kicking

 

[mattbianco1]

Robinson as Manager with Adkins as Director of Football?????

That get's a big tick from me.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

I imagine a DoF as support available to an inexperienced Manager. Someone who can offer counsel with 'on field' matters but also take care of the clerical/administrative aspect of the job.

For example; last season a DoF might have said "Heyup Nige, you have been granted a million quid in budget to improve the squad. I know you have your heart set on Brayford, but Flynny is coming into his own at RB so a CB to cover the injury prone Kennedy & McCeveley might be a wise move"

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

I imagine a DoF as support available to an inexperienced Manager. Someone who can offer counsel with 'on field' matters but also take care of the clerical/administrative aspect of the job.

For example; last season a DoF might have said "Heyup Nige, you have been granted a million quid in budget to improve the squad. I know you have your heart set on Brayford, but Flynny is coming into his own at RB so a CB to cover the injury prone Kennedy & McCeveley might be a wise move"

You are bang on , but in our case , Clough would have told him to bollocks.

UTB

 

[Blade for Sale]

I imagine a DoF as support available to an inexperienced Manager. Someone who can offer counsel with 'on field' matters but also take care of the clerical/administrative aspect of the job.

For example; last season a DoF might have said "Heyup Nige, you have been granted a million quid in budget to improve the squad. I know you have your heart set on Brayford, but Flynny is coming into his own at RB so a CB to cover the injury prone Kennedy & McCeveley might be a wise move"

I see it more as somebody who would sit on the board and shout at the top of his voice things like: 'SELLING DEANE AND FJORTOFT ON THE SAME F**KING DAY FOR F**KING PEANUTS WHEN WE ARE ON TARGET FOR AUTOMATIC PROMOTION TO THE RICHEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD IS, IN FOOTBALL TERMS, THE DAFTEST F**KING DECISION YOU C**TS WILL EVER MAKE'.

 

[sheffielder]

Works well when done right. Allows for continuity of football on the pitch when a manager leaves. Les Reed at Southampton is a prime example, so you don't have to change your football ethos. There are however many more who do it wrong than right.

Works w l for the majority of European teams so what is it about British managers that can't work with it?

 

[Silent Blade]

Similar to the 1968-69 season when John Harris was the "General Manager" and Arthur Rowley the "Team Manager"? It didnt work for us and if a club wanted me to me their new manager then I wouldnt want a DoF to interfere my planning, recruitment, selections and tactics

 

[Silent Blade]

wasnt the contracts etc all done by someone other than Clough anyway?

Mal Brannigan the MD

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Cast your minds back to the last time Director of Football came up - 2008. The candidate - Bryan Robson. Thank god he declined the offer. I think the Derek Dooley model is more likely and more viable (but who?) - which could trigger more changes and exits and it could be a case of "clear your desk Mr Brannigan".

 

[tyneblade]

What's the Chief up to now?

 

[BushBlade]

Similar to the 1968-69 season when John Harris was the "General Manager" and Arthur Rowley the "Team Manager"? It didnt work for us and if a club wanted me to me their new manager then I wouldnt want a DoF to interfere my planning, recruitment, selections and tactics

A good one wouldn't. But the DoF has to be appointed first, not brought in over an existing manager's head, because they usually take offence and suspect they will interfere.

The DoF should then play a major part in the recruiting of the new manager to ensure they can work together and share a view on how to move forward.

 

[Bladebri]

Tony currie should be DOF, proper football knowledge, a blade through and through.

 

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

What does a DoF really do?

Many of the things Clough wanted to do, tried to do, did or failed to do... but with an understanding of where the finances come from, who the club belongs to, and why he/she'd be directing it as part of a top-down strategy, not demanding it bottom-up regardless of cost.

 

[blade.i.am]

Perhaps we should offer our services as DOF, a sort of S24SU collective. If Clough had taken note of some of the wise words offered by our members he might still be in a job. We're bloody cheap an' all.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Last season maybe a DOF could have

• patched up a couple of disagreements between management and players
• highlighted our lack of height when some of the planned first choices got injuries/fell out of favour
• advised against McCarthy's no-training arrangement
• used contacts to help bring in a strong striker earlier than O'Grady/Davies
• used contacts to help bring in centre half cover towards end of season
• advised against spending that much money on Brayford
• improved relationship between manager and board, avoiding a rash sacking following a simple meeting (if rumours are to be believed)
• pointed out the correlation between poor performances and Baxter doing a physically demanding role

Do all DOF have to earn millions? It first and foremost has to be a genuine football man wanting the club to succeed, keeping an eye on trends, developing problem areas, making sure we're making good decisions long term.

 

[Ben_1982]

Mal Brannigan is certainly going nowhere

 

[Gibbo89]

Certainly wouldn't be against us adopting a DofF/head coach model. As said previously it works elsewhere and is the common setup across Europe. Personally though I think what Cloughie lacked more was a strong No.2 to stand up to him and point out where he might be making a mistake. A bit like the role Peter Taylor did so well for his dad. Without Peter Taylor at his side Brian made a lot of mistakes.