Sothall_Blade
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http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk...-clough-is-managing-fine-on-his-own-1-6524979
"The other day this column accompanied Nigel Clough through the corridors of Sheffield United’s academy at Shirecliffe. A stream of unknown youngsters passed us the other way.
Unknown to me, that is. United’s manager buttonholed one to ask for a word after training. A minor detail, maybe, but it’s the small things that add up to a managerial remit with few parallels in the modern game.
How many managers are truly in charge?
Most bow to chief executives or, in some cases, egocentric owners. So when people analyse the turnaround in Sheffield United they should start and finish with the all-embracing role (and power) handed to Clough by Bramall Lane’s new regime.
No-one is more appreciative of this than Clough himself. Or more scathing of those clubs where the football professionals have to play second fiddle.
He tells me: “There can be a big problem at some clubs at the moment where you get people from outside football coming in and making decisions.
“They’re even picking players and also making comments on teams and things like that.
Like, for instance, the chief executive of Norwich (where manager Chris Hughton was publicly warned recently that his job was on the line).
“I think they should leave it to the football people to deal with it all. I don’t think that should have changed – despite the game changing in certain other ways.”
That’s why Blades fans can forget any fears of Nigel being lured to his father’s one-time double European champions Nottingham Forest where Neil Warnock rejected the job because the owner “wanted to pick the team.” And just look at the internal chaos Brian McDermott is fighting at Leeds.
Clough welcomes the suggestion that the only modern parallels to himself, in terms of control, have been Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. “And Manchester United and Arsenal have been two of the best sides. . .I don’t think that’s too much of a coincidence,” he chips in.
Sack-happy Chelsea an exception, though? “Yes, you can get situations like that but I think the amount that’s been spent there means they’re going to be challenging the majority of the time.”
Clough is satisfied that broadly his point holds true.
Referring also to sidekicks Andy Garner and Gary Crosby, he insists: “There’s no point in us having 15 odd years experience if somebody else is going to pick the players and have a major influence.
“If they’re that good, all those people who have an opinion, then they may as well pop down to the technical area on a Saturday afternoon and try that.”
Yes, Clough has a budget but he operates it himself. His overseers say they want to read about any ins and outs at the club, rather than being consulted.
If that’s not convincing enough then former League Managers Association chief executive John Barnwell nails it stone dead. When I tell him about Clough’s old-style remit, Barnwell retorts: “When managers had control of the finances they tended to look after that side of things better than all the chief executives and money men of today!”
"The other day this column accompanied Nigel Clough through the corridors of Sheffield United’s academy at Shirecliffe. A stream of unknown youngsters passed us the other way.
Unknown to me, that is. United’s manager buttonholed one to ask for a word after training. A minor detail, maybe, but it’s the small things that add up to a managerial remit with few parallels in the modern game.
How many managers are truly in charge?
Most bow to chief executives or, in some cases, egocentric owners. So when people analyse the turnaround in Sheffield United they should start and finish with the all-embracing role (and power) handed to Clough by Bramall Lane’s new regime.
No-one is more appreciative of this than Clough himself. Or more scathing of those clubs where the football professionals have to play second fiddle.
He tells me: “There can be a big problem at some clubs at the moment where you get people from outside football coming in and making decisions.
“They’re even picking players and also making comments on teams and things like that.
Like, for instance, the chief executive of Norwich (where manager Chris Hughton was publicly warned recently that his job was on the line).
“I think they should leave it to the football people to deal with it all. I don’t think that should have changed – despite the game changing in certain other ways.”
That’s why Blades fans can forget any fears of Nigel being lured to his father’s one-time double European champions Nottingham Forest where Neil Warnock rejected the job because the owner “wanted to pick the team.” And just look at the internal chaos Brian McDermott is fighting at Leeds.
Clough welcomes the suggestion that the only modern parallels to himself, in terms of control, have been Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. “And Manchester United and Arsenal have been two of the best sides. . .I don’t think that’s too much of a coincidence,” he chips in.
Sack-happy Chelsea an exception, though? “Yes, you can get situations like that but I think the amount that’s been spent there means they’re going to be challenging the majority of the time.”
Clough is satisfied that broadly his point holds true.
Referring also to sidekicks Andy Garner and Gary Crosby, he insists: “There’s no point in us having 15 odd years experience if somebody else is going to pick the players and have a major influence.
“If they’re that good, all those people who have an opinion, then they may as well pop down to the technical area on a Saturday afternoon and try that.”
Yes, Clough has a budget but he operates it himself. His overseers say they want to read about any ins and outs at the club, rather than being consulted.
If that’s not convincing enough then former League Managers Association chief executive John Barnwell nails it stone dead. When I tell him about Clough’s old-style remit, Barnwell retorts: “When managers had control of the finances they tended to look after that side of things better than all the chief executives and money men of today!”
