City manager

Is there any substance in this? http://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/football-news/bath-city-boss-gary-owers-467595

Oh no.... this all sounds ominous to me. If Owers was there to watch their last game, I think it will happen....what other reason would he have to be there, unless he was looking at a player, which I doubt?

Just looked on the Torquay fan forum....they are underwhelmed by Gary going there and feel he is someone close to their unpopular Board. The consensus is Kevin Nicholson will come our way. They have also suggested if Gary does go, he will take Compton, Straker and and some of the others with him. Off to work now.....hopefully when I get home, this will have all blown over and nothing will have come of it....

AGAIN??????????????????????????????????????

Well pissed off with this. Clearly we are just a stepping stone for him. GO and dont come back again.

I suppose this isn't blown over...

http://www.bathcityfc.com/gary-owers-leave-city-take-managerial-post-torquay-united/

I would have been fine if he had left to better himself, but a team only one division higher, in freefall with madness behind the scenes....

Had a funny feeling he would go there as soon as Kevin N got the sack ... he's done it before and now he's done it again

Kev Nicholson and Jim would be a good partnership. We could pass them going the other way.

Not happy that GO has gone now when its all coming together.

I weirdly expected it more last year, and would have been fine with it, am more annoyed given how he's been able to build his own side here this year, and then he leaves for the Torquay basket case.

I know as a club we are good at not standing in players way when higher clubs come calling (See Monthe, Manny etc.,) but this time for all the players we've got on contract if Torquay ask for them, I hope we tell them where to go.

I know Owers wanted them on contract but are all of them or just a few?

Not sold on a manager who had a very unsuccessful spell at Torquay. Think we have to be looking at something different. New blood. Rollo is a legend. But even legends have to leave. Whipe it clean and bring in fresh meat. New start.

Contenders - Nicholson, though he left us dont forget though perhaps understandable at the time. Dont see what is attractive about Torquay now at all. Mark Cooper will soon be out of a job at FGR but will want mega bucks. FL coaches at City, Rovers or another west country club that want some grass roots experience. Is there such a thing as a loan manager ??. Collier from Chipp, wanting to take on a bigger club. Tim Harris at Gloucester, but another one whos been here, done that. Rollo, not for me. Any other west country managers / coaches available?

Collier would be a good appointment LR. Getting one over on Chippenham also. Would that even up the scorline also from earlier in the season?

Matt Taylor?

I'll reply fully later. Currently promoting the club at a Freshers Fair.

Citylink wrote:Collier would be a good appointment LR. Getting one over on Chippenham also. Would that even up the scorline also from earlier in the season?

Collier's name sprung to mind when I first heard the news this morning ... Did City tap him up previously? (before Owers got the job) ... I have heard him and the Bluebird's chairman are like blood brothers though, so it might be a bit of an ask to pull him away from Hardenhuish Park

This is really disappointing news. I guess Owers was on little or no money though and if he's been offered a decent wage then who can blame him.
Very concerned about this sowing the seeds of yet another cup exit on Saturday, unless of course City have someone lined up already. Unlikely methinks.

Jim's taking over the dug out on Saturday according the official site.

Owers stated that when he left originally to go to Forest Green, it was because he was ambitious. It would be fair to say therefore that he must have felt Bath City at the time were simply not ambitious enough and I think that would be a fair criticism at the time. If he wants to succeed as manager, then he has to aim high. That should be respected.

This time though it's different. Why come back to what he regards as a small club? Signing a 2 year contract seemed madness and so I can't really say good luck to him in all honesty. He also has had a good injection of cash into the playing budget in comparison with many clubs in Conference South.

I think how the board react to this will say a lot about this club. If it can appoint a well respected manager who has played at a high level similar to Owers/Bodin then I think the club has done all it can. Equally, if it goes for an easy option like Rollo or even Collier, then I would say it really doesn't want promotion.

Rollo has a fantastic attitude but I don't think it would be right to appoint someone based simply on sentiment. He's not managed before and with this season being the first year of community ownership, we need to be saying to the Bath public that we're playing to win the league.

It would be sending the wrong message to the Bath public to appoint Rollo. Great for the diehards, but with respect he's not had an overly professional football background. Few spells here and there but not sustained himself at a high level unlike Bodin/Owers.

Being brutally honest I think this club can sometimes lose sight of the big picture. I respect the efforts made off the pitch to improve attendances, marketing etc. but the bottom line is that this is a FOOTBALL club. Attendances go up when the club does well on the pitch, not so much off it. We need a manager who wants promotion to conference premier (and beyond). It can be done.

Otherwise, why bother?.............

One positive from this though is that despite a good run of results, performance wise, it hasn't actually been that impressive. We've gone behind in the majority of games I think.

As mentioned, Saturday is going to be a much, much tougher game under the circumstances. (Good timing Owers)

Didnt Mark Colliers assistant play at a high level like Owers and Bodin? Colliers a winner. Hes been very succesful. Thats what matters to me personally.

Brian Tinnion over at Bristol City has tweeted to say that they look forward to continuing their excellent relationship with us under our new manager.. so that's.... Something?!

2weirdtown wrote:This is really disappointing news.  I guess Owers was on little or no money though and if he's been offered a decent wage then who can blame him.
Very concerned about this sowing the seeds of yet another cup exit on Saturday, unless of course City have someone lined up already.  Unlikely methinks.

I would guess coaching fulltime players as opposed to a couple of evenings a week would suit his ambition more.

I presume he has been offered more money and no doubt promised 'a transfer kitty' so I can't blame him. The reality is that Bath City is not a big club. I personally wouldn't go to Torquay under the current circumstances but you can see the attraction.

I would hope that the board do not rush into a decision. Jimmer can hold the reins for a bit while a proper interview process is conducted. Let's see who wants to come here.

When Owers left last time I think that is when Relish/Britton arrived and they had excellent footballing knowledge at non-league level.

In the intervening 12 years I think the footballing geography has changed and that most good you local kids are quickly taken into the academy teams of the league clubs and are lost to the likes of us/non-league, and what Owers has demonstrated is that, with excellent contacts, he has been able to bring some of those youngsters to us on loan.

I would hope that whoever we appoint we learn those lessons, and get somebody who knows the non-league scene but is able to tap into those league academies.

I wonder what Jason Dodd is doing?

I think realistically I see it as a 3 horse race. Collier , Rollo , Nicholson. Ive put it in that order for a reason.

I don't buy this idea that it will adversely affect Saturday. Its the FA Cup and we are in a run of form. Jim provides some continuity. We the fans can help by turning up and encouraging them.

I think GO has left some good foundations we can build on. I still believe success is possible this season or next......