New manager hunt starts

And his most memorable win (Torquay 3-2) was with a team signed on by Gary Owners.

comrade powell wrote:I thought for a moment you were applying for the job, Kevin! Yes, see you on Saturday - will I need a coat?

Well I do still have my Prelim badge from 1970-something.

And the weather forecast is diabolical... think of playing table tennis on the deck of a North Sea trawler and you'll be somewhere near.

Digger wrote:And his most memorable win (Torquay 3-2) was with a team signed on by Gary Owners.

That's not correct. Gary Owers had been gone over 18 months by the time we beat Torquay. The majority of the players had been signed by Jerry. If you're going to disparage Jerry Gill at least get your facts right.

The final words from Jerry - https://www.bathcityfc.com/final-message-from-jerry-gill - and Jim has gone too - https://www.bathcityfc.com/staff-news-jim-barron-2 - the end of an era...

Micawber wrote:

Digger wrote:And his most memorable win (Torquay 3-2) was with a team signed on by Gary Owners.

That's not correct. Gary Owers had been gone over 18 months by the time we beat Torquay. The majority of the players had been signed by Jerry. If you're going to disparage Jerry Gill at least get your facts right.

5 of the starting 11 and 2 of the used subs (plus 1 unused) were signed by Owers (or Howells!) so I'm not sure the majority were signed by JG.

I actually think that was the main issue, his sides that were mainly old school non-league players that he added class to were some of the best sides I'd seen, but as more and more of those have left, the quality of the sides got worse - with a notable exception of last season where they were good - and unfortunately the latest squad is built in the image of players he likes and we're suffering for it.

This isn't a criticism of Gill, it happens to loads of managers, most notably Wenger, where if you stay too long, your flaws and amplified and the good work you do doesn't cover for it.

On that note, I think Gill will inevitably hit the ground running at a new club when he'll bring in a Morton/ young Tom Smith etc on the back of a solid non-league side and do well.

****Edit I've been told I was wrong with a couple of the players, I thought Clarke was a Owers signing (disgracefully meaning I forgot Southwood!) & Stearn had been re-signed. I think the thrust of my argument stands though, but happy to be corrected

I was wondering, does the FA issue the clubs with handy "Guide to dispensing with your Manager & how
to address the issue with your fans"  only I was looking at these two statements;

First from our club`s board

"We are now focussed on the recruitment process and will be updating the supporters in the near future on this. In the meantime, we hope that fans will come along tomorrow, to show their support and get behind the team.”

Then three days later from St Albans City FC Board;

Levy said: “The club is focused on the recruitment process, and we will be updating supporters in the near future on this. In the meantime, we hope that fans will come along on Saturday, to show their support and get behind Harry and the team.

Do they also have a "How to find a new Manager Guide"

Good spot! I expect St Albans simply copied and pasted our statement to save them the bother of thinking of something fresh!

Have to hold my hand up, it was a contributor to the St Albans forum who spotted it.

No plagiarism from the Weymouth board…

The Weymouth Football Club Board of Directors wishes to inform supporters that, after a meeting last night, it has been decided to part ways with Mark Molesley with immediate effect. Unfortunately, results have not met our expectations.
In the interim, Jason Matthews will take charge of first team fixtures while we search for a new manager.
We thank Mark for his efforts and wish him every success in the future.

Hasn’t Mr Gill got unfinished business at Weymouth? The Weymouth Way has a nice ring to it.

The job spec in the advertisement released today is what you’d expect in the main but one line concerned me. The successful candidate will “have relationships with local clubs from higher up the pyramid who are keen to loan players”.
This over reliance on short term fixes has not been a great success - for every Semenyo there must have been ten loanees who were clearly out of their depth in NLS (and not just physically). Constant changes in the line-ups has not aided continuity or stability and as with the likes of James and both Phillips, they quickly return to their parent club.
While with past managers we occasionally went down this path, Jerry Gill took it to a new level (and not just to cover injuries). I assumed this policy was his and am concerned that the Club look keen to continue it.
One of the most successful recruitments in the last seven years was Jordan Thomas who of course arrived from a club lower down the pyramid. Although I’ll concede it’s hinted at elsewhere in the document, surely if the playing budget is as low as many supporters believe then recruitment from the level below should be seen as more important than aiding the development of other clubs’ players.
There was mention of developing Academy players capable of transitioning into the senior set up - hopefully the new manager will give them more opportunities rather than just sitting them on the bench to cover injuries.

Funnily enough I caught on to that relationships with other clubs thing as well, and the only consolation I got from it was that there was a point when Adie was in charge that he said that clubs wouldn't loan him players and that he could only get Nicholls in from Exeter providing he played every game. Maybe the board just doesn't want it to be this bad again but like you I did worry about that line.

It would be interesting to see how many loanees each club in NLS have. I suspect most have at least 2. Nearly every club from Southern League to Football League division 1 seem to rely on loanees to a certain extent. When Gary Owers took over last time his signing of Liam Kelly on loan was crucial to our avoiding relegation that season.
While I don't want us to become over reliant on the loan market I think you have to expect that we will always need one or two loan players and therefore would be beneficial to have a manager who is able to attract good quality loan players.

Yes, the loanee route is widely used these days but that doesn't make it right. The difference between Kelly and most of those we've had in recent years is that he was aged around 23/24. If we have to rely on them to get us out of the present mess then I'm not optimistic about our chances. But I agree that we probably haven't seen the last of them with the managerial change and the key will be if future ones are of better quality. I might change my mind about the system then!

comrade powell wrote:Yes, the loanee route is widely used these days but that doesn't make it right. The difference between Kelly and most of those we've had in recent years is that he was aged around 23/24. If we have to rely on them to get us out of the present mess then I'm not optimistic about our chances. But I agree that we probably haven't seen the last of them with the managerial change and the key will be if future ones are of better quality. I might change my mind about the system then!

I presume you mean the majority of loan players are younger and not up to it physically?

Yes, yes and some are not good enough*.
Things have changed drastically since the time when we marvelled at Bobby Zamora in his short stay with us. Micawber is correct when he says that all levels below the top two are using the loan system and of course it is of benefit to the parent clubs. A club like Bristol City must have many players who are outside of the senior squad and are sent out on loan each season. I guess the youngest (and the ones being given a last chance to prove themselves?) are sent out to our level or the one below. They either move up the pecking order and are then sent to more senior clubs (last season's loanee Yeboah has been playing for Doncaster) or are released (eg Clark)

* the exception are some of the excellent keepers we have had on loan in recent seasons. I had no problem with that policy.

I'm not a massive fan of the loan system (except for Bobby Zamora of course) but I guess it's necessary given small squads and injuries.

I find it interesting that we regularly get loan players from certain local clubs, but not others. For instance, I can't recall many loan deals with Forest Green, aside from Jacob Jones in 2022. Given that Rob Edwards was the FGR  manager at the time (and is now at Luton so would have also agreed the Josh Phillips deal) I suppose most of it comes down to existing relationships between the various Managers / Director of Football.

James SLO wrote:I'm not a massive fan of the loan system (except for Bobby Zamora of course) but I guess it's necessary given small squads and injuries.

Yes, when the squad is badly affected by injuries it's an obvious short term solution to fill the gaps with loanees, however suitable the incomer may be. As a current director you will know (and I don't expect you to disclose details here!) if the last manager's policy in recent times was to spend his budget on a small squad of 'quality players' topped up with loanees  - that was the case in my time. TBF the squad he started with this time was larger than most of his previous ones and I don't think any loanees were brought in before the season started (as was the case with Clark 12 months earlier)

Unless the budget is increased we will have to use the loan system, as there cheap. Tom Smith, Semenyo, Zamora, Ewan Clark been fantastic loans. Yes we get some garbage but unless someone pumps thousands in to budget we have to use the bargain system.

Personally I am more concerned about squad players never getting a game. There has been at least one a season for the last seven years. I would hope people are given a chance to redeem themselves if they have got on the wrong side of the coach.

BenE wrote:I would hope people are given a chance to redeem themselves if they have got on the wrong side of the coach.

One of the essential skills listed in the job spec appears to address this!