‘I’m not a fly by night’

Well.

I’m sorry Michael, but you very much are.

thank you for your efforts last season, I really think we were onto something special with him in charge. As I posted elsewhere it seemed his values were totally aligned with that of the culture of the town. Was that a tool used to galvanise, who knows?

But it doesn’t matter. We move on. Let us not forget it was also the players who were absolutely outstanding last season and they can be again. And the fans.

Some shrewd signings are required and the board needs to act quickly to bring some calm to the situation. We have a blueprint in place and have struck something good, with what appears to me to be a relatively simple formula that the players know how to execute. I do think it is important that is continued, and perhaps tweaked. Who knows, we might even win a game after going behind…

COYR

 

I don't get this take mate, I really don't.

I don't think he is a fly by night. He comes across - and is demonstrably so - a good, honest, loyal and hardworking man who did an unbelievable job for us. Beyond what anybody expected.

But being those things doesn't mean he cuts his nose off to spite his face. An opportunity has been presented to him that he thinks is a better one at a club closer to home, a division above and in the need for a turnaround. He's no doubt weighed it up, aware of the players and funds he's gonna have available and got out whilst in a positive position.

Nobody would say no, no matter how 'loyal' they say they are. So let's just thank him & get on with it.

 

Just came across this, from when he joined us.
Couple of points grabbed my attention
We paid £100k compensation
He was interviewed by Blackpool after us.
His statement when joining us in hindsight is similar to what he said joining Swansea about being ambitious, next step etc - perhaps the signs were there from the start.

ps I notice on his Swansea interview he says similar things like in it together etc etc.

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co....sley-confirm-appointment-michael-duff-7211904

 

Are you only be allowed to be ambitious once then? And only if it is with us?

 

I've got absolutely no problem with him choosing to go to a higher placed club closer to home for undoubtedly more money. Can't blame him for that at all.

BUT I do find it a bit disingenuous to talk of being a long term manager and in it for the long haul etc etc when you know that you have insisted on a clause allowing you to leave said club at a moment's notice. Insisting that you have that clause in your contract is demonstrating that your long term ambitions are not with Barnsley football club despite what you may say publicly.

 

Not really sure what you mean but I think you have completely missed what I said TBH.
In both instances when joining us and then Swansea he cited being ambitious, he also said he saw us as the next step in that ambition.

 

Exactly and by saying we was the next step he clearly saw us as a stepping stone.

 

Just took it as you were criticising him but fair dos if it wasn't meant that way.

 

I get what you're saying Dyson, but why spew all this stuff that he did when he joined then? Basically 'I'm in it for the long haul'. That sort of statement rarely rings true these days as managers are sacked if doing poorly (or often simply averagely) and the first better offer that comes in, they're off. That's fine, but again, don't come across that unless something incredible comes up, you're going to stay for a decent length of time.

I also think this 'closer to home' thing is largely a load of rubbish. If he wanted to be closer to home, he shouldn't have come to Barnsley in the first place. Do you think he'd have turned say Sunderland or Boro down if they'd have offered him a job? And Swansea is barely any closer really. Bristol City I could appreciate that argument.

Swansea is a step up, yes, they're a league higher, for now, have a better stadium, it's a city and so on. But it's a modest step up at best. Not like he's joined a side with huge parachute payments for example.

So I don't feel as strongly as some, but certainly feels a bit like we've been 'dumped' out of the blue when everything seemed okay.

 

he really is, he talked the talk about ‘the long haul’ and then jumped before he had time to catch his breath, in football terms that really is the definition of fly by night!

 

I think he made great play of loyalty when he joined, he referenced it a lot and in hindsight, I think he traded on it.

It doesn't sit right with me that he then clears off at the first opportunity, which he has.

I totally agree he did an unbelievable job for us.

Maybe I'm just disappointed and bitter, but there is a definite incongruity between his words at the outset and his behaviour 365 days later.

 

It’s almost as if football people will say what they think fans want to hear.

 

Hopefully he'll attract players who are like him. No one is gonna join Swansea because they want to play for MD, as they'll know he won't be there in a year. He'll attract the mercenaries who are only there for the money.
Don't really know where I was going with this.......isn't that just everyone in football I suppose.

 

I find it hard to believe managers don't get coached a bit by their respective clubs on what kind of stuff they'd like them to say, either. Not saying it is definitely not from him, but I wouldn't be shocked if the media team had given him some pointers as lets be fair he has had longevity at clubs prior to us and that's what fans like to hear.

 

How do you know it's him that insisted on it? Maybe it was something in there to protect the club too - if it's not there then it could've been less. Works both ways.

And again, just because you do have some integrity & want to think long term doesn't make you an idiot. Not having protections in place - especially as a football manager - doesn't make you loyal it makes you thick. And he's definitely not that.

 

He's only in it for the long haul if we let him, too. Let's not forget that - we could have the most loyal person in the world at the top but if we want shut then we'll get shut. Goes both ways.

He's a good man, who's done a good job for us & now sees a good opportunity that he felt he couldn't turn down for whatever his reasons are. I've absolutely no problem with it. Left us in a better place than before he joined & that really is all we can hope for.

 

Many people have taken his departure personally. It's not just that he's gone, it's the comments he made when he arrived that have hurt people so much.

I'm not upset, doesn't sound like you are, but just because we're world weary doesn't mean we're right. It's a long time since I've been swept along by a passionate speech like Duff gave when he got here. I'm way too cynical, I've heard it all before and I know from experience it doesn't mean much. That's a bad thing. Life is much more enjoyable when you're emotionally invested. But it also leaves you open to being hurt and let down. That's how people are feeling, hence the reaction.

I don't think Duff is disloyal. That's the wrong adjective. But I do think he was disingenuous. He purposely portrayed himself as something that he isn't to win people's hearts. He wasn't here for the long haul, he was just here until a better opportunity came along and that came along quicker than he imagined. He did a very good job while he was here and I wish him all the best, but his words were hollow and I can understand the reaction of those who had invested in him.

 

But this comes back to my fundamental point - just because you're a loyal, genuine person doesn't mean you're an idiot. I don't doubt his intentions & I don't doubt his morals for a single second. He said things that he meant & still believes in terms of his style & what matters to him. It's just life that something came up & he's taken an opportunity to better himself & ultimately his family. It's a reflection of his success with us & we've benefited from it hugely. That's why I can't be mad because it's a sensible decision that everybody on this board slating him would make tomorrow. It doesn't look good on paper, but I think people are choosing to live in a black and white way in a very grey world.

 

What he achieved last season was in my opinion only secondary to our promotion to the premier league, considering the circumstances. An outstanding coach and person who has made our Club a more attractive proposition to whoever comes in. I personally wish him every success and fully understand the decision he has made.

 

It's not the same because it's just football and staying at Barnsley isn't any more virtuous than going to Swansea (unless you've told everyone that you wouldn't just bugger off, which is where it gets a bit more complicated). But this claim you're making that everyone would take the opportunity to earn more money and take a more prestigious position simply isn't true. Millions of people do the job they're doing because they believe what they're doing is a good thing, that they're being helpful, that they owe it to others to see it through. You don't go to Africa to administer TB inoculations for personal benefit.

I'm not saying any of this makes Duff a bad person, just that I understand why people are upset. The next time a manger comes along and says he's here for the long haul far fewer people will believe him. Yet he may be telling the truth. That's Duff's legacy.