[Official Site] REDS APPOINT MICHAEL DUFF AS HEAD COACH

Wouldn’t our highest position be around third after the gunners and Villa alphabetically before the season started?

 

Welcome Michael

 

Difficult to beat that then although an Arsenal relegation would be sweet and long-awaited revenge for the 1919 promotion/relegation scandal - I'm not bitter!

 

Welcome Michael

I know little about him as a coach, beyond what I've read recently, but I have a positive feeling about this appointment. Good luck in the role.

 

But that's purely alphabetics; however, he would have done marvelously, simply to get us into that scenario

 

Just adding my welcome to Michael to Oakwell. Of the names bandied around, he was always my top choice and, I think, that of the board as well by the sound of it. We may need some patience, because his first task will be to stabilise the team performances. If we get in with a shout of promotion this coming season, Michael will have exceeded what we might expect. Building beyond that, I am sure that we have appointed the best coach available - knows league one already; excellent results record with limited resources; clearly a professional who is continuing to develop his expertise through continuing professional development. Good feeling about this and we need to back him to the hilt. It just seems tough that his family will be staying in Cheltenham, but it sounds as though they have weighed up the cost of doing that and are in agreement. I really hope that those personal decisions work out for him as well, as they are such a key part of anyone's well-being. Brilliant appointment! Welcome to Oakwell, Michael.

 

On paper this appointment ticks all the boxes, every attribute we could want in a head coach; vast experience of the English football pyramid, proven to be an effective manager at league one level at a club with next to no resource, good honest grafter as a player who expects nothing less from his team and won’t suffer fools or any laziness - I mean the fella, whilst born in Belfast, was even brought up in Yorkshire - so he’ll get us as people, and know what we expect. (Arguably a posher bit I know but still).

I can’t criticise any part of this appointment. It took longer than we may have hoped but if that secures the right man on the right deal then that is fine.

He might be terrible, it might not work out. But there is no arguing that this appointment looks to be a sound one and whether it works out or not, our board are to be applauded for it.

For the record I anticipate he will do a great job; he could start off quickly though realistically this season may well be one of transition, so let’s get behind him and give him time. His quote about sweat on the shirt impressed me.

He knows what we expect, I can’t speak for everybody - but if the team goes out and leaves everything out there every week, does everything they possibly can, then win or lose I’ll support that. We don’t know what the squad will look like, we don’t know how much ability the players will have - but they can all at least put a proper shift in; I didn’t feel that was the case last season, and it had better be this coming one. Michael Duff appears to be the right man to ensure it will.

Well done Barnsley FC.

 

Asked the lady in the box office today if they had met him she said yes straight talking down to earth bloke was her answer that will do for me

 

Where is our CEO? He should be at the press conference.

 

I'd rather the CEO was behind the scenes working on any number of vital aspects he has to sort to get us ship shape for the season. Can't see any reason for him to be attending a press conference with our new head coach.

 

Tom Harban to have a 'hybrid role' to work with the under 18s,under 23s and first team. Jo Laumann will be with the under 18s and under 23s.

 

Is this a quote from the press conference?

 

Isn't that the director of media & comms that is with Duff? Would make far more sense for him to be at a press conference with the coach, than the CEO.

 

Yes off Doug but ballsed up the tweet link

 

Just spied it on Doug O Kane’s twitter now. Thanks

 

Hopefully he's on a cheap flight back from Istanbul with a briefcase with 4m euros in it and an empty Callum Styles sized seat next to him

 

Who is that big goof, who always sits at the end on these meetings. He just grins occasionally like he's heard someone let off a sneaky fart ?.

 

The lad in question is Andrew Clarke a really nice Guy ......I've met him a few times
He's open to questions and from my dealings with him I've found him to be honest and willing to listen and will do his best to answer no matter how awkward the question might be...another who's got the best interest of the club at heart.....if I'm not mistaken he started off as an intern placement at Oakwell ...like I say he's a decent bloke ..don't just take my word for it though ..Whitey is the man to ask ....but I'm sure he will back up what I've said and more.

 

Hey Ive no reason to disagree with you Shed kid lol, I just din't know who the bloke is thats all.