Disastrous Managerial Appointments

I started going to the Well in 1968 and between then and 1996 at various times had season tickets or attended casually, as circumstances permitted. There were good times (promotion in 1968, the Clarke/Hunter years) and mediocre times (most of the rest). Then came Danny, and a simple but highly effective and attractive brand of football. I saw every game in 96-97, and became a ST holder again for the Premiership season and the season after. I’d every confidence that Danny would go very close to getting us back up to the Prem, but a few days after the ST renewal deadline we allowed him to go to a neighbouring club. I’ve been told by someone who does know, that all we had to do was to meet Danny’s fairly modest request regarding salary (presumably matching what our neighbours offered). The amount mentioned was modest, and certainly within our means. But instead we let him go, assuming that it was easy, and that John Hendrie would make the same immediate transition. From the shambles of his reign, we appointed Bassett, and although we reached the playoff final, we were subjected - in my opinion - to the dismantling of a decent squad and treated to a much uglier brand of football. We were then helped in our decline by the ITV television rights collapse. Bassett killed me off, and I ceased to attend. The five managers appointed over the next four years (!) reads like a comedy script.

After several nonentities and a staggered rescue process, we arrived at the point where Andy Ritchie unexpectedly gained promotion for us. Despite this achievement, he was given very little time to adjust to the demands of a higher league, and was sacked in favour of Simon Davey, who lacked the experience to progress things. The cup run of 2008 provided at least a little light relief. When Davey fell to earth we appointed Mark Robins, who appeared to have some forward vision about building a successful squad. Shackell, to me looked to be a solid foundation around whom Robins was going to build his side. I remember Mark saying how Jacob Butterfield was “going to be a very important player for Barnsley” (yes – the one who’s just changed hands for 4.5M). I don’t know what else went off with Shackell, but we sell him for 1M and he goes on to play in the Premiership with Burnley and changes hands for 3M prior to this season. This is part of our own ‘austerity’ programme, which hacks Robins off and he leaves. We then compound this mistake by floundering away for another two years with the awful Hill and Flitcroft, who assemble the poorest squad of players I’ve seen in my time. They also allow us to squander the talents of Jacob and lose John Stones disastrously cheaply. Danny’s second coming patently didn’t work – just as Alan Clarke’s didn’t. Despite the drop to a lower league we are just as ineffective, and Danny goes, tarnishing the reputation of someone who will nevertheless always remain a club legend.

And so, to the appointment of Lee Johnson. A very capable midfield player in his time, but a fledgeling manager who in truth had not been tested in his short time with Oldham. A brave and visionary decision – if it comes off. But a very risky-looking one if things go wrong. After the shambles of our recent history of managerial appointments, wouldn’t logic have dictated that we’d go for experience, and a firm hand? You can argue that that sort of experience costs – but surely not as much as if your football club goes down the pan? Lee’s a conscientious student of the game, a very personable bloke, and is popular with his players. But he just hasn’t got the experience. This manifests itself in his refusal to compromise his preferred playing style and formation to adjust for the demands of what at times is an ugly league. The responsibility for recruitment remains a subject of some debate. But he surely has a major say? At any rate, the squad is unbalanced and lacking in experience. We have an error-prone defence, a midfield lacking creative ability and a strikeforce unsuited to the type of formation we are playing. Added to that, as has been the case since Andy Ritchie left, we have no real leader on the field. It’s easy to argue that chopping and changing managers hasn’t worked for us. But are we meant to sleep-walk into another relegation? So many times we’ve been suckered into believing that the next season will be better. An averagely good second half of this season (even if Lee does manage to turn it around a little) will not persuade me to return next year because we’ve basically made no progress in the last nine seasons. Arguably worse, the entertainment level has fallen through the floor.

I find myself wondering whether they have high level recruitment agencies to help locate new club managers? Apart from striking lucky with Danny (first time) and Andy Ritchie, several regimes at the club have failed abysmally to appoint suitable candidates. I’d like to see us push the boat out to get the right man – even at the expense of the players budget. We may have paid compensation to Oldham and given Lee a three-year deal, but I suspect that still wasn’t as expensive as appointing a proven guy with experience. Then – let the manager manage.

 

Fantastic post, my memories are only from 92 onwards so you will have seen plenty more dross than me but I honestly think this is amongst the worse I've ever seen at oakwell

 

Great post. I understand that Sheff Utd offered a ok salary but a big bonus for promotion to land their current high profile proven manager. I don't know whether LJ will make it or not, but what I do know is some managers we have sacked have shown more success when they have gone than with us.

 

That's the best post I've read on here for a long time, agree with most of it apart from Bassett - I liked him and the way he galvanised the club post Hendrie. Had some great times at Oakwell and on the road, but I'm another who really doesn't care anymore - the first time since 1977 ! I'm a bit too long in the tooth to fall for the slippery spin of ******** Ben and the incompetence of the owner. We need a steady hand and I've no idea where it's coming from.

 

I had a spell where I stepped out of watching, due to my son playing Ice Hockey. We travelled up and down the country and into Europe. Won everything, leagues, cups, international competitions. Plied his young Ice Hockey trade in Sheffield and Bradford. Successful and entertaining years. When he stopped my son started my to return to BFC and I renewed my season ticket after a 6 year gap and he got his first. I feel so sorry that he hasn't seen any success. I don't mean Premiership, play off years but not even a run of games. The biggest being the charge to stay up under flicker and the Everton cup game ( which we of course lost). How sad is that.

 

Agree, very good original post.

Bassett's team though, in my opinion was one of the most exciting to watch we've had at Oakwell & had Darren Barnard's penalty have gone in things might have turned out differently. Fate is often decided by fine margins. Flicker's skin of the teeth survival at Huddersfield, being another case in point.

Totally wrong to sack Ritchie.

Robins had built a decent team, as did Keef, only for players to be sold on the cheap. Combination of lack of ambition & the fact that what has happened to the town since the mid 80's has made it hard to commercially raise money. That said, the amateur way be go about everything on the commercial side hasn't helped us at all.

Very sad times. i started supporting in 1974/5 in the old 4th Division & that is exactly where we are heading.
I don't see changing the manager will do much. The squad is a threadbare mix of loanees & kids. We have half a dozen decent players & a whole lot more with potential, that has yet to be demonstrated for more than brief glimmers here & there.

The last loan signing said it all in terms of recruitment. We needed someone with experience who could boss the middle of the park & what do we get?
Another little kid.

Hmm.

 

Very well written post.
Agree with quite a lot of that
Bassett did well when he came and I think I'm correct in saying we haven't finished as high in the league since he left. But the football towards the end was so boring.

Unfortunately we are a small club who are unattractive to investors. We have a fan as an owner, without who's money we would be totally lost. But by his own admission is just a fan and doesn't understand football. Ben, Maurice et al are good business people I'm sure, but don't have the gravitas to run a football club.
When you look at clubs like Southampton, Swansea and Bournemouth they are run by football people. People who understand the game, and develop a football strategy of how they want to run the club.
They recruit according to their strategy and don't panic when they hit bumps in the road.

Like a lot of clubs we have none of that. Our decisions are taken by non football people based on short term tactical goals.

But until we have a board that has a clear strategy and the money to execute that strategy we will I fear lurch from one tactical sticking plaster to the next one and make no long term progress at all.

Very sad and I hope I'm wrong but that's how I see it.

 

This has been the best original post and follow up comments on here I can remember.
We need for sure football people helping out much more.
It wouldn't take a lot to sort, we could also take leaf out of the German way and let a the fans have more of a say.
We are the stakeholders of this club and will be here long after some of the suits have come and gone.