Director of Football

Interesting. He’s another who feels he’s been overlooked for a few roles here and rarely gets replies to applications.

I wouldn’t be against giving him a shot at head coach as he was a decent player but probably too much of a risk right now.

Or Birmingham maybe…

Look at the general transfer strategy since 2018. It’s been a total shambles bar Adebayo, Cook, Holden and Jules (who played about 10 games in his correct position). That’s pretty much it.

If you can get a DOF in who can quickly re-build bridges with the local teams so they actually send some decent young players on loans again and also have knowledge of some decent players abroad who’d be willing to come and play at this level (or league 1 in a year or two’s time) and that’s half the battle won as you give the head coach much more quality to work with…rather than Reid or Osei Yaw.

I always thought Zigor Aranalde had just played lower leagues in Spain all his career so amazed to read just now he actually played over 20 times for Sevilla in La Liga in 96/97 season.

Imagine signing someone now who played that number of games in a top euro division in 17/18 season. It would be just a pipe dream and shows how much football has changed in last 20 years but perhaps a DOF with good contacts could pull it off.

2 Likes

Lennie Lawrence seems to have filled the exact role pretty well in last few years:

" Newport County

On 21 March 2017 Lawrence joined [Newport County](as First Team Management Consultant to new manager Mike Flynn with Newport 11 points adrift at the bottom of League Two.[ A remarkable turnaround in the remaining 12 league games saw Newport complete the Great Escape and avoid relegation with a win against Notts County with a 89th-minute winner on the final day of the 2016–17 season.Lawrence departed County in June 2020 at the end of the [2019–20

Lawrence announced his move to Stevenage in June 2020 and is set to start employment there “either the recommencement of the 2019-20 season or the start of the 2020-21 season”, with the club in the relegation spot at the end of the 2019-20 EFL League Two season. He serves as the Managerial Advisor to Alex Revell. In December 2020, Lawrence left the club."

Mind you he is 73 now, will probably want a share of the pension fund. :rofl:

1 Like

Short link what it is to be sporting director. Or football director, because those terms are nearly the same:

Poetic justice if you ask me.

3 Likes

I heard it was a mentoring/mock interview session with a view to becoming a full match commentator. A step up from his current co-summariser duties.

Rather than a Director of Football, what we could really use right now is at least one director of a football. Ones that can direct the football into the back of the net.

1 Like

Would Martin O’Neill be ‘out of our league’? He was at Forest as recently as 2019 and has a few Midlands connections. I’m sure he doesn’t need the money and might fancy a low pressure job at this stage of his career. He might want to pass on his experience, you never know…

2 Likes

I was about to say Martin o Neill that would be a great shout with his experience and contacts but probably as always way outa budget

1 Like

More like Martin O’ Connor!! God help us.

2 Likes

Going purely on the basis that he is someone that I think the Chairman likes and believes to be very intelligent, Ben Purkiss is my guess for DOF. Whether he meets the qualities/qualifications desired for the post I’ve no idea.

3 Likes

Director Of Fit-ball?

Mmmmmm, sexy.

He thinks the same of Brain Dutton !!!

How are they going to pay him/her? Left over balti pie’s :grinning:

We never have left over pies, Sid, we always sell out three minutes into the half time interval. :grin:

2 Likes

Shakey would probably be my number one choice with his experience probably no chance though.

I’d take Richard O’Kelly

1 Like

Can’t see Shakey or ROK leaving the Premier League to join a shambles of a League Two Club with no money. Martin O Neill is being talked about as next Celtic manager in some quarters, so probably not going to be seduced by the dimming lights of Bescot.
If we are going to talk former players, what about someone like Lee Sinnott. Been a manager and worked in the game for years, and young enough to be a reasonably long term appointment (ten to fifteen years) which is at least part of the point. Wasn’t successful enough as a manager to be on a big clubs radar, so we wouldn’t be fighting off amorous suitors.
He’s just a name I’ve thought of, but he’s youngish and experienced in the game but didn’t get to the top. We aren’t going to attract “big” names, and I think he fits the profile of what we are likely to get.

1 Like

Martin O’Neill :joy:

3 Likes