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Do we need a DOF?

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Ever since we have been using DOF's, It has been downhill all the way. Problems run deeper than that though. No DOF would be succesful with the bunch of numpties that run this club. Need an entirely new hierarchy and structure. Get safe and reset i.e start again with a proper group of professionals.
 
Apart from in the Netherlands, has a DOF ever been successful?

I remember when Newcastle got Dennis Wise as one once and I can remember who it was but the manager didn’t hide his frustration
 
Every club should have a DOF/Sporting Director.

Without one you're putting all your eggs in a manager shaped basket, or even worse.... an interfering board.

Whatever you may think of Thelwell (it's too early to judge) having him there is far better than leaving it to the Brains Trust of BK/DBB/Moshiri/Agents.

Shows the absolute state of the place when DBB was positively glowing with praise when Thelwell presented her with an extensive list of things that needed doing, completely missing the point that these ommisions happened on her watch.

Appoint a DoF, let them get on with it. You can't measure their impact for 3/5 years so you have to stick with it.
 
Lob said:
Ever since we have been using DOF's, It has been downhill all the way. Problems run deeper than that though. No DOF would be succesful with the bunch of numpties that run this club. Need an entirely new hierarchy and structure. Get safe and reset i.e start again with a proper group of professionals.
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I was going to say, I would suggest it's a matter of correlation rather than any causation. That's not to say Thelwell, Brands or Walsh are without blame...

... however, the common denominator here is the owner and the chairman, with the chaotic management structure. Brands was undermined as has Thelwell.

The system could work if implemented correctly as it does at so many clubs, however those at the top of the pyramid appear unable to not intefere.
 

Simon Buttle said:
That's more to do with boardroom interference and our wonderful chairman who still wants to have a say on first team affairs. We need to just let said DoF just get on with their job and work with whatever manager is there. Nothing changes for us till that boardroom changes imo so I don't think it matters tbh.
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Not disagreeing with that.... hence my answer which implies there seems to be no point in a dof.
 
Football clubs are much larger institutions than they were even 20 years ago.

We've gone from maybe 100 players/coaches across all age groups to maybe 300+ staff from pre-academy, analysis, sport science etc

Your first team manager is preparing for games and working with the players. They are also likely to be in post for 18 months on average.

You therefore want someone to oversee all non first team matters and to make sure that the departments are all working well together and crucially focused on the medium and long term.

This job is needed whether you call them a sporting director or a director of football or a head of football operations. They can be high profile or low profile but the work needs doing.

Nothing will work if your ownership fundamentally doesn't understand football though.
 

chrismpw said:
Not disagreeing with that.... hence my answer which implies there seems to be no point in a dof.
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But we do as a manager doesn't have the time to do what a DoF does. The manager/coach is there to coach and develop the players in a tactical setup that picks up points for the team via wins or draws. That should be their primary focus. Leave all the other stuff to someone else.
 
BullensRoad said:
Apart from in the Netherlands, has a DOF ever been successful?

I remember when Newcastle got Dennis Wise as one once and I can remember who it was but the manager didn’t hide his frustration
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Germany, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria (obviously relative to stature of clubs) and so on.

We don't let them do their job - they'll never be successful.
 
If Fat Boy Bill and Farhad continue to operate the way they have done since Walsh, then there’s absolutely no point in us having a DOF as he’s undermined in every aspect of his job.

If a competent DOF is left to do his job, then the role should exist as it’s been proven successful at countless other clubs.
 

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