Possible Director of Football

[Goodison87]

Not so much a question of should we have a director of football but who.

If they had / have strong links or understanding with the incoming manager then why not.

 

[johnnydawg68]

Director of football makes sense. It allows the manager to focus on the team, the training, and the tactics, while the director of football can manage scouting and transfer dealings.

A good DoF will work very closely with the manager to ensure he's focusing on players of the type that the manager feels are needed for the squad. One man shouldn't run literally every aspect of a club - the job is too much for the vast, vast majority to handle.

Is it just England that has a fascination with the do-everything manager? A lot of the 'great' manager in the history of English football had that sort of relationship, just named something else - Taylor and Clough, Shankly and his boot room are two obvious examples.

Right, it's not as if the manager should have NO say in the make up of his squad. He should have a lot of input. But just like in any organization you need to hire a good Director, who then hires his employee. The manager should report to a DoT, not the Chairman.

 

[Boss_Blue]

It's a no from me.

 

[Coffee and TV]

To me a 'Director of Football' is simply someone the football club\coach\manager can blame when a bad signing is made

That to me is the only useful role, and its purely a safety net for those around

If we made the right appointment it could be great. It would mean the club didn't stop when we get rid of a manager - when the manager just has to focus on managing the team instead of the youth team/preseason/training ground facilities etc then they become just another part of a larger system rather than the main focus of the club. They ideally work with the manager too, not above them, so choosing players shouldn't be left to them alone.

They should help to integrate all the different parts of the club and make sure everything is running smoothly and moving in the right direction. I think it could be a good thing if we choose the right person.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Esk was saying this a while back. Even named who will do it, at least interim anyway.

 

[Geoff Nulty]

I'm not sure what a DoF does. If we got one, though, he should report to the manager. Certainly the manager should have the final say on transfers. He's the one who has to work with the players and the one who ultimately carries the can.

 

[ftk43]

Let's get Martinez to be our DoF

 

[johnnydawg68]

Esk was saying this a while back. Even named who will do it, at least interim anyway.

I missed this, who did he name?

 

[quasi modo]

I'm all for it if it means the manager just has to concentrate purely on the footballing side of the game ie coaching, tactics and selection, but for it to work it would have to be a man who has come from a DoF back ground and would be better if the incoming manager could bring in or recommend someone he has worked well with in the past.

 

[TheFinnFan]

this is very interesting...would it more likely to be someone from inside the club ?

 

[RaleighBlue]

If we made the right appointment it could be great. It would mean the club didn't stop when we get rid of a manager - when the manager just has to focus on managing the team instead of the youth team/preseason/training ground facilities etc then they become just another part of a larger system rather than the main focus of the club. They ideally work with the manager too, not above them, so choosing players shouldn't be left to them alone.

They should help to integrate all the different parts of the club and make sure everything is running smoothly and moving in the right direction. I think it could be a good thing if we choose the right person.

Yes, this exactly.

The current setup has the manager handle everything related to the team. Transfer targets, scouting system, youth teams, senior team, along with actually managing games. It's too much for most people to handle, a DoF should be the coordinator of all of these facets of the club so the manager can focus on the bread and butter - the first team.

Obviously it's dependent on getting a good football man that works well with the manager and is a resource to him - transfer targets should be vetted by the manager as he is the one they have to work with.

 

[BoysInBlue]

Get Ken Loach.

He had a golden vision, that lad.

 

[Gerbs]

As an American I relate Director of Football as a General Manager. And it is something I think is much needed in European football. I think this position is someone that can look out for the long term success of the club. In today's game managers come and go quicker than ever. Manager's know they need to win now to save their job. Thus, they may make decisions that are in their best interest now instead of what is in the best interest for club long term.

 

[Ollie d]

Step up Joe Kinnear

Does that mean we're signing Johan Kebabs?

 

[orly]

Esk was saying this a while back. Even named who will do it, at least interim anyway.

In the interim, I reckon you couldn't go too far wrong with Joe Royle doing the job