Possible Director of Football

[orly]

We had a lad working for us many years ago, very talented but a real loose cannon. We knew things were not great in his home life (he was married and had a couple of young kids).

Anyway one time HR had to get hold of him and tried to contact him during the day but couldn't so phoned him at "home" (he was a regional sales director so had a home office). His wife answered and said he'd not been living at home for several weeks.

Cutting a long story short it turned out he'd been living in his company car for 6 weeks, when we found his car it had all his earthly possessions in it, bizarrely including an ironing board but no iron.

Wowzas, terrible stuff. We had a colleague who used to turn up every day immaculately dressed, lovely bloke but his stories seemed to have a ten year gap in them. Then he just stopped coming to work and we couldn't get hold of him; sadly, he'd been living in a sort of halfway house / care home and the staff didn't even know he was employed. Story ended even more miserably.

It's bizarre, you see these normal or even high-functioning individuals and then they make utterly nonsensical at home or even just outside of work and you wonder why they never just told someone over a coffee. General life I suppose.

 

[blue61]

Hmm.

Looking at your DoF criteria I feel my current skills and experience match closely to the role.

Why haven't you applied then, all this delay is down to you ffs.

 

[roydo]

We had a lad working for us many years ago, very talented but a real loose cannon. We knew things were not great in his home life (he was married and had a couple of young kids).

Anyway one time HR had to get hold of him and tried to contact him during the day but couldn't so phoned him at "home" (he was a regional sales director so had a home office). His wife answered and said he'd not been living at home for several weeks.

Cutting a long story short it turned out he'd been living in his company car for 6 weeks, when we found his car it had all his earthly possessions in it, bizarrely including an ironing board but no iron.

Fred Trueman lived in his car for a while when his first marriage went pop.

And your post also makes me think of Gareth Cheeseman, the Alan Partridge character!

Soz, back on topic.

*what thread am I in?*

Ace time to be a Blue. (should cover it.)

 

[orly]

Why haven't you applied then, all this delay is down to you ffs.

Wouldn't be able to use my @themole10 multi if I was employed by the club in a professional capacity

 

[blue61]

Wouldn't be able to use my @themole10 multi if I was employed by the club in a professional capacity

You would hold all the power in the world, no need for an alias. Go for it, GOT will help you identify players, easy life.

 

[blueloon]

The model I would deploy for a Director of Football would be a senior footballing person, sitting at board level whose tasks would include the following:

• Represent the club's footballing interests at board level
• Responsibility for all football related strategic planning
• Responsibility for all player transfers and contract negotiations
• Control over player research and non playing staff recruitment
• Advisory capacity over all non first team divisions within club
  
• Control over all sports science related matters
• Responsibility for all football related facilities
• Responsibility for all football related PR and media strategies

The relationship between DoF would be very close, each being aware that all the club does must be centred on the ability to perform and compete on the pitch.

The role of the football manager would be very much that of a head coach, meaning responsibility for and sole focus on:

• Team selection
• Team preparation
• Training & maintenance of fitness levels
• Technical development of first team members
• Tactics
• Injury prevention & management with sports scientists

Interestingly this model then allows the club to recruit a CEO who does not necessarily have a football background. The club can then recruit from a much wider talent pool focusing on commercial acumen, and operational and management excellence.

Where do you see Dr Peter Vint, our Academy Director fitting into this ? He was brought in very much as a non-football specialist to bring in something different to our club.
There is a clear footballing path upwards for our youngsters via the coaches, Sheedy, Unsy to Koeman , but Vint's role is not really on the coaching side and in some ways he would have a good fit reporting into the DoF role, determine direction, philosophy for the Academy that fits in with the direction the DoF 's is taking.

 

[Tin-Tin]

Talks with Monchi resuming tomorrow according to the ITK on TEF. I wonder if a decision will be made and announced before next weekend. At least of talks are resuming he's open to the idea - hopefully we can get this done and start moving in the transfer market.

 

[catcherintherye]

Wowzas, terrible stuff. We had a colleague who used to turn up every day immaculately dressed, lovely bloke but his stories seemed to have a ten year gap in them. Then he just stopped coming to work and we couldn't get hold of him; sadly, he'd been living in a sort of halfway house / care home and the staff didn't even know he was employed. Story ended even more miserably.

It's bizarre, you see these normal or even high-functioning individuals and then they make utterly nonsensical at home or even just outside of work and you wonder why they never just told someone over a coffee. General life I suppose.

Sorry to keep on with the theme. A similar loose cannon who worked in insurance. He had to solve claims and he just used to shred then and say they were done. Did it with a confidence that people would believe him. He ended up living in a tent somewhere. Saw him some years later, looking like he was sleeping rough but always had immaculate hair.

 

[catcherintherye]

@The Esk How far do you think the creation of a role of DOF is about easing Kenwright out too?

We haven't had a DOF but it's clear to see Bill certainly fulfilled large aspects of the role while he was chairman. When you consider his age is this the nicest way of alleviating him of his responsibilities?

I am sure there are other reasons too. But before it always liked like it was Kenwright and the manager. Not an awful lot of accountability to each as as long as you kept on the right side of Bill you were safe.

 

[The Esk]

@The Esk How far do you think the creation of a role of DOF is about easing Kenwright out too?

We haven't had a DOF but it's clear to see Bill certainly fulfilled large aspects of the role while he was chairman. When you consider his age is this the nicest way of alleviating him of his responsibilities?

I am sure there are other reasons too. But before it always liked like it was Kenwright and the manager. Not an awful lot of accountability to each as as long as you kept on the right side of Bill you were safe.

I think it's a large part of removing the influence of the old guard whilst they remain shareholders and directors. Beyond that though, it's a model I like as it creates continuity beyond the tenure of a manager and allows others to focus on their particular skill sets.

The day we do appoint a DoF be it Monchi, Overmars or someone else will be a significant day for the club and should be welcomed by all supporters in my opinion. It's a huge step forward in the long term development of the club.

 

[jinkyali]

We had a lad working for us many years ago, very talented but a real loose cannon. We knew things were not great in his home life (he was married and had a couple of young kids).

Anyway one time HR had to get hold of him and tried to contact him during the day but couldn't so phoned him at "home" (he was a regional sales director so had a home office). His wife answered and said he'd not been living at home for several weeks.

Cutting a long story short it turned out he'd been living in his company car for 6 weeks, when we found his car it had all his earthly possessions in it, bizarrely including an ironing board but no iron.

I lived in a £12 per night B&B upon my marriage failing with my one year old son for approx 6 weeks.

I used to drop him at my mums in the day, work, pick him up and go back to the dump. Literally only space in the room for single bed and a sink. Toilet and shower was communal. Breakfast with mainly tradesmen during the week; the place pretty much to ourselves the weekend.

Know one at work had a clue. Very dark days but I didn't want my perception at work to be affected so can understand.

Five promotions later everyone is happy now days.

 

[Darth Vader]

I lived in a £12 per night B&B upon my marriage failing with my one year old son for approx 6 weeks.

I used to drop him at my mums in the day, work, pick him up and go back to the dump. Literally only space in the room for single bed and a sink. Toilet and shower was communal. Breakfast with mainly tradesmen during the week; the place pretty much to ourselves the weekend.

Know one at work had a clue. Very dark days but I didn't want my perception at work to be affected so can understand.

Five promotions later everyone is happy now days.

Is right

 

[The Esk]

I lived in a £12 per night B&B upon my marriage failing with my one year old son for approx 6 weeks.

I used to drop him at my mums in the day, work, pick him up and go back to the dump. Literally only space in the room for single bed and a sink. Toilet and shower was communal. Breakfast with mainly tradesmen during the week; the place pretty much to ourselves the weekend.

Know one at work had a clue. Very dark days but I didn't want my perception at work to be affected so can understand.

Five promotions later everyone is happy now days.

Wow - remarkable story mate, on the one hand sorry to read, but on the other you got through it and well done for doing so.

 

[mill]

Talks with Monchi resuming tomorrow according to the ITK on TEF. I wonder if a decision will be made and announced before next weekend. At least of talks are resuming he's open to the idea - hopefully we can get this done and start moving in the transfer market.

Think that post referred to Thursday last week.

 

[Tin-Tin]

Think that post referred to Thursday last week.

No mate, he only posted it yesterday evening. Said talks resuming with Monchi and there is an unknown in the frame too. Think esk said there was a meeting last Thursday.

Hopefully we hear more tomorrow or friday.