Flitcroft or Clarke

[soothsayer]

On 19/04/2023 at 18:32, Powerline said:

Whatever you think of Flitcroft, the whole point of the model of a DoF is that they’re the constant, not the manager. Sacking the DoF and not the manager would’ve been a very weird decision. I can’t really judge Flitcroft because I don’t know what role he’s had in running the club. For example, if he had no money to spend in jan, there’s not much he can do about our terrible window. Alternatively, it could’ve been entirely his decision. We just don’t know. Personally I’d have sacked neither.

Totally agree. People seem to miss the point of the DOF structure. They are especially in place where an owner is not a ‘football person’ so they entrust the DOF to run the football side of the club. As a result they are more senior to the Manager and will always out last them. Whether the person in the role is correct will always be debated by fans but I really don’t see Carol and Kevin changing this structure whilst they’re in charge. 

[Warren]

Sorry for mixing up DoF in previous posts. In my world DoF is Director of Finance. 

We can want replacements for many things. A bit like a new mobile phone which becomes an old one soon enough. But Flitcroft's job is very hard and it's not clear at all anyone else could do better. That includes how hard it is to sign players who perform well for us within budget.

On the management side organisation and leadership are essential. Outsiders can say this is unnecessary back office cost. Of course bureaucracy can be just that. But our owners are business people who have grown an industry leading business from scratch and understand lean management. 

 

[Fosse69]

The DoF is more long term, but will still be judged on results. Is the player quality being produced, whether from transfers, academy, development, coaching, etc. Upto now, promotion from L2 has been achieved, L1 for another season also achieved. Mid L1, the next step to be judged on, I am assuming we use 2 year contracts. Team management is more short-term 5 or 6 consecutive defeats is usually terminal. Not all team managers at our level would work with a DoF, but some may prefer to concentrate on match performance and not have other aspects to deal with.

[Guitar Ray]

The DoF primarily will be judged by fans on recruitment of players and the manager, because that’s the most visible marker.  Most would agree the managerial appointment of DC was spot on, player recruitment in recent times less so.  No doubt we’ll be having a similar discussion over Flitcroft a few months into the new season.

[jeffers]

45 minutes ago, Guitar Ray said:

The DoF primarily will be judged by fans on recruitment of players and the manager, because that’s the most visible marker.  Most would agree the managerial appointment of DC was spot on, player recruitment in recent times less so.  No doubt we’ll be having a similar discussion over Flitcroft a few months into the new season.

So, the DOF finds players to suit the manager’s style of play. When they don’t fit the system and results fail, the manager is the fall guy. Does the DOF decide the style of football that the club wants to play or the manager. Can’t really get my head around the relationship.

[Guitar Ray]

10 minutes ago, jeffers said:

So, the DOF finds players to suit the manager’s style of play. When they don’t fit the system and results fail, the manager is the fall guy. Does the DOF decide the style of football that the club wants to play or the manager. Can’t really get my head around the relationship.

The DoF recruits the manager in the first place so he’s the boss, but my impression of it is that obviously he doesn’t pick the team or get involved day to day with training of tactics unless he’s called upon for advice by the manager.  Not sure how the player recruitment side works.  No idea how much actual scouting the DoF will do, if any.  I would guess we have regional scouts, either employed or freelance, alongside the in-house staff, all overseen by the the DoF, and both he and manager will liaise with the scouting team to select targets.  The DoF then being involved with any subsequent negotiations.  No doubt Clarke would’ve had input into player recruitment, hence your Ellis Harrisons and Matty Taylors.

[Valiant62]

I wouldn’t want to go for a pint with Flitcroft…. Or Clarke or Micky Adams or Brian Horton but frankly I don’t want these people at the club so I can have a pint with them.

Flitcroft brought a promotion winning manager and almost entire new squad to the club that gained promotion ahead of schedule. We’ve been left with a quorum of league two winners who it was worth giving a tilt at league one and, up to January more than held their own. With many contracts up at the end of the season and poor value to be had in January, it made sense to keep our powder dry and having stayed up (all bar the shouting) it’s been uncomfortable but useful to see who couldn’t cut it over a full season, especially with costly remedial action needed on the pitch which, next winter might be of equivalent benefit to a good new signing.

Donnelly has grown with us in his first months of league football proper. Another loan with him as a squad player might be worth a punt and Taylor looked well worthwhile in context though probably past his sell by and expensive for an independent contract. We now have an opportunity to have a good turnover and recruit a decent league one squad as opposed to a promotion contending league two one. 
The current regime including Flitcroft have had decent form in this regard, he’s only as good as this next recruitment phase but over time his performance has been good and I think it’s right to let him steer us through it.