Once More on the Management Merry-Go-Round

As the Poppies Ownership continue to root through, no doubt, a stack of admirable applicants for a new Manager, news that whoever is /was the Manager of Banbury United has filtered to the top of the pile.  One must assume that he interviewed well, has a good network of contacts and made it clear that he wouldn't necessarily mind the occasional player or three being foisted on him by eager Directors.

Is it just the Poppies that, in recent years, treated the end of the season like the fall of Rome?  Players  cast out, Management sacked and Volunteers burned.  Then the next manager comes in, complains about lack of players and preparation and assembles a team of stumbling nobodies.  Think about it.  Last season was our best in the last three.  Why?  Because of new ownership?  Perhaps.  But possibly more because Lavery was given the end of the season before and the Summer to put together the best squad we've had for several seasons.

Some clubs pick "their man" and then back him to deliver.  Why don't we?

Case in point.  Perhaps you've forgotten, but not that long ago AFC Telford squeaked back into National North against....someone.  They had backed and RETAINED their Manager Kevin Wilkin from when they were last at that level.  Whilst we burned through Lee Glover, Andy Leese, James Le Masurier, Richard Lavery and are casting about for our fifth Gaffer in just over two and a half seasons, Telford kept faith and were rewarded.

Think also of Paul Holleran at Leamington who has racked up over 700 games as Manager of a club roughly half our size and doing twice as well.  Leamington were relegated with us and Telford, and, with their Phil Mitchell look-a-like still calling the shots, went straight back up again.

But not for us such stability.  Not when we can have an annual bring-and-buy and see who fancies a year navigating the Burton bobbles before being given the boot.

Bake-Off Tent to Baked-hard pitch.
Is Hollywood swopping Prue for the Poppies?