League one manager sackings

mervyn · Jan 22, 2018

With the sacking of oxford’s manager this morning, I note that our league is now responsible for a third of all sackings across the top four divisions. I could understand this more if it were the premiership or championship with owners nervous about losing major investments in their clubs, but why so many at our level, with barely any costly transfer risks takenl? Any thoughts?

macleanie · Jan 22, 2018

Maybe the fear of falling behind or going back into league two football. It is quite shocking though.

LeonTheGreen · Jan 22, 2018

It's a competitive league, a lot of teams think they have a realistic chance of playoffs and when they clearly aren't going to achieve it, the owners are pressing the panic button.

We are different in the sense that we didn't get rid of Derek when we sat bottom of the league, and slowly but surely we have found our feet and shown that maybe sacking a manager isn't always the correct decision.

Ave IT · Jan 22, 2018

LeonTheGreen":xtwsl3ra said:
We are different in the sense that we didn't get rid of Derek when we sat bottom of the league, and slowly but surely we have found our feet and shown that maybe sacking a manager isn't always the correct decision.

It should always be a something of last resort. It creates short term turmoil & instability, it’s usually a costly exercise, the new manager will probably want to bring in ‘their’ people and want new players and it’s something that can have a damaging long term consequence if a club seen to be trigger-happy as it will struggle to attract good applicants in the future unless they can offer silly money (which we certainly can’t!). The flip side is that if a club is seen to be stable, patient & supportive of their manager they will be much more attractive when the time eventually comes to make such an important decision. Maybe I’m being naïve, but I’d like to think that DA will have appreciated the support he’s been shown and be much more minded to stay if and when other clubs come sniffing around in the future …….. I think we are a really good fit for someone like him – ie someone who wouldn’t take kindly to interference from above and wants to be fully involved in all aspects of the club’s development not just a coach of the first team (there aren’t a lot of clubs like that these days).

Biggs · Jan 22, 2018

Sacked with his side 10th in League One.

On his appointment...

“Pep was the unanimous choice of the board and we believe he will build on the significant progress we have made over the past three years and accelerate our collective objective of sustainable Championship status. He is committed to building on our existing infrastructure, based on our excellent coaching and backroom and recruitment team and continuing to develop our attractive playing philosophy."

So they no longer think those things, presumably?

Lee Johnson is a great example of sticking with your manager and allowing him time to to get his methods across. That simply isn't possible with the short term outlook at some clubs, though.

999mattyg · Jan 22, 2018

Yes it's league 1 but some of these clubs have had an astonishing amount of investment, hence the sackings!

Biggs · Jan 22, 2018

I'm not sure why Oxford think they should be above the likes of Blackburn, Wigan, Portsmouth, Bradford, Charlton, Peterborough and Doncaster (and us, of course).

999mattyg · Jan 22, 2018

Biggs":176fv01t said:
I'm not sure why Oxford think they should be above the likes of Blackburn, Wigan, Portsmouth, Bradford, Charlton, Peterborough and Doncaster (and us, of course).

Because if money is pumped into something whoever pumps it in will want to see a return. Some investors are not patient! It is all driven by money. Just look at some of the clubs in the league at this time. On history, fan base and turnover they would be competing in non league football but for massive investment!
It is simply unsustainable.
It depends on who is investing. If they have an avid interest or affliation i.e a fan, then they may be more patient but simply investing to make money then not, I suspect!

Biggs · Jan 22, 2018

Is Darryl Eales' level of investment on a par with those clubs? I know they've spent some money (incl on Curtis Nelson) but I didn't think it was a massive amount.

And in terms of their turnover, am I right in saying they can't make too much cash from their stadium as it's still owned by Firoz Kassam?

Argy1e · Jan 22, 2018

Only picked up 17 points from their last 16 games. Usually relegation form. Been playing terribly over the last couple of months too apparently and their playing philosophy is quite important to them. They lost 7-0 to Wigan last month and then a defeat against bottom of the league Bury, who hadn't even scored for months was the final straw. It does seem justifiable if broken down.

mervyn · Jan 22, 2018

Argy1e":1xw8dgs0 said:
Only picked up 17 points from their last 16 games. Usually relegation form. Been playing terribly over the last couple of months too apparently and their playing philosophy is quite important to them. They lost 7-0 to Wigan last month and then a defeat against bottom of the league Bury, who hadn't even scored for months was the final straw. It does seem justifiable if broken down.

Good points. I’m feeling mildly smug after suggesting a month ago that if you have to have a bad run, then better at the start of the season, where we now have a battle hardened team playing with confidence for the rest of the season and, hopefully, the only way is up. Every season seems to produce a team like Oxford or Southend who suddenly slide down the table and struggle to get out of the mire.

John Cooper · Jan 22, 2018

Bugger. It’ll be new manager syndrome when we visit next month....

Penlee · Jan 22, 2018

I think we'll have a very good turnout there I know loads of Plymouth based that are going and a load of SE exiles will turn up too

:scarf:

nick_PASTIE · Jan 22, 2018

Very harsh sacking of Pep, which may be due to the imminent sale of Ryan Ledson to PNE for £1M Plus. Oxford have done great business producing or buying talent and then selling for big money, such as Roofe, ODowda, Marvin Johnson and potentially Ledson but the cupboard is less full and I would imagine without Curtis Nelson and Rob Hall long term Pep would have had concerns about the strength of the team.

Not sure who is lined up to replace but I presume that’s a done deal. Real shame Mappleton went to Leicester as I think they would be Top 5 this season if he’d stayed.

PAFCPommie · Jan 22, 2018

Sometimes, just, sometimes I'm glad we have ownership where common sense prevails.. I know it's easy in hindsight but I'm very glad we kept hold of Derek Adams. I'm hoping our early season debacle might pay dividends next season and create a strong unity across the club for valiant play-off push.

League one manager sackings

mervyn

macleanie

LeonTheGreen

Ave IT

Biggs

Administrator

999mattyg

Biggs

Administrator

999mattyg

Biggs

Administrator

Argy1e

mervyn

John Cooper

Penlee

nick_PASTIE

PAFCPommie