The Messiah to return?

[Artemis]

JPs tweet doesn't say in what capacity Cotts is set to return. Manager, or as DoF with a younger 1st team coach alongside him? I imagine if its as manager there won't be a DoF coming in as well.

[andgarod]

No DofF would save money but
it will depend on length of contract
Succession planning ( yes I said planning) is required so a Dof F but a CEO or consultant can help
Also do we bring in an up and coming coach who can take over once we are stabalised

[Artemis]

No DofF would save money but
it will depend on length of contract
Succession planning ( yes I said planning) is required so a Dof F but a CEO or consultant can help
Also do we bring in an up and coming coach who can take over once we are stabalised

Details that I imagine Garlick is negotiating with Cotts, and which is taking the time to iron out

[Robin]

No DofF would save money but
it will depend on length of contract
Succession planning ( yes I said planning) is required so a Dof F but a CEO or consultant can help
Also do we bring in an up and coming coach who can take over once we are stabalised

It's not all about saving money, the role is crucial to long term thinking. If it's Cotterill only until end of the season we need a Director of Football in before then and a handover period so we can get the summer right and early signings.

Cotterill will want to run the January window himself that is clear but we need a plan for what comes after unless it's an eighteen month deal which it may well be. Keep in mind if the worst does happen we would be one of the best supported clubs in the national league and with new funding and parachute payments have one of the biggest budgets, having SC at the helm would give us the best chance of coming back up. Equally if we stay up he can stabilse us and build the core of a team who can begin to look upwards in this league.

[Ralph]

I'm happy with Cotterill but there is also some nostalgia here, the younger fans (basically anyone under 30) won't have seen him

Was just thinking that the kids in block one won't have been born when we were having the great time with SC in charge.

[TheTownClub]

Leave aside the Cheltenham connection. Would you be happy about this?

I'd be thinking he turned things round at Bristol and Shrewsbury when they were in trouble. At Forest Green, he was averaging 1.21 ppg over the 19 games he had in L2. It was the first 27 that sent them down. So, yes, I would be happy.

Flynn/Johnson gave us dire football without much in the way of results. Frankly, I'd take a tough watch with the points total ticking over most weeks.

[Alf]

Shut the Nit-Pickers up, it has to be Stevie Cotts. He’s already proved in the past what he’s capable of doing at Cheltenham and I’m sure he’s more than capable of repeating this!

[longmover]

The club and the supporters are in desperate need of a talisman, a hero to get behind.

Apart from Duff or Alfie May I couldn't think of a better fit for this purpose.

[horlickfanclub]

The Academy is doing ok. Steve Cotterill is not keen on Directors of Football so what is the point of having one?No announcement has been made about Pete Johnson but we need a Scout .Job done . The owners should set out the direction of the playing side and let the Manager get on with it.

[Robin]

The Academy is doing ok. Steve Cotterill is not keen on Directors of Football so what is the point of having one?No announcement has been made about Pete Johnson but we need a Scout .Job done . The owners should set out the direction of the playing side and let the Manager get on with it.

A Director of Football is not a scout, majority of modern recruitment is driven by data analytics now. You have a head of recruitment who runs the analytics then we send scouts to games to watch key targets then the DoF will go once a player is deemed a proper target. I'm fine with no DoF in the very short term if it means Cotterill is in full charge but it doesn't mean the need has truly gone away, we need to move away from the mindset of running the club in an amateur way and ramp up staffing to compete.

[Horteng]

Its also worth noting that FGR were not happy with the culture under SC. Savage was particularly critical of it when he came in. I do not know if there's anything in that but worth pointing it out none the less.

[Robin]

We all know what we will get with Steve it will be old school football management, he will give us the best chance possible of staying up and will push for the maximum in financial backing to have a team of experienced players who run through walls, he will coach and organise those players into a super well drilled team. What we won't get is progressive management i.e. playing out from the back and expansive attacking football, a culture of developing young players or a media darling in the dug out.

[horlickfanclub]

Playing out from the back can be a disaster in League 2. Having said that I am not sure we have seen much of that so far from many sides. Tactics seem to be win the second ball and attack on the break. Simple tactics for simple footballers.Likewise a Management structure with minimal layers well directed from the Boardroom suits a business our size. Too many "chiefs" usuaully means too many egos.

[everyman]

The Academy is doing ok. Steve Cotterill is not keen on Directors of Football so what is the point of having one?No announcement has been made about Pete Johnson but we need a Scout .Job done . The owners should set out the direction of the playing side and let the Manager get on with it.

I doubt if the club will trust P.J. any more than J.P.

[Robin]

Playing out from the back can be a disaster in League 2. Having said that I am not sure we have seen much of that so far from many sides. Tactics seem to be win the second ball and attack on the break. Simple tactics for simple footballers.Likewise a Management structure with minimal layers well directed from the Boardroom suits a business our size. Too many "chiefs" usuaully means too many egos.

We won the league under Duff by playing out from the back. MK and Chesterfield both do it.

[SuperDaleWatkins]

We won the league under Duff by playing out from the back. MK and Chesterfield both do it.
[/quote]

Take those rose tinters off - loved some of the football under Duffo. But we defo won the league with a fair amount of Tozer long throws, Tozer hitting the diagonals (with overloads from the spare man) and Sercombe/Alfie May picking up the seconds too.

The only important thing for us is winning some football matches. Style is irrelevant.

[Jerry St Clair]

No DofF would save money but
it will depend on length of contract
Succession planning ( yes I said planning) is required so a Dof F but a CEO or consultant can help
Also do we bring in an up and coming coach who can take over once we are stabalised

It's not all about saving money, the role is crucial to long term thinking. If it's Cotterill only until end of the season we need a Director of Football in before then and a handover period so we can get the summer right and early signings.

Cotterill will want to run the January window himself that is clear but we need a plan for what comes after unless it's an eighteen month deal which it may well be. Keep in mind if the worst does happen we would be one of the best supported clubs in the national league and with new funding and parachute payments have one of the biggest budgets, having SC at the helm would give us the best chance of coming back up. Equally if we stay up he can stabilse us and build the core of a team who can begin to look upwards in this league.

Yeah, you could see a scenario where Cotts is given free rein to perform a rescue this season, including the Jan window. A DoF could be brought in quickly BUT with a remit to build from May 26 and beyond with different plans for a L2 campaign and a NL campaign.

[Robin]

Yes I would say that's realistic if Steve is only staying until the summer but I could also see an 18 month deal too then we won't need a DoF so soon.

[Benny Profane]

Just curious; where has Savage gone on record as being unhappy with the culture he inherited at FGR? I've looked hard & found nowt. What can't be argued is that RS (annoying as he is) is clearly doing a good job there, & that SC never seemed an entirely comfortable fit. Different methods perhaps, but it doesn't automatically mean SC can't succeed here (success at this stage would be survival/lower half of midtable). He's a job on his hands whichever way you look at it...

[WhaddonIrregular]

Playing out from the back can be a disaster in League 2. Having said that I am not sure we have seen much of that so far from many sides. Tactics seem to be win the second ball and attack on the break. Simple tactics for simple footballers.Likewise a Management structure with minimal layers well directed from the Boardroom suits a business our size. Too many "chiefs" usuaully means too many egos.

So we do need a Director of Football then!

[TheTownClub]

Just curious; where has Savage gone on record as being unhappy with the culture he inherited at FGR? I've looked hard & found nowt. What can't be argued is that RS (annoying as he is) is clearly doing a good job there, & that SC never seemed an entirely comfortable fit. Different methods perhaps, but it doesn't automatically mean SC can't succeed here (success at this stage would be survival/lower half of midtable). He's a job on his hands whichever way you look at it...

I think this comes from Dale's comments about "bringing the fun back". https://stroudtimes.com/i-didnt-realise ... en-impact/

[Horteng]

Just curious; where has Savage gone on record as being unhappy with the culture he inherited at FGR? I've looked hard & found nowt. What can't be argued is that RS (annoying as he is) is clearly doing a good job there, & that SC never seemed an entirely comfortable fit. Different methods perhaps, but it doesn't automatically mean SC can't succeed here (success at this stage would be survival/lower half of midtable). He's a job on his hands whichever way you look at it...

He said it in one of his first interviews. I don’t have it to hand but it will be there somewhere. He mentioned how he wanted to change the culture at the club
[/quote]

[paperboy]

When Cotts is officially announced at a press conference at least we should see and hear from Mike Garlick.

[Horteng]

When Cotts is officially announced at a press conference at least we should see and hear from Mike Garlick.

We will be lucky to hear from SC let alone MG

[paperboy]

Sorry couldn't justify a new thread.
No idea what question will be either.

https://x.com/KieranMaguire/status/1972 ... g0Gjw&s=19

[horlickfanclub]

Playing out from the back can be a disaster in League 2. Having said that I am not sure we have seen much of that so far from many sides. Tactics seem to be win the second ball and attack on the break. Simple tactics for simple footballers.Likewise a Management structure with minimal layers well directed from the Boardroom suits a business our size. Too many "chiefs" usuaully means too many egos.

So we do need a Director of Football then!

No. The "Director of Football" was not a Director of the Limited Company. The direction of the Club should be set by the owner through the Board. The results can be seen today.