I wonder how this absentee ownership will resolve itself. Apparently the away fans were singing ‘sack the board’ towards the end of the game last night.
If the poor performances continue up to/beyond Xmas, I can see things turning nasty q quickly. I think most people can see the performances are a symptom of a disunited club behind the scenes, without the appropriate infrastructure to succeed in the modern game.
First time since Ashworth joined that we haven’t had a Director of Football, or similar, in place. It’s almost a given in the modern game that you have a link between the boardroom and the manager. Lai evidently doesn’t know enough about football to know that Ken hanging around the club for 4yrs as a commercial presence doesn’t qualify him to take the lead on football matters/recruitment/squad building. This is massively concerning.
In the unlikely event of us going up this season it will be in spite of the infrastructure rather than because of it. Can see things coming to a head long before the end of the season in the form of vocal dissent against the ownership - especially if results and performances continue. (Not that it’s likely to do anything. Doubt Lai knows when/where/who we are playing).
I think I'd be a bit careful on this one:
We had a period when Pulis was Head Coach when we didn't have a DoF.
After DA & RH left, RH recommended Terry Burton as our DoF, who in turn brought in Alan Irvine. Both appointments were sanctioned by JP ( who was supposedly protecting his own interests).
Bear in mind JP was being advised by Mark Jenkins & Richard Garlick, both of whom had significant experience in EPL & EFL.
Any senior appointment carries some risk, but if experienced guys can't get it right, then for our board it's pinning the tail on the donkey.
For what it's worth, I believe the flatter structure under Ken is the way to go at the moment, in that way, the CEO has more control.
I believe it's fair to say that VI will be judged on results, & more importantly on trends.
If the current trend continues it's likely his job will be at risk.