This seems a bad decision on many levels , Irvine's first team coaching pedigree, relationship with fans of clubs he's managed and players he signed in the past - all of which should've been the leading criteria for choosing our new head coach?
If the theory is to focus on coaching to better nurture and bring on young players,either academy or new signings, then a well respected academy coach on the first team staff would achieve this. However, the demands of the top coaching/managers job in the premier league are such that you need to be a politician and excellent at handling the media/fans as well as players/ training. Pepe was great at the PR side of things in spite of his limited English - I'm not sure on his coaching ability to be honest. The point is, to have a criteria based solely on technical coaching ability is badly flawed, particularly at a time when our club clearly needed a 'leader' / figurehead to galvanise the players, fans and to create a perception the club were ready to progress. A 'leader' can be a figurehead like Roy of course rather an someone who is actually calling all of the shots.
By creating a perception that the club is going places, it means fans, media and as a result players (prospective signings) buy into this vision. The appointment of Irvine actually shows the opposite (I'm sure this wasn't the intent) I.e. that WBA are ready to consolidate,sign young lower league players and young foreigners to build for a future which the club accept might involve dropping down the divisions at some point. Irvine is a Championship appointment at best, however a large change in structure (ousting Downing and Kiely in the process) would involve an owner admitting his whole plan and fundamental principles are wrong. Those same principles he perceives have brought success for ten years - no one can argue we've progressed in the past ten years. However, a leader (like it or not Peace is the current actual leader and not a Roy style figurehead) must surely see that with a structure which has brought success, there are also fundamental problems this causes eg lack of flexibility and too much upheaval , that these problems are creating uncertainty and prompting our best young players to want to leave rather than 'buy into' a club which will nurture them.
No owner in their right mind (?) would welcome or court relegation knowingly (££££) , however surely beginning the season with a manager with an (outward) style of dour pragmatism and a poor first team coaching record at League one level is leaving the door wide open to fans to 'devour' the coach within ten games.
Irvine seems to be a good workshop foreman promoted to CEO because he did a good job at managing a workshop. It's rare this kind of guy will work out in such a high profile job in an environment of large Egos (boardroom, players, agents) but I'll take my hat off to the club if we win 6 games by Christmas.
I just hope we don't lurch into a Keen at Blackburn style implosion on and off the field now that sees the club fighting the fans who want Irvine sacked by October following no wins. Only some significant signings - not necessarily big money but signings of vision and balance - will start to change the fans and media perception.
Can we not strengthen our voice to Peace by using the only language he knows - shares and money. I have no money to invest but with a collective fans voice intent of creating a greater fans ownership, this would make Peace have to listen to our collective voice more. People talk of the balance German club ownership brings. Why not try to begin this at WBA for long term reasons ( it wouldn't happen overnight).
You can tell I've thought about this all and care but I won't be spending any money at the club shop or ground including tickets until I see that investment (yes I 'invest' or give charitable donations to the club so it can have a better future - not to create profit for shareholders) is well managed and the top people at the club share their vision in a way that I can understand clearly.
First time poster who is struggling to accept that the club can implode again after being there throughout the dire 80s and 90s years where fans and board were often in conflict.