Thetownend.com

So, now Morris has gone, who would be your pick?

Artell, presumably still available?

Luc Nijholt.

Its time.

Should have been him before. Go and get him.

Agreed. Just get Artell.

There’s a couple of clubs at our level looking - Tranmere, Walsall. Anyone off of the previous list would be unlikely, surely.

Crewe fans reckon any new club for Artell would have to accept a season or 2 floundering in mid table before he produced. If that’s true, that’s him out.

Presuming the ‘model’ has also been ditched.

I’d go for Darrell Clarke.

Budgie Byrne.

Shame we’ve done it so late.

If we’d done this 5 games ago we could have given Mad Gav a proper audition.

….fuck knows. I’ve always maintained I like the ex player first job route rather than the managerial merry go round managers who have been sacked three/four times before…but this was a disaster.

Probably someone looking for their first job in management but at least some experience with the first team set up. Not someone who has primarily been a youth coach

Sandro as manager.

Maybe Cooper is coming back 😂

Artell, Garrard or Mike Flynn maybe?

It’ll be Gunning, internal DoF appointment and internal Manager appointment with a claim it’s the obvious choice. I’m prepared for another underwhelming appointment.

Flynn’s not a bad shout either

Fuck that

Flynn would be about as bad a fit with this squad as you could imagine. Perhaps that's not a bad thing.

Wasn’t he the one that turned Twine into a footballer?

Artell please. Get him in ASAP.

Being played regularly probably did that.

Given we aren't going to be big spenders as-is, think Garrard as an appointment makes the most sense. Gets more out of players than their ability usually suggests and makes his team's hard to beat. Pretty dull football but it's a results based business.

So anyone coming in now (apart from those still here) will not have a clue regarding the squad, players thrmselves will be looking around at where they stand, all in all total bloody shambles.

are we Watford?

I think he managed a decent cup run or 2 as well.

I would actually rather we do take some time now - it's the one occasion in recent history where that would be the right course of action instead of taking time when there was no need to.

Instead, sort the fucking clubs operational and footballing structures out.  Determine what will and what won't be invested in off the pitch, work out the plan in terms of what type of squad and budget we will be using etc.

Then recruit someone that fits, but who will be backed to deliver that, and not have their hands tied by someone else having recruited and sold everyone.

I still don't have a problem with the "Model" - just work out what that really means and back it properly and with a healthy dose of short term pragmatism.  Don't put a nobody in charge of Football Ops, don't add a Manager with no experience of first team management (or nobody they can lean on with it), don't say we are investing in youth and literally just buy young players with no actual investment in the supporting infrastructure planned.

I wouldn't be against given Garrard his league start as both a player and manager. Only problem is we'll be needing to pay compo, which doesn't seem overly realistic given our lack of pot to piss in.

Woy when he leaves Palace

Appleton for me.

Whoever it is could we make it before mid July please.

See, we won't be able to get someone like him, but a lower level version is precisely who I'd be looking at for the Head of Football Ops role if we want to keep that.  Someone with experience but no longer wanting the stress of Managing.  Someone who can guide a less experienced Head Coach if need be, but also knows what is needed behind the scenes to set the club up for success.

Agreed!

Someone like Paul Jewell would be perfect  :D

Good shout

With Lee Power as DOF🤣

Sandro will spend all summer analysing targets using Excel 97 on Windows XP, only to appoint one of the kitmen as manager a week before the season starts

No!  He wasn't interested in the club - I want someone who still wants to give back to the game - fuck knows who that is though.

This from a couple of years ago. I wonder.  :hmmm:

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/19403632.michael-flynn-swindon-towns-next-manager-target---reports/

Do we actually need a DOF? most Clubs didn't have them 10 years ago. Just let the manager buy who he wants, they seem like a pain in the ass majority of the time soapy tit wank.

Most clubs used to play a 2-3-5 and let their players smoke.

Donkey for First Team Overlord

And go on the piss Friday night!

So do we from 80 minutes onwards

Good shout

I think this is where we've been going wrong. Tea, orange slices and a B&H gold at half time and we piss this league.

I think the logic behind them is they should hopefully stay constant.
We’ve seen it here - managers have any sort of ‘success’ and they get poached.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1wenv

Blackpool fans hated him but no idea why

Unless it's already been decided I assume Gunning and Mildy will be in charge of the retain/release list?

Christ no! If people are bored with our football now I reckon it'd be 10 X worse.

When we end up with Flitcroft 2.0 boring us to tears, some fans will need to have a long look in the mirror.

He’s also just been sacked by Walsall who have even lower expectations than us.

And the board.

It was so obvious Artell was the right man last time but the board tried to be clever and "think outside the box". Well now just take the lid off the box and bring out David Artell. The only other choice for me would be the Cowleys if it were possible to get them in. No to Charlie Austin etc..

Danny Cowley could be an option.

Bet you buzzing to see the manager sacked so you could get back involved and push forward the cowleys again

I just don’t want another academy coach, that’s all I ask.

How long before the bookies create a list of potentials🤔

The board didnt try and be clever. Morris was 100% a Sandro thing, after Artell had been agreed.

We need a change, we need optimism but we need we need to be very careful not to make a knee jerk reaction to what the club wants to do. The model worked last season with Chorley/Garner and no preseason. Bad People fucked it this season, not a bad set up.

It will be Gunning and Mildenhall. Bookies can close their books now

That is a bold statement of ‘fact’? Can you substantiate that?

Why? He had sucesss at one club and has failed everywhere else

Actually he has failed at one club and been a success everywhere else.

Interesting that he's been to a fair few of our games this season in the directors box  :hmmm:

A man has lost his job but I think it's good that a mistake is rectified sooner rather than later.
I'm busy arguing the case for the Cowleys on four different message-boards and am surprised how unpopular they are with some people.
I do think David Artell would be a very good fit for Swindon Town; maybe it's the railway connection. But as someone mentioned earlier in this thread it took Artell a couple of years before the fruits of his labours were seen. I fear there might not be the patience at board or supporter level if that timescale is repeated.

He likes a cornish pasty and a pint of Arkells i heard

Well I don't know the South West or South coast and I'm not sure you'd regard yourselves as South-West. But both brothers' families are settled in Portsmouth I believe so that might give Swindon an advantage over Donny, Mansfield or Walsall.
Google tells me the journey from Portsmouth to Swindon is about an hour and an half which is just about doable I'd hope.

The late Alan Mac used to commute from Swindon to Pompey daily.

You sound busy. What's your commission?

Very uncertain! I lost a great deal of money backing Pompey ante-post the last two seasons. But my faith in the brothers is only very slightly dimmed.

To be fair Dan Cowley has a pretty decent % win rate

Perhaps we could reappoint McGreal, he could give us the money he had back and put it into the transfer budget :D

Right decision re Morris I think. He didn't really improve any of the players or make any demonstrable tactical improvements during his tenure.

The thought of Artell/Cowley etc fills me with dread. May as well go the whole hog and approach Steve Evans.

Fucking dismal state of affairs at this club.

Who would you go for Mooneyraker?

I Wonder if Marc Bircham's name will be heavily linked again.

My DNA’s at Pompey Uni and over the years it’s been on my various sales areas. Allow two hours

I was 'content' with Morris and Brand. Wanted to see what they could do in pre-season free of Sandro's clown shoe on their neck.

Honestly I have no idea. Any manager worth their salt will be straight on the blower to Morris to find out what happened.

Artell has a 33% win ratio at Crewe. He got promoted in a shortened season and always came across as a total goon.

The Cowleys play god awful shite and have failed twice recently.

Appleton... just no.

Frankly I'd rather have a Danny Wilson type. Just an old school, low drama smooth operator who has a pragmatic approach rather than some pompous set in stone 'style'. I don't mean Danny Wilson but you catch my drift hopefully.

Who is a modern day Danny Wilson type, Kenny Jackett or something?  There aren't actually that many managers on the merry go round these days, people tend to get a couple of jobs and if no luck there, that's them done.

It also depends on what wages Clem is willing to offer as to who he can attract.

More managers than shots per game  :no:

Content with 4 wins in 18 games.
New lows.

Well you’d think that at some stage they’d realise or acknowledgethat if you pay peanuts you get primates, even at our level.

Not content with 4 wins in 18 games. Content with them having a summer free of Sandro to show what they could do with their coaching and Rolodex, rather than doing what we have and setting fire to over £250k in all likelihood, as well as signalling to the entirety of English football that the County Ground may as well be Billy Smart's big top these days.

I'm sure it was the stumbling job when we ended up with Lindsey "the best man for the job"

The club should just go all in and make the Broadbent Lounge the managers.

Perhaps that’s why Hanners left? To become our manager?

 :sherlock:

EVERYTHING suddenly makes sense.

It better be more than Lindsey was being paid

Would be delighted with KJ but he has taken DOF role at Gills. That’s a real coup for them in my opinion.

Money talks!

(https://visionedgemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/shoes-string-budget.jpg)

I thought your financial troubles were over with the departure of despicable Lee Power. Is there still a problem now Mr Morfuni is in charge?

Clem is Lee Power in a Scooby Doo mask.

It appears that while the debts have been moved from outside sources to Clem himself, we are doing absolutely everything on the cheap. Our admin has been a shambles.

Don’t think I’d want Artell and don’t get the clamour for him, we’re led to believe he was turned down last time so for him to want the job now would just suggest he’s desperate and no one else wants him. There will be a reason for that.

Yeah let's have someone that's failed in this role over and over again. Fucking  madness.

I’d give it to Darrell Clarke

Darrell Clarke probably has the best overall career record of the Poundland Bargain Bucket available managers.

5 career promotions, two from this league, and no real failures.

Not sure I can get past the Vale Park debacle... but perhaps that is unfair.

We were set to appoint him until Morris lowered his demands, as I understood it.

Have to think we'd be in a better position now if he got it.

Luke Williams, The Sequel

But that horse has bolted, we rejected him. He’d be second choice, he’d know he’s second choice and we’d know he’s second choice.

We'd all know we made the wrong choice, yeah.

🤣
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct5ZHAQVZog&pp=ygUlbmlnZWwgZmFyYWdlIHlvdSBhbGwgbGF1Z2ggYXQgbWUgY2xpcA%3D%3D

Seeing lots of shouts for people we don't want but who do we want? If its true that Morris & Brand were on a good salary then they werent on the cheap and still fucking useless.

Karl Robinson 😉

Chris Hughton anyone🤔

How to lose even more season ticket holders…

I’m hoping we go completely left field now like an experienced foreign coach with new ideas. Have no faith in the club to make a decent appointment though as whether it’s Ralph or the internal appointment that replaces him I’m not convinced they’ll be capable of choosing the right person.

Honestly I have no idea.

I’ve always maintained I like the ex pro decent level first managerial job route rather than a managerial merry go round manager - but Morris was the former and was pants.

Personally I think I still want to see the first one but someone with more first team experience (as coach or as assistant) rather than someone who’s spent almost their entire coaching career at youth level and / or someone whose spent most of their time coaching in nothing but the absolute best facilities


…and as I’ve literally just seen him on the TV - someone like Ian Woan

Sounds like Kevin MacDonald...!

I’d be open to Matt Taylor, despite his record at Walsall.

I do think what the Morris experiment shows is that the gulf between the big clubs and ours is now so large that we probably won't get ex-players/managers from there succeeding at our level.

When Hoddle went onto Chelsea from Swindon, our facilities probably weren't miles apart from those at Harlington, their old training ground.

I always got the impression that Morris simply couldn't believe how shit our set up was. Of course he had probably done his 'homework' but the reality of a cold day in Calne with an over 80s Zumba class taking place next door probably hits home like a wet kipper to the face if you are used to the set up at Cobham. Throw in the clown show of Aberdeen/Sandro/Zav et al and he probably regretted it from minute one, which is why he wore a face like a slapped arse for the duration.

He'd have checked out the facilities before he agreed. He wouldn't have counted on a spiv getting rid of the captain and then leaving the paperwork on his replacement clogged in the fax machine without hitting send though.

Are your training facilities very bad? Nowadays many coaches/managers have a good training complex near the very top of their checklist.

Zero interest in Artell- nobody’s been near him for 2 years? Zero interest in Cowley- only ever really been successful once.

Robbie Neilson for me, cracking win %. Knows the leagues… worth a go imo.

Left field. How about tempting Paul Trollope back into the number one hotseat?

As in ex-hearts manager Robbie Nielson? Interesting pick.

In fairness to Artell it's just over a year since he left Crewe; and just because no-one has employed him since doesn't mean he's not a good coach/manager. Never be swayed by what owners/directors might do; remember Shack's opinion of their knowledge.

Cowley won two titles in three seasons at Lincoln, the second being The League Two title. His only failure was at Pompey but even there his win % was over 43.

Robbie Neilson's only venture South of the border was a miserable failure at Franchise and he doesn't know this league.

What about Noel Hunt?

Is there any reason he wouldn't stay at Reading instead?

I've no idea. the last manager I didn't want got us promoted

 8)

I'd like to see Picaretta given a go. He knows and loves the club, has experienced the good and bad of the PdC coaching and would probably fit Clem's budget

That’s an interesting thought. When he was at the club recently, he openly admitted that he loves Swindon.  He is looking for the right opportunity, and when he was asked if he would consider Swindon, he had a very wry smile on his face and said that the position was filled at the moment.

Read into that what you will.

Whoever it is needs to be charismatic and someone we can unite behind. None of the journeymen managers tick those boxes, we had enough of the bland and miserable to last a lifetime. It’s no coincidence the most fun we had as fans and success too was with PDC and Wellens where there was at least some 2 way engagement.

How about Picaretta as Manager and PdC as DOF?

If the club did manage to negotiate a 6 month contract for Morris with an extension beyond that for 18 months or so (??) then it’s great business if that’s allowed us to part ways without a large compensation payment.

Piccaretta has one year in the EFL over a decade ago. Not sure he hits the ground running.

Simon Ferry…?

Not sure it was anything to do with engagement.   They both created teams that scored a shit load and conceded fuck all, which meant we all enjoyed it and therefore felt warmth towards them.

The first 10 games or so under Paolo were shocking and many wanted him gone.

Agree he's not what we need.  Would be a heart over head signing.    Would be an upgrade on Sandro as Dof though.

Agreed. I was “Morris in” but if we had a window to get out without torching next year’s transfer budget then I can see the logic.

That said the rumours that Brand was indeed on a secondment type deal from Chelsea suggest that, as usual, the famous ‘open and transparent’ mantra is likely to be bullshit again.

Only if you believe the rumours.   A random ITK online is not an overly reliable source.

Do you think that Brand had a three month contract after all that wrangling?

I heard (and of course this is speculation) that JM was not happy with the Calne Training facility and was pretty vocal about it. He must have known about that before accepting the role I would have thought, I doubt very much Sandro walked him around Foundation Park and said - "here you go Jody, this is our spanking training facility."

Oh i dunno!

I read that post as opinion, not 'factual' ITK.

The statement isn't even that clear on whether it was sacked, walked, mutual.

I know he/Jeremy Wray basically destroyed our one chance of long term stability but.... who can honestly say they wouldn't be  a little bit excited if Paolo came back?

I know he won't but the thought of him marching out to the centre circle, scarf above head, after we smash Harrogate 5-0 in August fills my heart with joy in a way that the Cowleys/Appleton/Flynn/Artell NEVER will.

Thats fact RE piss poor facilities at Calne as I remember JM in one of his early interviews saying how its not ideal and could be a better environment (along them lines)

It was probably the point where he had to deliver the players lunches to Calne that he got fed up

If the training facilities are bad that will put off a lot of potential managers. But are they any worse now than when Wellens led you to the title three years ago? Just how bad are they?

As James once sang:

'If i had'nt seen such riches, i could live with being poor!'



Hope it wasnt a Roy Keane World Cup melt down, when he stormed home from the Paddys training camp...

FWIW, Morris moaned about every single thing he could and Wellens team that season trained at multiple different venues that season due to calne pitch not being up to scratch (since had investment on pitches I'm pretty sure I remember seeing it somewhere)


I think its more the distance from ground and the fact players can't have food prepared at calne that are the issues.

Morris came from Champions league winners Chelsea, Derby to little Swindon. The culture shock woulda been a rude awakening haha

Thank you for the reply. Those don't sound like huge shortcomings. It also makes Wellens' achievement even more commendable.

All of Morris' whinges have been legitimate and an echo of fans own concerns.

Should they have been done behind close doors. Absolutely.

But I'll put this out there as pure speculation- the communication to fans at critical times has been shit this year. What if Morris got the same treatment of the drawbridge being raised?

Suspect Morris won't be too disappointing to leave the club, just the reputation damage

I quite like the idea of Sandro just continually telling Morris he'll phone him back since January like he has to the Monday Night Club thing, adds a degree of slapstick to the whole thing.

Just stick a burger van in the car park at Calne. Problem solved.

My favourite was back in February with the advertising of the pitch for hire during the L2 play off dates just to really hammer home the level of incompetence at the club and give the impression that the club wasn’t even contemplating being in the mix.

David Artell and Danny Cowley both odds on for the Walsall and Tranmere jobs.

That’s because the bookies are as unimaginative as fans.

https://therealefl.co.uk/2023/05/02/exclusive-swindon-town-set-to-announce-major-departure/

Sandro announcment coming shortly apparently.

OMG then what will we moan about?

The amount it’s cost us to pay off Morris and Brand, because everyone seems to know what we were paying them.

Don’t forget Chris Kiely - I assume he will be still around

Oh and don’t forget Mrs. Austin because she tweeted something that had nothing to do with anything…that some decided was definitely about Morris.

I was thinking this morning about the number of premier league youth coaches that seem to have failed in the last few years, in both L1 and L2.

Most of the ones I can think of seem to have only lasted 20 odd games. Are they too sheltered from the realities of football in the lower leagues?!

Yes.

That & having to win games.

Let’s just say for arguments sake - a youth coach continually wins nothing at that level, all his teams are so so and always finish mid table…but…every other year he produces a player that can slot into the first team and maybe one not quite good enough for said club but will make a decent career a bit lower in the food chain they can sell for 1m + add ons. He’d be considered to be doing a great job I’d imagine.

Another youth coach might win the lot year after year after year but produce no one good enough for the clubs first team and I’d imagine he’d be looked upon as a failure.

I've started suspecting that youth level coaching isn't actually that difficult at the big sides - or at least, not that much of an indicator of applicability of success elsewhere.

The first reason is that so many of these "elite coaches" also happen to be ex-players at that club, which doesn't really suggest a wide range of talent being drawn from.

Then I think there's probably wider talent gaps between teams at that level - if you think about a first team squad, there are probably 30 players in it (more for Chelsea!) drawn from all over the world and from sort of 19-35. At youth levels, you have a one or two year age category and far more local players, so logically there will be much more of a concentration of talent at the very best funded academies. If you're playing with much stronger players than the next side down, you'll probably do pretty well regardless of quality of the management.

Then again, I thought Kevin Betsy would do well at Crawley and Morris would do well for us, so it's quite possible I'm a clueless idiot.

Kiely and Sandro are one and the same so you would assume he’ll have lost his influence as well.

As for Austin’s Mrs, she was liking tweets at the same time that were saying Morris should go etc so I think it’s pretty clear it was related to Morris. Hopefully he gets a send off on Monday and we move on from him as well.

It's a lovely romantic notion but sadly one that I don't think is likely. You look down the list of who's who of league 2 managers and (maybe apart from Mark Hughes) it's a generic list of bog standard lower league managers. You look at clubs like Stevenage with Evans and Carlisle with Simpson and they've done absolutely brilliantly on what I'm assuming are budgets well below ours?

And I know it's not an exact science so there is absolutely no guarantee, but I think we need a pragmatic coach that knows how to get teams out of this rotten division. That wasn't Scott Lindsey and it wasn't Jody Morris. The list of potential managers is mediocre, granted, but one of these guys is going to get us promoted, we just have to make sure we pick the right one and put the proper footballing people in behind the scenes to assist!

Their replacements, obviously.

Brian Barry Murphy is going to get the Tranmere gig.

I'm a romantic...  :girlgiggle:

I'll take Darrell Clarke please. 4 management jobs. 4 promotions. That's the kind of experience I can get behind.

Agreed. And I wasn't really aware of what had happened in his personal life so very happy to look past his Vale Park meltdown.

What about his dog wanking antics?

His teenage daughter tragically died mid season.

Personal life aside,he was a proper cunt last season. But if he comes,at least he'll be our cunt I suppose,as the old adage goes

On paper Clarke looks ideal but the bloke acted like a major bellend last season, so fuck that guy.

Not Steve Evans level of cuntary but yeah, a bit.

Agree with this completely. Not a very good character in my book, and don't want him here regardless of promotion pedigree.

If Notts County don't go up I'd be happy with getting Luke Williams in

Not sure if serious.....

I assume his style has changed a fair bit if this is a serious suggestion.

Though right now I'd say Notts County were a better bet for next season.

He has gone away and done the hard work of gaining experience, I'd have him back.  I very much doubt Notts County and he feel like they'd give us a look in though.

This for me in a nutshell.

As for his antics in the play-offs, it was pretty much something or nothing in a highly charged game. He came out and apologised afterwards;

Clarke, recently returned from bereavement leave following the death of a close family member, told Sky Sports: "I want to apologise. I shouldn't have done what I did on the touchline. I apologise to Swindon and Dion. They're a good club, he's a good player. I don't know what came over me. I've had an emotional time. It's the first time I've been sent off.

Not sure it really warrants so much pearl clutching.

Luke Williams? fuck that!

.... and this is based on?

If it's just his play off behaviour then I've seen a lot worse. You'd be writing off a lot of successful managers if that's where you draw the line.

I'd actually forgotten what everyone was talking about - I remember that now, christ, talk about a storm in a teacup if that's all that is winding people up about him.

People's priorities are odd. Much of the fan base were alright with a man that hero worshipped Mussolini and had a history of giving fascist salutes from the pitch to far right ultra gangs.

But this makes someone beyond the pale.

Fuck that I want out of this suit division asap.

It's not that one antic, he has just always come across like a bit of a cretin to me, and therefore i don't want him.

Surely its just the wounds of the night at Vale not fully healed.

People would settle down.

edit: Oh OK Riddick. Fair enough.

Where the hell did the dog wanking stuff come from?

Steve Evans is an interesting one. His long managerial record is very mixed (and I'm not touching on the various scandals stretching back to his Boston days). There have been surprisingly good achievements and yet failures at what looked like ideal jobs. Peterborough United was supposed to be the job he'd long wanted but he lasted less than a year there.
But although Stevenage were a long price pre this season they were very quick off the mark putting together a much changed squad for the new campaign with an increased budget. I thought they'd do well but was not expecting they'd win  automatic promotion.

It is significant that Evans had nine matches in charge at the end of last season. That can be invaluable in assessing who and what needs changing and is not something the incoming manager at Swindon will have. But the sooner the new (and right) man is appointed the better.

Quite like the idea of Clarke to be honest. Think he wants a break from the game though.

Me too, plus it would piss off Rovers fans. Win win.

Touching being the operative word, flashing his cock at a female steward at Bradford he should have gone to prison for to add to his Boston 1 year suspended sentence, the man is a fucking balloon.

He has had a year break from football in the last year at Port Vale ;)

Oh I'm serious, wasnt he rumoured to be coming in as assistant with the Brighton matey in the summer? Then he's gone out and smashed it with Notts and were it not for Wrexham would be setting records of their own. Top scorers and second best defence behind Garrard's Borehamwood.

The last paragraph doesn't suggest he wants a break....

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/darrell-clarke-port-vale-statement-8396359?fbclid=IwAR2qcWaJSbqtmcsSfaD2ZIMrQWpWsSnHPWmq8DupA02_WMCau3nCSZhe_xA

To be fair its nothing new, I remember all the fuss from some about Bircham because he had been arrested (but never charged) in the states then the complete silence about Morris who has quite the  history.

I can't find any odds for the next Swindon manager yet. Usually Bet Victor are quite to have a book but they currently have nada.

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23494562.next-swindon-town-manager-four-potential-replacements-jody-morris/

Haha! Here we go again😁... I'm going to stick my neck out and say it will be none of these😉

All names mooted on here.
All available.
By tomorrow there will be a clear favourite who will not even be considered let alone interviewed.
All very predictable.
Lump money on there being more than 5 favourites throughout the process.

Probably end up being Hughton. Didn’t we reject him as he wanted his own coaching team, if we’re now changing direction it would be very STFC to go running back.

I'm going to say no to Clarke as he once said "damp squid" in a post match interview. Thick cunt.

Andy King once said Da Je Vu.

I'd rather a younger manager. However SDM's departure note didn't mention a replacement right? So i'm all for his wages going elsewhere, extended coaching team etc.

😂

Never a dull moment at STFC.

Except on the pitch, of course.

Dead against Clarke (obvious reasons) can fuck right off. Not too interested in Artell now. Cowleys better option, but still not my picks


Robbie Neilson or Leam Richardson be top appointments, whether both would come south is another thing. Graham Alexander/Steve Morison wouldn't be bad either.

Is Sol Campbell available?

Is there anyone decent in Scotland? Used to be a thing, them coming down here.

Mock ye not!

 I actually think Sol Campbell could do a decent job as manager if he could find a club that wouldn't pull the financial rug from under his feet within weeks of his arrival. I fear no-one will take a chance on him though.

We were linked a few years back to Paul Hartley, he had a good record in Scotland with Alloa, Dundee, Cove and Falkirk.

He was appointed manager at Hartlepool in the Summer, lasted 11 games with just 1 win at Pools.

Was chatting to some Pools fans when I was up there for our game and he was not liked. Filled the team with Scottish dross.

It certainly did used to be a thing, just as nearly every successful team would have a number of Scottish players in their ranks.

Unless I'm mistaken there are only two Scottish managers in Leagues One and Two combined, the delightful couple of Derek Adams and Steve Evans; imagine being stuck in a lift with those two.

As for managers currently plying their trade North of the border there's no-one who stands out. Jack Ross came South with his reputation high and returned North with it somewhat tattered, and it's in ribbons now. Why he's had to take a job at newcastle  looking after their youngsters.

He was gash at Hartlepool, even worse than Morris was here. In that he was also allowed to build a new squad over the summer and sacked after 1 win in 11 games with that new squad (who dropped out of the league at the end of the season), on that basis its a no from me.  

There is little doubt that it was the disastrous appointment of Hartley that led in the end to Pools' relegation. Yes there was a lot of the season left when he was sacked but the damage was done, particularly in his terrible summer transfer dealings.

Anyone know anything about Grant McCann? Over 40% career win record. Available.

Good shout but probably waiting for the Peterborough job again....😀

He was someone I thought about when trying to think of out of work managers. He's never managed below league 1 level I think. Bit of a mixed bag but wouldn't be suicidal if he turned up a the CG.

I was scanning past L1 and L2 managers of the year and there he was.

EDIT - Played a few years at Cheltenham so a small West Country link.

I think he'd avoid going back for a third time to the only club where he's not done a decent job.

Jim Gannon. As Manager, Alan Lord to come with him as DoF/Consultant.

It's probably what Town could afford. No doubt everyone else mentioned so far would cost too much for a club so skint or unwilling to pay the going rate as STFC currently are.

On a semi serious note, Gannon has always been good at getting a tune out of kids and instilling belief. Has always liked to play the game in a fair way too. He's no doubt done in Pro Footy Management now but that wouldn't stop STFC going cheap yet experienced.

"He has a very very good tactical sense, he is a great motivator of players, he works particularly well with young players and brings them on...and he has boundless enthusiasm".

He'd also be relatively cheap to get rid of when he eventually falls out with Chairman/Captain/Assistant etc but at least he will have probably developed several young players into saleable assets.

Alan Lord [hopefully not the ex-con but the footy consultant variety] in as DoF. Knowing Town, they would also roll out an embalmed Danny Bergara in a ''buy two get a third free'' deal; announcing them as part of a triple swoop. Being honest, Bergara [deceased] aside, something like a ''Lord and Gannon'' would give a millions better outlook/prospect than the complete clusterfuck that has unravelled this season - especially if Town/Clem do still want to follow 'the model' somewhat.

https://www.herefordfc.co.uk/interview-caddis-first-interview/

Caddis first interview at Hereford. Great answer to what style he wants to play.

Skip to 4:10 and give it a listen.

"I'm not a big huge fan of centre halves touching the ball 300 times. I don't like it."

He was desperate to come and manage here. Would have been proud to do so. Loves the club, knew the League, knew some of the players, had done some coaching with the younger players.

I do wonder if we missed a trick. Morris was a right misery guts and his body language suggested his tenure was borderline community service for him. Cadds would have be quite the opposite. A gamble, but a feelgood one.

And no, I'm not Hanners in disguise, as I know he bangs on about it!

Released Miles Storey and Luke Haines already!

Someone like Caddis you might give an opportunity as an Assistant here. Not as a number one. Maybe prime him for the Manager role in due course but you have him as Assistant alongside someone who has done it before [if they agree to it/don't have anyone to bring with them].

I got a good chuckle out of people who were incredulous we were considering an ex manager of a Bristol club in Danny Wilson, but were advocating for a guy who had supported, played for and managed one in Ian Holloway.

Fans are rarely consistent.

I rememver when Holloway pimped himself out for the Town job by watching a game in the Town End

Picaretta with Austin as assistant…

Heart over head that one I fear.   Picaretta is a huge punt having never managed anyone before.

He managed Inter Turku and won the Finnish Cup with them.

No thanks.

Ok had missed that but only there 9 months in Finland.
I'd prefer someone who knows this level a bit more intimately as we just need to get out of this shite league.

picaretta hasn't got any English lower league experience besides with PDC.

not like he's got anyone above to mentor him either

He’d be a good senior Academy appointment and nothing else.

He'd make quite a good assistant manager to be fair.

Genuinely couldn't think of an appointment as uninspiring as Piccaretta. The years after PDC alluded to him being a balls, bins and comes guy if memory serves me right?

I'm assuming that's a typo, but with PDC ..

I didn't know too much about Piccareta apart from his spell here with PDC. Obviously it's only from Wikipedia but his background is fairly interesting. A lot of academy work in Italy, a short spell in Finland that seemed to go quite well although after winning the cup and leading Inter Turku into Europe he resigned to go and join Roma as the under 17s coach.

Not a huge amount to really whet your whistle about him being the new manager, although I do like this bit when he was working with PDC here - Piccareta spoke of sharing footballing philosophies with Di Canio setting out a plan to bring a "strong identity" to Swindon along with an "Italian methodology in training" and that their "kind of football won't be boring for the fans"

All great buzz words that will be music to many Swindon fans' ears.

Yes, fair but I sort of rule that out on the basis that I can’t see anyone who would appoint him as their assistant being appointed manager if that makes sense?

I’m sold. When can he start?

Wouldn’t turn my nose up at Piccareta.

Obviously would be a big gamble. Think we’ve probably had our fingers burnt by Morris, so imagine we’ll go dull this time.

I don’t quite understand the objection to a manager that has failed somewhere else, on the basis that most of them have failed at some point.

There are many here that would happily have Wellens back, but even he has failed more than he has succeeded (2 good out of 5 jobs).

There are no guarantees, just probability.   In most cases it just depends on circumstances.

Bah - I don't care anymore. Just get someone in who can be versatile, get the squad of players organised and disciplined. This season has shown it doesn't really matter how much quality you have in this league... Just put together a well drilled side. If you then have a couple of players with flashes of class you'll probably be alright.

Chances are whoever it is will be shit and leave / good and be poached within a year anyway!

100% agreed on all counts...

Yeah, I'm tired of it all really. This regime have absolutely worn me down with dross. I struggle to even get angry about it all. Just start getting the basics right for fuck sake.

he'll be appointed the day the transfer window SLAMS shut.

Yes, the off the pitch stuff does seem to annoy me more than on the pitch at the moment. Absolute clown show. What faith do we have that two people (Clem/Rob) who have zero background in football are capable of organising a manager search? A proper football CEO or genuine Director of Football should be priority #1.

Yeah, other than a vague feeling of "fit" I've given up on 'who do you want'.

As I said before, last manager I was massively against us appointing was Wellens!

I don't doubt that Clem's intentions are good, but this season has just been a fucking disaster. If (big if) we have a good season next season then we can probably put this year down to some 'teething' issues and perhaps a bit of naivety but if next season follows on from this then I'm not sure how he comes back from it.

I know Rob works very hard but I do think him shifting positions and getting a more football oriented CEO in would be a smart move.

Karl Robinson will be assissting Big Sam at direty Leeds so hopefully he remains well out of the running.

A totally defeatest attitude that, and one I am in absolute agreement with.

Its the story of being a Swindon fan (and most lower league clubs too).

and on Piccareta I know a lot of people long for the Di Canio days, but he could have been our manager and decided to walk out on us. On that basis, I'd rather not.

Indeed, Piccareta seems like a decent bloke who genuinely does love his time he had at Swindon. We have moved on now though.

Funnier tings have happened, it wouldn’t at all suprise me to see a him and Cads team. When interviewed in the 1879 suite, he names Cads as his stand out player.

I doubt Caddis would leave a job he only officially took up on the 1st May.

I don't get our fanbase obsession with ex players/coaches - no examples of ex players/coaches having success in the past.  Let's try Jamie SW.

Give it to Fjortoft jr. He's shown more tactical acumen and knowhow on co-comms than we have seen in the dug out this season

Comes across as being very articulate too.

The pre and post match interviews would be so great

Now that’s not a bad idea.

Let’s give it to Glenn Hoddle’s postman. He always delivers.

FFS… Fjortoft’s son?! This is getting stupid. We need an appointment now just to stop these suggestions!  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Minor thing I know but pretty sure he doesn't have the relevant coaching badges.

I suppose Gunning still doesn't either thinking about it.

EX Players kids as well now.

If we are going down the ex players route it has to be Grant. If the young players haven't already had their confidence shot to shit by Morris they would be quitting the game after a couple of weeks of Grants motivational methods.

Sheridactyl DoF, Morris First Team Coach, Grant Assistant.

Welcome to Morale United.

Still no betting odds

Maybe because we've been tied by people like Morris who don't care about the club at all

Not sure many of the people we think care actually do either tbh. Only ever seem to hear or give a fuck when theres a managers job going

Well I hope the eagle eyed amongst you will be scanning the DR for potential managers running the rule over the club on Monday.

Danny Cowley has been at every game the last month or so. Can't wait to see how excited people get over it

Maybe Clem has been ahead of the game!

You have evidence?

Cowley just feels too far the other way for me for the players that we have.  
He's always played a variation of hoofball, can he adapt enough or is it throwing baby out with the bathwater?

Indeed.

Though if I'm honest I've only really seen his team play when we've played them.

I remember the Lincoln air raid siren particularly..

I'd take it if it came with promotion, also not sure how our remaining squad would fit in with it based on the little I've e seen

Of the players we have, I could see Cowley liking Hutton, FBT and maybe Austin and Khan. Otherwise that would be a whole lot of turnover!

There was a picture of him at (I think) the Gillingham game and I remember thinking it was a very random game for him to be at...

When was that?

PE teacher in a tracksuit.
I just hope not and a disaster in the making.

I have seen him. Why would i lie?

In what way would it be a disaster?

Why wouldn’t you? I don’t know you from Adam, or Eve for that matter. You wouldn’t be the first on here to tell porkies. So, I like everyone else has to take what you’ve stated at face value.

Question I’d like to ask then is when did you first see him/them?

Ive seen a photo also, think it was on twitter. Was sat in the posh seats. Probably been scouting for someone or something

Ha fucking hell.

I've seen it mentioned too.

I can't confirm because my eyes are shit and I don't have a fucking clue what he looks like anyway

I’ve also seen the pic of him at a match more recently than the Gillingham match if I remember correctly. Either way I’d be surprised if it was him, Clarke, Flynn or the known names mentioned. Not that I’d be against a known name, just can’t see it being any of the obvious known names.

As opposed to Bertie Mee; physiotherapist in a tracksuit, Gerard Houllier; deputy headmaster in a tracksuit, Mark Warburton; city trader in a tracksuit?
The constant reference to the previous employment of the Cowley brothers is boring and ridiculous. All it proves is they had to work much harder to achieve what they have than those who had long careers in the professional game.
Far from being a disaster I believe appointing the Cowleys would lead to one of the best periods in Swindon Town's history.

Aren't all PE teachers in a tracksuit? Certainly at the schools I went to they were.

Mr Baxter wore one.

Isn't a manager/ head coach nothing more than a glorified PE teacher anyway? An older head trying to get some kids to kick a bag of wind around in an organised fashion?

Yes even when they've teaching Maths, and they ALL teach maths for some reason.

FFS, and people wonder why people don't post what they know on here.  Why do you bother coming on here if you don't believe anything posted unless it is documented and proved with a DNA sample and photgraphic evidence.  If you don't believe him get off your arse and go down to the CG yourself on match days and see

Bloody hell don't get him started on DNA

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :suicide:

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I do go down on match days. Mostly anyway, when there’s something decent to watch. Have you never heard the term ‘believe half what you hear and all that you see’? FFS this is a fans forum with the strap line 25% football 80% bollocks, really? Should 100% bollocks. For the record I don’t really care wether he’s been sat in the DR, Town End or Arkells, I really don’t but with the stuff that gets posted on here why wouldn’t I query the fella? Lastly, really don’t think people stop posting on here because I use the term DNA or Poxford or whatever (others do, that seems to be ok) people don’t post on here because of the Internet bullying that goes on in this site unchecked by the mods who are anything but. HTH.

Or in the words of Norman Whitfield "believe half of what you see and none of what you hear".

Similar. The underlying message is broadly the same.

If this are your real views, why do even bother coming on here then? or is that classed as bullying? If so I am happy to be banned, or cancelled, or whatever your demographic call it these days..

By and large I enjoy coming here, at times I wonder why but then I’m not one to cow tow to keyboard warriors or any one calling me anything unsavoury. Makes me laugh, the more it’s done the more I laugh. PS. You won’t get banned 😉

I find it strange how there seems to be no new manager odds available.??

I reckon it’s done

And who do you reckon it is?

I don't believe a word of any of that, obviously because I don't know you from Adam.

I'm beginning to think that also - surely by now Bookies would have odds up?

It's unusual not to have been able to find any odds on a new manager market but I'm not sure that mean's an appointment is imminent. I hope it is because that would suggest the powers that be at the club have been planning his successor before sacking Morris.
Of course the important thing is that it's the right new man; and his brother.

What if the budget dosen't allow for both brothers😀

I wonder if there was a get out for the club (and possibly Morris) at the end of the season, and knowing that the club had already started looking for a replacement.

Maybe this was the big announcement that was being hinted at a few weeks ago?

I'm sure I remember hearing Danny say some time ago that they split the manager/assistant salaries equally. So it depends how much the combined pay would be and how low a figure they'd accept. I got the impression the money they were paid at Huddersfield was life changing.
One thing is certain, in the words of the old song "you can't have one without the other".

Double trouble😀

I've decided that Paolo's coming back. Don't know why. Just a feeling.

Clem and Rob have shat themselves at the season ticket number, binned Morris as they've spotted and loophole and are going all in for some crazy Italian shenanigans. It all ends in tears but who gives a fuck, it'll be glorious and we will sell 10,000 season tickets (maybe).  :pint:

Meanwhile, the Cowleys and the rest of the bargain bucket managers touted around don't shift a single extra ticket.

EDIT - also, Cowley is a place in Oxford, so fuck those pricks.

The extraordinary success the Cowleys had at Lincoln was more than equalled by the remarkable increase in attendances. Obviously this wouldn't affect season ticket sales for the coming season. But even if they only had half the impact they did at Sincil Bank Swindon Town would be selling out for every home match by the business end of next season.

Mind Paolo and his loyal backroom team would have taken some beating.

It could be a plethora of things, the betting market for our new manager will be very small fry and if Sandro for instance was the conduit for the info that was coming out and now nowt is leaking I imagine the bookies have nothing to go on and bigger fish to fry.

Plus I wonder whether things are all being blurred by there only being one game left and the potential that a whole load more managers will enter the job market at the end of the season.

We need someone to look at the guest list for Monday!

Crazy isn't that there has been no leaks from the club the last week over the new manager lkike there was last time. Trying to figure out what has changed since then

Be careful what you wish for...


"Ronnie Biggs - Club Treasurer"

It was a missprint :)

No-one left at the club to leak!

How is the Karachi FC Manager doing this season?

Rather like Scott Whingey (rather proud of that), he can claim it to be their best ever start to a season. Principally because they didn't exist prior to this one!

Clems had his say in the programme

(Have to zoom in)

"My thanks to Sandro and Jody for their hard work"  ...oh ...wait. He didn't say that!

Definitely not much love lost all round is there?!

Plenty of arguments over Zoom!

Yeah, quote...

"Work is well underway to find our next manager, with a decision made shortly."

Make of that what you will, i guess nobody wants to correct his english? Have they made the decision, or will they make the decision shortly. Who the hell knows from that.

My suspicion is that it all got a bit like the England Cricket team when Kevin Pietersen was captain and fell out with the coach Peter Moores so spectacularly that the board ended up sacking them both - Morris and Sandro at loggerheads to the extent that retaining neither of them was the preferable option. I imagine Morfuni is less than chuffed about that outcome.

Artell - Done

Which, if correct, is a bit on Rob Angus, right? Given that the Vice Chairman Matchday Guest is out of the picture, Rob should be running this day to day. Although he is clearly in a ridiculous situation where is probably fixing the loos, replacing the lighbulbs, cooking the hotdogs etc, so set up to fail too.

Please God no... the man is an absolute doofus.

Sure about that?

Personal opinion (which is fine if it is) or there is some reason for this view?

Artell is just more of the same.

Still, I’ll support him until I don’t.

Just personal opinion. Might be a lovely guy but, hey, its football and I've decided I hate the bloke off about 5 mins observation over the years.

Please no.

This is just speculation, right?

He's not a youth academy manager.

ARTELL OUT

What do we want?
A new manager!
When do we want it?
Now
Here’s David Artell the new manager
NO, NOT HIM BOOOOOO !!!! WHINGE, MOAN

Never known a fan base moan so much 😂

It can’t just be ours surely 😂

Could do a lot worse.

Done well with limited resources at Crewe, took time to get it right but had 2 real good years back to back in promotion season and then 12th in League 1 season after.

Stable and safe appointment - can’t really fault it/blame club after Morris appointment going wrong in every way possible. Knows the leagues. Only question I have is why he’s been out of work this long when there’s so many vacancies coming up.

Similar philosophy, though. I think people were expecting/hoping for a more pragmatic approach this time.

With 550 odd games under his belt at the lower levels as a player & a further 270 odd as manager - I’m sure he’s got a basic idea of what’s needed in his league to go alongside any aforementioned philosophies.

I'm absolutely certain that it's every fan base without exception, nothing particularly unusual about ours.

Where does it say Artell will be the new manager?

Can only see Gunning being “the best choice” and back to where we are, low budget and another sesson of misery.
My confidence just shot now.

Monday draw the curtains and wait. Would be a great to be lifted by some real positivity behind the scenes but live in hope that most of us do.

Like you were with Morris  :)

Quagmire said it...so it must be true...

Probably been posted previously but here’s a really good insight into Artell.

https://www.coachesvoice.com/cv/david-artell-crewe-reflection-steve-holland-pep-guardiola/

Artell would be a step up on what we had at any point this season, done well Crewe with a tight budget until Crewe had to sell players. Certainly knows the lower leagues and has plenty of experience. Not an exciting appointment it true, but a safe and sensible one.
 We could appoint Klopp or Pep and there would still be moaners on here!

I’m guessing the lack of any betting market for our next manager is down to it already being a done deal.

Fans being the last to know obviously.

I actually liked the appointment of Morris to begin with. It’s the type of managerial appointment I tend to like & the type we’ve done well with in the past.
Then after about his first 3 team / formation selections - it was clear he didn’t have a clue.


]
…what is our budget for next season?
How does that compare to everyone else budget?

It could be something contractual, or maybe they want to unveil them after the last game of the season.

Can you imagine the meltdown  if they let the OSC & it's members know before everyone else :D

I'm expecting the new manager to be unveiled at, or just before, the fans forum. I don't know anything, I just think it would be logical as the atmosphere in that room is going to be pretty fucking grim otherwise if it's just Angus and Clem on Zoom.

 :D

I deserved that to be fair.

Shouldn’t have long to wait then

Keep up Aud

Yesterday's news😆

I am yesterday’s man

How you finding the UK🤔

Fucking cold. Fucking wet. Full of ugly chavs.

Loving it!

Welcome home  :D

I bet you miss the sunshine

Didn’t move back for the weather, tbh!

Would be happy enough with Artell.

Interesting to know how you think the UK has changed since you last lived here permanently.

In a bid to boost season ticket sales, Clem Formuni and Bobby Hangus are set to announce Neil Pye as the new manager of STFC.

He will make his comments about budgetary constraints known to the Town faithful by reading his letter to the bank manager out, at the upcoming ''Fans Forum''

 :pint:

Does anyone have reason to believe that Artell is a done deal or is everyone just talking like it is on an assumption?

Quagmire said so!

It wouldn't be the first time Quaggy has played Tinker. We could appoint Matt Taylor or even a former Soldier but I Spy he is up to no good.

Either I'm pissed that the match didn't KO at 2pm today

#FuckTheMonarchy

Only on Quagmire’s say so but he’s usually one for getting straight to the point and being right rather than dropping vague hints and posting riddles.

Off the top of my head I’m sure he was the first to post about Austin in January, Ben Garner & Rob Angus coming in the previous year.

I take everything I read with a pinch of salt but Quaggy generally tends to be reliable
(which also makes it easy for him to troll us all. Reverse boy who cried Wolf)

Question for Artell if appointed:
Why Swindon if they blew you in January🤣

My ex misses would probably disagree.

That's simple, he can't afford to be too proud. He's been out of work over a year and he isn't going to get a better offer than  Swindon Town.

Quaggy tends to be quite reliable for STFC information before it’s made public.
However, he can’t reliable satisfy a woman.


(that better 😜)

 :D :girlgiggle:

If you were going for a job interview you would expect to be asked why so long since your last job!

Women, men will never understand them .....worth it's own thread🤣

That's easy, you just tell the interviewer/s no-one in the last year had the wisdom and farsightedness the Swindon owners are  showing now; or the usual I've had other offers but nothing excited me like the "project" at Swindon Town.

 :clap: :clap:

Just one question from Artell - Can you tell me why I never got the job in January if I interviewed so well🤔

I think I believed Artell would have been the right call in January - he has experience of the lower leagues as a player and had worked with a similar set-up at Crewe with success.  You'd like to think we could do a better version of Crewe, and that we'd be able to have a bit of experience brought in now as well.  He seems to tick enough boxes to be given a go.

I agree Robert he does tick all the boxes and I would be pleased if he got the job failing that I wouldn't be surprised if Michael Flynn was the preferred choice.

I’d be more than happy with Artell or Flynn. I seem to remember hoping for Flynn after Clem took over

Just catching up on this thread. Interesting article on Artell posted by Audrey a day or so back.
If Artell has realised he took on far too much at Crewe and now understands he needs to leave so many things to others to manage why would he come to Swindon ? The poor management set up at Crewe he mentions seems very similar to the one we now have at Swindon.
If he is offered the job here I guess he will also be given a broom to stick up his ass !!!

Not the case…


I thought it woulda been him too.

Announcement could be as soon as today apparently?

Does look like I was wrong with regards to Artell though.

(Sorry all)

So far I’ve had 4 people tell me they’re convinced they know who the new manager is and no 2 of them have the same name. It’s quite funny actually, I love this part of the process, all the rumours and names.

It's sounds like a straight choice between the Cowley Brothers and Michael Flynn and no I'm not in the know😆

I’d heard that Clem wanted Flynn before Garner got the job, but I believe at the time he was still at Newport and we wouldn’t pay the compensation
.

Whether that means anything or not, who knows

Either way sooner rather than later would be more beneficial for all concerned.

I don't care if county are 2-0 down.

I'd rather shove knitting needles up my pee hole while watching the coronation on loop than have Luke Williams back

I understand that’s called sounding. Watching the coronation on a loop makes you a Tory.

Good lord, does it. I couldn't find one left to ask in Swindon

Luke Garrard anybody?

Grim stuff

Well among your lefty acolytes I’m not surprised. Try casting your net a little further.

My choice tbh.

I’d give him a go, someone that seems to be on the up and seems to get a team well drilled on limited resources. The numbers are literally falling off the Boreham players shirts which shows how limited their budget must be.

Notts County, look like Swindon, all passing and no quality around the box.

Boreham Wood resort to hoofing the ball away and barely touching the ball and trying to score on the counter.

Not exactly an exciting advertisment for football this game.

I'm no big fan, but he does seem to get the big results.

I think Luke Garrard would have been a good appointment last Summer instead of Lyndsey but can't see Clem taking a chance on another inexperienced manager at this level.

Garrard does like to get his teams playing with the "dark arts". Chalk and cheese with a Williams teams today. FWIW I wouldnt want either of these as manager, one extreme to the other.

Is there much of difference in standard? I notice they have the best defence in the national league average less than a goal a game which suggests he knows how to set up a team.

In experience? He's literally in the play offs in the league below and faced several league teams in cup runs. The reality is, it isn't a huge jump.

Possibly not but a bigger team which we are comes with more expectation and maybe the owner doesn't want to take the risk again.

I don’t see how it’s any more of risk than going for anyone that’s already failed at this level? In fact surely that’s more of a risk as there’s already a track record?

The difference in standard isnt that much TBH between our league and the Conference but my god this Boreham wood side are not exciting to watch. They set up like Harrogate or a Cowley team, massive players with 2 quick strikers who counter attack. It would be a massive culture shock and we do not have one player in our team that would be able to play the way "Wood" set up.

I'm not disputing what you're saying but it's Clem you have to convince as he's had his fingers burn twice already.
Anyway I thought the position had been filled pending an announcement😀

seems a bit direct. but if it got us up. m

A bit? :D

My worry is that if we did appoint him or someone similar then we would need at least 12 or 13 new players to suit the style and get rid of every player we have almost without being able to keep any, bar maybe FBT.

I’d be delighted with that.

Which is possibly why Artell fits more.

TBF, we are probably going to need that many new players anyway, the difference being most of them would need to be starters.

Sold.

Throwing a name out there.
Steve Cotterill looks set to leave Shrewsbury.

I’d snap your hands off for him.

Our mate Ryan Whelan reporting it’s Flynn.

I wouldn't, always comes across as a bit of a Whiney prick (a bit like Morris).
That said, I'd rather have him than Evans

Still not sure how much truth his articles are, most the time they're either clickbait or stating the obvious. Guess we'll see if he still has a source in the club or whether he's talking shite

I'd be disappointed with Flynn. Got to be honest.

Flynn had his best spell when he had Lenny Lawrence as his director of football. Been shit without him.

Underwhelmed.

Same as Trollope. Show’s importance of the football man in DoF positions

Any chance Lawrence is coming with him?

Coterill would be a good choice just to piss off the Bristol City fans but his health hasn't been the best since he had Covid so wouldn't be surprised if he's getting out of management for the foreseeable future.

This seems a complete U-turn. A desperate attempt from Clem to get out of this league.

We don't have the players for Flynn. We are stuck with tippy tappy contracted players.

Can you imagine Mceachran and Cain under him?

Does anybody see how this can possibly work?

If its flynn expect nothing different next season.

That’s unlike you.

I mean, it will almost certainly be different. Possibly not any *better* but very different.

Does anybody actually know🤣

Just an inspired manager signing at this level to get the fans excited for the new season coming and  fans back in the ground. :eek:

Some will never be happy!

direct hoof ball then. :(

Like Jody Morris was?

Honestly who would you pick?

meh

https://therealefl.co.uk/2023/05/07/exclusive-swindon-town-set-to-unveil-new-manager/ (https://therealefl.co.uk/2023/05/07/exclusive-swindon-town-set-to-unveil-new-manager/)

edit: oh, late to the party.

seems a weird one to me. Just don't have the players to play what I have seen of his style.

still, got to suck it and see

Who would be your choice though, who realistically can we go get that is much better?

After a bit of thought, I could live with Flynn getting the job. His Newport team may not have been great on the eye but they were battling and organised and as we’ve seen, that gets teams promoted in this division over the “total football” teams we’ve attempted to go up with.

Fuck sake. Flynn is probably the worst appointment we could make

In fairness, what do we have the players for?
Because they don’t seem very good at anything.

We all knew we needed a fair few new players in the summer, appointing a manager that knows the league to over see that is a good thing.

When he was at Newport he was linked with Bristol Rovers and Plymouth so couldn't have been that bad. As for Wallsall we don't know what restraints he may have been under.

True.

Who's he taken up?

you tell me.

Clark or artell are the realistic on paper ones. but I suspect we have fucked off artell and no idea on Clark
--+--+

as I said, I'll suck it and see. Doesn't excite but neither did Wellens

Try telling Charlie Austin that us appointing a manager that gets the ball in the box at the first opportunity is a bad thing, I bet he would disagree.

If we go 4-4-2 next season, and go more direct getting balls into him and one other, I’m more than happy.

I can't tell you who you should want :D

Gunningball

The end of the tippy tippy shit for sure  :clap:

well I've named 2

Think that’s a silly comment without looking at the context. I’m not saying I’m 100% convinced he’ll take us up or that he’s my first choice but he’s a manager who’s experienced League 2, almost got Newport out of it on a shoestring budget and is a different direction to what we’re trying that isn’t working albeit the Walsall job is a question mark on him. I personally don’t mind a less attractive style if it brings wins, total football and wins would obviously be nice but we’ve seen plenty of teams get out of this division by simply being well drilled and organised and that’s what I remember from his Newport sides.

That being said, I’m not sure how some of our lightweight players will get on with his style or if he’ll adapt to fit them in.

His 1 good season at Newport he was overseen by the very experienced Lennie Lawrence, when Lawrence left for Stevenage their results and perfomances went to pot. At Walsall he didnt have a DoF to oversee things.

If he is appointed then I will back him until he proved otherwise, but he is not and never has been my 1st choice as manager.

OK Batch

More like "Gunn Ho".

Quite funny how people have an issue with Flynn due to his team at Newport. If they played the ‘right way’ and got to two PO finals, I’m sure people would be somewhat excited by his appointment, but just because his side dared to have a bit of fight and ‘bully’ teams, his achievements are disregarded. Who’s to say he will come here and play hoofball anyway? He merely played to his team’s strengths at Newport, under a team he inherited which suited their pitch, hence their strong home record under him.

Not saying he is a guaranteed success here but turning up our nose just because his team’s at Newport played some conventional L2 football is laughable

Sheridan is available

Bit unfair JJ. Kept them up against the odds, 2 play off finals and then kept Walsall up too when he took over there

On a pitch with no grass😀

He has taken up the same amount of teams Richie Wellens had when he joined us.

Therefore,not a silly comment.

It's the whole rip it all up and start again thing that worries me. Especially when the majority of our squad are under contract.

It's not even THAT bad. We've scored the same amount of goals as Stevenage and Leyton Orient. Our problem is keeping them out. We just needed a couple of Macdonald esque centre halves and a couple who can tackle in midfield and we'd be there or there abouts. Especially considering everybody has a year of EFL experience now under their belt.

Saying he’s the worst appointment we could make is probably up there though. He at least ticks some boxes that we’re looking for

Yet when Wellens took over, he had managed less than 1 season else where. You can't put the two of them in the same category.

You can - our fans moaned about him too!

I don’t think appointing a manager who has had a team in the play offs twice in the last 4/5 years is a bad appointment.

He’s also had a couple of good cup runs.

I agree with this view completely.

Managers can also learn and adapt so his style may adjust over time.

My main concern with this next appointment is that we over correct from this season and go to direct and boring. (A lot of fans seem to want direct non passing football judging from this forum). Just because SDM/JM/SL were rubbish, doesn't mean it was the wrong approach. See Wellens. We shall see.

Artell got a team promoted that puts him above Flynn for me.

Flynn it is.

Which boxes?

What's ironic is he's quite pally with Lindsey!

I'm sure i remember there being something with Wellens as well

Small football world!

Just need to accept it and get on with it.
50 / 50 with me but in all fairness no stand out candidates.

Just looked back at Walsall's games before January last season. Even when they were on a good run, they'd have less than 40% of the ball. And relied on Johnson for goals.

Then Johnson was recalled and they completely went to shit.

Yes I know possession doesn't win games but that's one of the few things we can actually do. Take passing away from us and we're national league bound with this squad.

Experience of the league
Play off finishes in 2 of last 4 seasons.
FA Cup runs (3rd and 5th round) in 2 of the last 4 seasons

That's still not enough 🤣

No issue with Flynn. Big issue with Flynn + this squad. Total overhaul required.

100% this for me Duke. For every candidate there will be reason to doubt, i am glad we have at least gone for a manager who has experience of the league

Even fucking better  :)

Hatswell number two ?

Has it been confirmed anywhere or still heresy 

Agree that an overhaul is now needed, however I’m convinced we could get Pep in and he would struggle to get anything out of the current squad, therefore not too concerned with an overhaul being needed. Yes, not ideal, but out of every squad we’ve had in the past few seasons (barring the dreadful 20/21 season) this is the squad most in need of an overhaul.

Experienced at league 2 level, capable of putting together a competitive side and a different direction to where we are.

As I said, wouldn’t have been my first choice but if the rumours are to be believed that it was out of Artell, Cowleys and Flynn then all come with their own degrees or risk for varying reasons and where we are right now, I’m not sure who we could attract that didn’t have that.

Wouldn’t have minded Artell but he had the risk of only one prior job and as has been mentioned before could potentially have gotten lucky with a good crop of players coming through the academy at one time. Wouldn’t mind either of Cowleys or Flynn, certainly not going to be snobby on playing style and hold that against them as we’ve seen that it can get results, however both have blots on their records from prior job and there’s the risk of our current squad not being set up to play like that at all and needing ripping up (not that I’m against that).

So there’s risk factors to beat any of the options with if they were to get the job if you really wanted to. It’s fair enough to note those risks but to label any of them as “worst appointment we could make” is a bit of a stretch I’d say. Plenty of worse options about.

To be fair the same was true of Ossie, except he just trusted the same players to play.

We all thought that we needed to add a couple of big Center Backs, a tough tackler in midfield & a big striker anyway.

Looking back in time how many managers have the majority really been happy with!

Experience of never getting out of the league!

How many seasons without getting promoted before your experience means fuck all is the question? I'm being harsh there for sure, i know he got to the PO twice with Newport. But you get the point.

Yes mate. As you know though that could change in 20 minutes :cry:

We have to be realistic though. What are the alternatives and also look at who he got there with. He also managed to turn a very technical player like Twine into something special as well

Did worse than us this season. Name a realistic worse appointment

It's a great point tbf as i think it even DiCanio a lot didnt want.

One thing this appointment does show, is the club have learnt some lessons with regards to the whole academy/youth approach.

Hatswell's coming home😀

Who would be your choice out of interest

Are you advocating that ITKers should be burnt at the stake. :)

Unsure on this logic. Orient and Stevenage did worse than us last season with their current managers. Does not mean a whole lot. Hardly had a team of world beaters at Walsall

Plenty have done poorly with us and gone on to do better elsewhere, as I said, no guarantees here, just don’t buy that it’s as bad as you’re making out. Again though, if you’re determined to be against something then you’ll find any stick to beat it with.

I think Hoddle is the stand out choice but most of the others including Wellens were met with negative comments.

 :clap:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EndqhHJx-Ko&pp=ygUUZnVuZXJhbCBweXJlIHRoZSBqYW0%3D

Well that's fair enough. But the majority of our fans have been banging on about how boring our football has been. Flynn is an unsuccessful manager and his style of football is awful in my opinion.

Maybe a manager with a bit of experience might know more than one way to play football.  Who knows.  Not every manager we've had have been all about the strict credo of pass pass pass.  Wellens was a little more direct.  Di Canio was a little more direct.  Both of them still played football.  But we seem to have had a few managers who have just insisted on pass pass pass and when that doesn't work, pass it back and pass it some more.  I'd argue that when premier league clubs are doing it, it doesn't make for exciting football.  When limited footballers do it its pretty frustrating as it rarely end in any end product.

I think we have been desperate for a little bit of a plan B.  Perhaps someone with pace where we can play behind the defence for the player to run on to.  Or even maybe someone we can hit it up to and they can maybe hold it up and bring in other players.  Maybe we can have that and still play some football as well?

God knows what Morris was going for.  There seemed to be no defining idea.  God knows whats going to happen with the next bloke.  But lets face it it cant be much worse than this season has been.

Well. I don't really have one but I just feel that Flynn would not be good for us.

No complaints from me. Managers aren’t unsuccessful at a club before they even start.

Ffs, give the bloke a chance. We’re L2 bottom feeders. Anyone mentioned in this thread would have had negative comments - yet unable to give an opinion on who would be better.

People need to wind their necks in a bit.

#fickleasfuck

I did wonder about our previous managerial appointments, the last three managers we have appointed that had previously won promotion are, Sheridan, Brown & Flitcroft.

I'm not sure that anyone would be happy with another one of those

I said it would be Flynn on the night that Morris went, purely down to the fact that Clem had made it clear in the past that he admired his work, and IMO no coincidence that he pulled the ripcord on Morris just after Flynn got his marching orders at Walsall.

Fun fact - I played alongside Wayne Hatswell in a few games, and used to play regularly with his uncle? Bob Henshall (father of Alex)

There is a difference between being direct in style and out & out hoofball.
Not convinced that Flynn is as inclined to the latter as some are fretting about.
He did try and change the style of play once a new pitch was in place at Newport.

It could be said that both of our last two promotion winning sides were direct in terms of minimising risk at the back and trying to play the football in the opponent's half.
Yes the squad will need some remodelling for sure regardless of who the next manager / head coach is.

I respect your views Adje but we're in a bit of a mess at the moment so I would rather an experienced manager take the reigns than another academy coach and if it is confirmed tomorrow/this week Clem needs commending for reacting so quickly enabling Flyn time to rebuild & plan over the summer.

Yes I agree. No more academy coaches. But that doesn't mean Flynn in

No they don't. They can unwind their necks as much as they want. It's a forum

hardly a shock some people will be excited, some dread the appointment, some in-between.

its not like we aren't doing it every 6 months.

We’ll be having the same conversation within 18 months if not sooner. Whoever it is, they’ll either be good and move on or shit and sacked.

We change managers almost as often as the country changes Prime Ministers :)

Forums are to express opinions. Fine if people don’t rate Flynn - but not to have an opinion who they think would be a good alternative is just being negative for negative’s sake. It’s

I'm not sure you need to know what the answer is, to have the opinion that the person being appointed isn't it.

To me the problem comes when you (the fans) don't give the new manager a chance.

Oh is it? All right then . Ryan Mason. Lee Bowyer....

And our last few have been about as much use

And I don't buy that "Flynn made Twine a better player". He was a good player before he went there. That was down to us and our balls up (Wellens if I remember correctly)

Spot on for me.

Had he moved deeper into midfield from striker before he went there? Can’t remember but that was really the making of him, his assist tally’s have been as impressive as his goals imo.

He probably instilled confidence in him by playing him and telling what potential he had. One thing for sure is he never played hoofball whilst he was there and have a feeling Flynn changed Newports style from the season previous.

Don't think Flynn would be good. Reminds me of the Flitcroft appointment.

Why was he sacked at walsal.

Well,all season he was below us and according to most fans,we were shit!

1 win in 20.

But before the usuals jump up and down that's simply a statement of fact. I've no idea on circumstances that lead there

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/sport/football/65324502.amp (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/sport/football/65324502.amp)

cant wait to the new season starts.

As long as we don't get anymore Wallsall shite players!

He also got Newport into the playoffs.

Just got to roll with it and see

Perfectly happy if it’s Flynn. Not a youth coach. A pragmatist, who knows the league. He’ll have a shortlist of players to go for. He”ll understand that we need bricks at the back, and some spark higher up. Of course he played long ball at Newport - look at the pitch! Speaks well. One of the best records we could realistically hope for at the moment. Let’s get behind him - IF this is true.

 :clap: :clap:

Had Flitcroft been able to work out how to win at the CG then that team would have been top 3. No doubts.
Played some good stuff away, absolutely hopeless at home.

Home form is the first thing that the new manager will have to fix if we are to stand a chance of autos.

I don’t believe there are any stand out candidates. In addition with where we are right now the choice of Manager will have a massive split.
Whatever the choice we have to get behind it.

Lost a massive amount of love for the Club right now, completely fucked off with it.
Despite that continued to watch the shite every game.

I need a break from it, come August will be raring to go again despite continued concerns who is behind the scenes.

Why are you completely fucked off? This season has been disappointing but we've had plenty of those previously. Don't think the playing squad needs a complete overhaul which would be v.expensive given the number of players on 2 year deals.

Not wishing to answer for someone else, but the dull and uninspiring football this season probably hasn’t helped.

It’s also the fact that we haven’t built on a playoff appearance last season, it feels like a giant step backwards

Quite.

I fucking loathe the modern day football narrative that football is a binary choice between tippy tappy don't dare pass it over ten yards and pass the thing in to the net and being Wimbledon 1988 bully boys who completely bypass the midfield.

It fucking isn't. Our Di Canio team were a good passing side, yet were direct. There is a middle ground.

Well that is worse than Morris who had a pretty shite set of circumstances himself.

Because the season before all was needed was a decent number nine and we would be in league one.
This season a complete fucking load of shite and I’ve watched the lot. We have gone backwards, squad imbalanced and wouldn’t be upset to see the back of any of them.

ignore me, I’m just grumpy because I hate League Two and another year older.
The miles just feel longer, the grounds in the main are woeful, atmosphere at home a library.

Up the Town 😂🥊

I see one of Whelan’s friends has tweeted a list of 5 possible signings assuming Flynn is the new manager

Liam Kinsella – Walsall
Danny Johnson – Mansfield Town
Anthony Hartigan – Mansfield Town
Matty Stevens – Forest Green Rovers
Cameron Norman – Newport County

Johnson would make a lot of sense if Austin and Jephcott don't stay, not sure he'd be the obvious partner for either though.

Artell out of the names mentioned.

Why don’t you ever expand on what you think is going on behind the scenes?

Gotta love our fan base. We’re all fed up of this shit boring tippy tappy playing out from the back footy. Clem looks to have gone with the direct approach now there’s people moaning about being longball. If we score more goals and get promoted that’s good enough for me!

 :nod:

I’ve said it before, I’d take a management team of Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr if it got us out this fucking league.

Jamal Matt

Why don’t the Trust ask the questions?

I’m asking you, why don’t you tell us what you think is going on?

Would take that right now.

Probably because whenever anyone does they get shouted down and ridiculed by others. Things clearly are not all rosy at the club and Clems honeymoon is well and truly over. We are set to finish as low in the football pyramid for as long as I can remember. As a club we should only be focused on getting the club into league one, not pissing about with Karachi debacle for example.

Then say nothing at all, rather than talking in riddles or dropping hints.

I remain concerned as to who is running the club and knowing history behind those that are running it.

So who do you believe it may be?
Standing? Power? Zav? A.N Other?

I’m still not entirely convinced that Power isn’t involved somewhere still.

He is long gone.

In that case, who is still left Standing from the ancien regime?

Only the left hate mob.

I believe so but depends on when you draw the line.
Notwithstanding everyone was in it together, all Mates, until one decided to dip into the holiday fund alone.

Xavier 'guest' Austin too?

No prizes for guessing who that was.

And Powers platinum security thugs......for some weird reason.

So assuming it is Flynn, he has not been for playing a 'football' style, liking to go more direct, we are a club that has traditionally played football (ok some managers have over-played) I wonder if the new manager will be asked to play more of a football style than go more direct style, or somewhere in between ?

I hope that all he is asked is to get us out this league, I don’t care how, just get us out.

Somewhere in between for the love of god.

Ironically that was Gunningball for a few games.

With a big bonus incentive if he achieves it next season😀

Newport played decent stuff in his last season - the 2021 playoff semi v FGR was brilliant entertainment.

Flynn needs a promotion on his CV so will be hungry.

He schooled Wellens at the CG in our promotion winning season.

If it is him, there's more than enough to be optimistic about. The rest is guesswork and time well tell etc

I was going to say the same thing. I remember the incredulity when Twine went there that he'd never be able to fit into their way of playing, only for their way of playing to be very different to the season before(when they were horrible but effective). Wouldn't have been my first choice but I'll take just about anything for a bit of success at this point, so if it's him then good luck to him however he wants to set us up.

I understand your sentiment but. Assuming he gets the gig and has us up with a new squad of fucking blood, gut, and hoofball cloggers. You’d be happy? Because the season after in L1 we’d need something a little more refined. Now before you or anyone else gets their g string in a twist my post is a bit tongue in cheek.

Right now, we need to get out this league. I will worry about league 1 when it gets to it.

You’ll worry? You’re not paying the bills..

I’m not sure League One is the far away, different level, total football division some seem to think it is.
It’s a garbage league like L2 just the next one up.

Either way - it’s about winning games, how: does not, has not and never will matter, ever.

Do you go to matches? I don’t fucking care either way, just wondered.

Rarely these days but still do go.

Plenty of seasons of 30-40 games in my younger days.

i love it when we get a manager and I can see the long term potential in the appointment.

its not a good way to look at it but yes i want more than just league 2 and even league 1.

could i see us pushing to league 1 promotion with flynn in charge. nope

am i sick to death of league 2, the shitty teams, grounds, fans and attendances. 100%

i guess if flynn can do the latter its a start. 

i say it every managerial appointment we make, it doesn't matter who we get, what their record is. there is no exact science. managers will work wonders at some clubs and awful at others. doncaster, salford and oldham fans with have quite different opinions to wellens compared to swindon and leyton orient. 

How many this season?

3

Lucky you.

Perhaps.
Got to see Gunningball though - so in that aspect, lucky.

Your honesty shall not go unrewarded. I’ve bought a ST for next season. The stipulation is you have to go to each game without fail.

Doesn't your second point (which I agree with) cancel out your first?

I could easily see us going bang-bang to the championship with Flynn. If Nathan Jones can get Luton there, Flynn could too. Equally it could be a write off!

100% it does, just depends on what i want more i guess. in reality are we going to find that manager, probably not so if he gets us out of league 2 then I guess I will have to accept it. If we struggle in league 1 and he gets the boot we can then look again.

The positive is he's not a very "trendy" manager type. So even if he did well with us next season he is unlikely to get poached.

I've heard number will either be his distance relative Bobblethrob or his cousin Tightskull  :pint:

Will be chuffed to billy-o with Flynn. Proper manager, has his own identity, it’s what we need

Surely he'd only be a Caretaker Manager though...

Very clever.

Flynn confirmed by club

Cheers Tans, informative as always.

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2023/may/club-statement-a-message-from-clem-morfuni-on-the-manager-front/

I'm very pleased that we've got someone in place so quickly after two protracted appointments previously. Flynn's football hasn't always been great in the past, and the Walsall spell was pretty poor, but Newport was much more positive. I'm certainly happy to give him a chance to succeed here, and he certainly looks like a break away from the academy football we've seen, which is welcome. Let's hope he does brilliantly.

We are Flynny's Red and White Army.

Gonna be a massive backlash when Mad Gav gets us an 8-0 win today…

You have to say that's perfect timing to get ready for next season so no excuses for not being ready.

Also, just to add - first

FLYNN OUT

At some stage in the future that will be relevant🤣

Happy with this appointment and glad it was done relatively quickly

Agree with this. Good luck Mike

Good luck Mike and well done Clem for getting a new manager in so quickly

Have a good feeling about this one.
So new manager search in October it is then!

Welcome & good luck Michael, great opportunity if you can get it right.

A manager with experience of this league, appointed within a week, and with a solid track record at this level.  Thank goodness we have a whole summer to find new things to moan about ;-).

Take the time at Walsall out of the equation and I think most would be positive about this appointment.  Seems like there were plenty who felt he was hard done by at Walsall with losing loan players and lots of injuries impacting since Jan.  Frankly, I don't care what style of football we play next season, I just want out of this God awful division (preferable into League One, not the Conference by the way!!)

I see he has bought Swindon born, former Oxford United player and scorer of comical own goal Wayne Hatswell with him.

Wow, I was expecting one next month. Fair play.

The removal of Morris must have been in the offing for a while with Flynn being employed so quickly.

Wouldn't have been my choice TBH but I will support him and it was done with speed this time, fair play to Clem, he was the man he wanted originally so he has finally got him.

Could be good could be bad but at least he is experienced.

If we get the Good Flynn then we will do well, if we get Walsall Flynn then the exact opposite.

He has had a few good cup runs so hopefully he will make us more of an obstacle in the cups than we have been in the last 10 years.

Good luck Mike and heres to a successful future at Swindon.

Clem is a sickening ITK-er.  

Won't believe the Flynn rumour till I see the scarf over the head pic.

I dunno, he was only sacked by Walsall 2 weeks ago. Although with 1 win in 20 games the writing must have been on the wall for a while.

Said similar in other thread but it’s a stable appointment and it’s sad that’s the thought process we have as Swindon fans in League 2 but it’s where we are. His stock was really high imo at Newport, real limited sources yet was always competitive. Done a proper job on us home and away in the wellens season. Changed it up in one season at Newport and was playing some real decent football (Twine was probably the reason for that but hey). Didn’t work out at Walsall but fucking hell we ain’t gonna get someone who’s had 2 promotions back to back are we in our current form. Oh, and Flynn’s a proper fucking bloke so I don’t expect us to be a team full of lightweight  weasels next season. Hes been in League 2 last 6 years- he’ll know what’s needed and I’d like to think he already knows who/what he wants.

Need to add a football man into the hierarchy now.

Let’s fucking go Flynn 🚀

Broadly underwhelmed but can see it is a solid appointment.

Impressed by the speed of it, so no excuses for Flynn in terms of preseason planning (#fatigued) and getting players in.

Big positives: current and competent, knows the League, knows our team within reason having played us multiple times, likely has a list of targets already. Can hit the ground running, unlike Morris who piled in like someone trying to land on their first parachute jump.

1 win in 20.... fuck that's worse than Morris's track record.

Just hope he can turn this all this around.

True but I think Wellens had a similar record at Doncaster with just a 23% win ratio before he was sacked and appointed Orient manager and we know how that ended up this season.

With managers it is horses for courses, some managers fit teams and some teams fit managers.

I hope Flynn fits us.

Just met him in the car park, at least we’ve appointed somebody quickly and given him a chance to build a squad in the off season

Did you chit chat?

Garners record was shit at Rovers
Wellens was poor at Oldham

When will our fans learn sometimes it just doesn’t work at some clubs. We aren’t going to get a manager in who’s just got a team promoted, unfortunately.

It’s steady, he’s been around long enough to know what’s needed, he’s had 1 bad season in his whole management career

Just said hello and good luck, he said he’s very excited to be here

Unless someone is a serial managerial loser, one or even two duff jobs doesn’t mean anything necessarily.

Sir Alex Ferguson was sacked by St Mirren. He took them to a tribunal and lost, with ruling saying he had "neither by experience nor talent, any managerial ability at all".

Firstly well done to Clem for acting so quickly and decisively and getting the man he feels is the best for the job so quickly. Definitely showing more joined up thinking than what happened in the summer. Obviously the removal of Sandro is equally, if not more important.

As for Flynn, he did pretty well overall at Newport, some exciting cup runs, getting into the play offs etc. Walsall wasn't a good spell, but most managers tend to have at least one bogey on the CV. Not totally sure what football Flynn likes to play, don't think it'll be Steve Evansesque but I think it's likely to be more pragmatic.

I'm pretty excited for next season.

As you eluded to earlier the ones who moan never come back with a positive alternative

Clearly.

The main thing is the club have been decisive with the appointment. With our last two, we faffed about and probably didn't give either the best start. Hopefully we can have a strong summer and get our business done nice and early as well, rather than wait for the close of the window.

This. My excitement level has gone from a 2 under Morris to a 7 currently.

I do wonder if there was some sort of get out clause for him or the club at the end of the season

Either way the Flynn contractual stuff has been sorted quickly.

I fucking hope we did, and judging by the previous 5 or 6 games (excluding Wimbledon away) I would think Jodie(y) himself triggered it with some of his tactical decisions and shocking substitutions.

Totally underwhelmed. If he, supposedly, knows what it takes to get out out of this division, why hasn't managed it?
Welcome back murder ball!

Nothing like backing the new manager is there?

Look. We either go down the first time manager/coach route - again - which has proven unsuccessful. Or an experienced manager who has flaws. We’re in L2. What else do you expect?

Probably Alex Ferguson.

There's no pleasing some🤣

: :beers:

Hodgetts saying Mike Flynn will be introduced to the crowd at half time.

Well, he's here and I will back him and the team 100%.

I wasn't a fan of Jodie Morris as a person, but felt he could bring something fresh to the club. There was potential there and I thought he should have been given a transfer window with his contacts. I sincerely hope Flynn does well, but he has achieved nothing (that doesn't mean he wont) in this league and his football is basic. Just my opinion!

For me it’s a very meh appointment but after the profile of Morris I think a ‘meh’ appointment is exactly what we needed.

Minus his last 20 games at Walsall he’s generally done a solid job in this division previous which is more than can be said for most of our most recent managers.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned with his Walsall record and their fans comments, but at the end of the day Clem has sacked the spiv and appointed an actual football manager (and not a youth coach) quickly and decisively. A lot of what I wanted there even if it is underwhelming.

Can do fuck all but back him now and hope for the best.

I can now say I played with and against our Assistant Manager in the playground as a kid.  If we can entice Jimmy Fraser to take the Technical Director role then we can have three of my School Team's connections involved, with Minturn being the son of Andy who was in the same school team as Wayne and Jimmy.

I'm pretty happy with it. There was a lot of clamour for him before Garner, he did pretty well tweaking Newport's style once they had a football pitch installed at their ground and before that built a side to play to the conditions.

Just listened to Flynn live on the radio......well impressed, can't wait to get going, hairs stood up on the back of his neck with the reception he got from the fans, already looking at players, some great talent here which needs some experience to go with what we've got, massive club and likes to play football if he has the right players even though set pieces are important.

Needs a decent DoF with him imo. Not a Sandro type either.

Still have haunting memories of the football he had Newport playing. That game at their place a few seasons ago was horrific, the worst football I've ever seen any team play.

The one positive for me is that he should have the full Summer and pre season to get working. No last minute scrambling for players like the last few years hopefully.

Tbf, I’m sure the cabbage patch they had as a pitch dictated how they had to play.

Flynn has a really good opportunity to put his mark on this club.
All supporters are now just desperately trying to get success
A young team that needs a different approach than Lindsay and Morris gave them.
MF will clearly see Town need 4 or 5 experienced players that will be the backbone of the club.
GK CH big holding CF and a junior Anthony Grant.
Try to keep Austin and Williams.
Job done.

Williams is as good gone and I suspect Austin could be too although less sure on that.

Definitely need a hard nasty bastard like Grant but not past it to play with our smaller technical midfielders like Cain rather than just littering the midfield with all the same type of player.

Williams is moving on then... that's a shame

We will see Williams back here next season, just playing for Wrexham.

Pep.

CA has said he’d be ok to stay, need a coffee and a few choccie hob jobs with Flynn to discuss things.

Flynn said more in 3 minutes to impress me than 3 months from Morris. For once we might have proper pre season without a squad cobbled together a week before the season starts.

I thought Morris was quite at talking, the tactical analysis side anyway, it was just the matches that tended to go wrong.

As with our previous eighty three managers, I will give him at least until the second friendly before I make up my mind whether he will be good for us!

Have to say he has the lower league experience that so many of us fans say we need and just trust he can put that type of knowledge to the squads benefit. The old roller coaster ride of STFC is ongoing.

Really impressed with Flynn at half time and a really good opportunity to build a rapport with the fans which the last 3 managers have failed at.

Also apparently morris called Austin into his office last week and said he’s not in his plans and austin walked out laughing because he’d already signed a new contract so knew morris must be off  :girlgiggle:

Im not sure this reflects well on the club, the hierarchy or anyone involved. Chaotic, unprofessional and suggests again that Morris was being shafted.

Very much this, came across really well

As long as we don't lose 2-0 to Supermarine and he says, "I'm very pleased with that as I wanted to see us 'playing fatigued'"

I literally had no idea what the cunt was talking about and any goodwill I had towards SL evaporated at that point...

 :clap:

Who's to say the new manager wont be more keen to keep Williams and offer him a better deal? If it's up to him that is. Or is that too optimistic?

Anything is possible especially if Austin doesn't stay

Same here.
Words I know but a decent start to introduce yourself to a downbeat fanbase.
Unbelievable 10,000 to watch a league two game with nothing to play for.

I don't like that he referred to us as "you lot." Total lack of respect. I'm writing a shit-o-gram to the Trust as we speak and I want it to be the first question asked in the Fan Forum or I'll cancel my season ticket. Disgusted.

Yeah, Morris talked a good game, for me.

Although apparently that was all our fault, according to Scott Lindsey.



For fuck sake.  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

One of the available managers that we've been talking about all week that have got out of this division on multiple occasions perhaps?

Multiple? Who’s that?

Clarke I would imagine

Clarke? Who the fuck’s that?

Darrell

Ah, of course. The dog wanker

🤣🤣

I thought Flynn came across very well and he got a good reception in Hospitality.

Graham Alexander's got a couple of promotions, a league one play off semi final, and European qualification with Motherwell in his record as well. Why Motherwell sacked him after 1 season I don't know.

He would have been my choice from the roughly gettable available managers’ pool.

Very solid managerial record and a playing career that says “professional.” Over 1,000 career appearances.

So, an entire season without a goal from a corner. Hope Flynn can change that dreadful stat.

One name nobody mentioned is Paul Cook although currently doing a good job at Chesterfield

Really? I could have sworn we scored one but buggered if I can find it.

maybe it was last year🤣

You need commanding centre halfs to get goals from corners & set pieces hence why we conceded so many!

FBT had one disallowed at one of the home games I went to earlier in the season.

maybe it was that

Anyone see Michale Flynn on BBC Points West earlier🤔 Really warming to the guy!

For those that read TheAthletic I found this article that talks about Flynn during his time at Newport.

https://theathletic.com/2093112/2020/10/01/newport-county-league-cup-behind-the-scenes/

Does anybody want to be an absolute gent and copy paste the article here?

Paywall

Not anymore ;)

https://archive.ph/8jyvR

Thank you

Didn’t know he had Cooper on loan from Swansea when he was at Newport. Can bring him to the CG if he wants.

Any video of this anywhere?

I can't find anything yet Chalkie as points West was live and not yet on iplayer

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001ltzl