I wouldn't necessarily sack SdM if it was down to me. But I think his role would be much less a primary and public one. He's been a PR nightmare and considering he's worked in that background is piss poor on him.
If anything, his role should probably be complementary and assisting in recruitment. It definitely shouldn't be Head of Recruitment/Technical Director. it's like giving the Head of HR role to an Admin Assistant/Data Processor. Maybe his role should be something like Chief Technical Scout but the way things appear to have been presented and again as it appears that the club is operating in some form of 'skeleton' backroom staff, it just seems like SdM is the main guy when it comes to recruiting.
I genuinely hope that the Brand deal goes through, even if loaning him doesn't sit right with me personally, and that Morris and he can really make a fist of their own targets and largely bypass SdM. That's not to say that SdM won't have his uses but I'd rather him appear as a more minor sum of the parts than one of the more major ones.
It's common sense really isn't it? Use his as a resource to lean on his data WHEN needed. I don't think it/he should be ultimately be relied upon or be directed as the person TO rely upon.
My nagging fear though is that the Ed Brand deal will never officially go through (anything less than 10 games of the season and it'll become a bit of a joke pointless to announce him) and that will not sit well with an already hands-tied-behind-his-back Jody Morris, prompting him to exit at the end of the season. I don't think we've really ever seen many clubs play hardball with the person they've employed to head up the management team in not allowing them the people in they've initially promised.
I'm sure in most cases it's a matter of 'We've got our manager of choice and so they settle in well, let's ensure they can bring in the people they want to work with'. It does beg a question, with possibly some other managers who were interested in the job if this was a stumbling block? I'll use Chris Hughton as an example. It seemed like he wanted to bring in several of his own staff - again, not an uncommon theme in many a business structure, yet it appeared the club wouldn't allow this so Hughton said, thanks but no thanks.
Some things imo, you just don't do on the cheap unless you want a backlash at some point. Senior Management at any industry is just one you don't fuck about with. Especially when they come with an experienced team. Essentially, you're not recruiting for just one person, you're recruiting for a whole team of professionals, whether that be 2, 3, 4, 5 or more. This has been poor from STFC on a professional level and even when they've gone down the more correct route, it appears they've still tried to trim of some of the important bits.
I get that they are trying to bring about more sustainability and profitability but rally they are in the wrong business. Ask anyone who ever bought a boat if they never spent more on it than it was actually worth, just to keep it in the water...football clubs are much the same.
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In transfer news, it does seem the Mariappa deal has drifted and Blewitt seems to be somewhat of a contingency/utility. In all reality though, he could probably be an ideal replacement/upgrade on Ian. That still would leave Town an out and out CB short. I'm wondering if the Andre Wisdom rumours are still valid and Morris can convince him to sign on for the rest of the season?
