Now that Bradford City's future at Valley Parade has been secured, it's time for the second worst secret in football to be unveiled - and the club to announce Peter Jackson as the new permanent successor to Peter Taylor.
This blog has maintained its support for John Coleman, who even now is still being rumoured to be the next man in the Valley Parade hotseat. But it seems certain that City will appoint Jackson on a permanent basis.
Jackson has an indifferent pedigree and his record last season was worse than that of his predecessor Peter Taylor as the club suffered its worst league season since the Sixties. Nevertheless, now that Jackson has been appointed, it's time for everyone at the club to finally pull in the same direction and strive for a longer-term future.
The details of his contract have yet to be announced, but when the club have long-term deals in place with the likes of James Hanson, Steve Williams, Jon McLaughlin, handing out similar terms to Ross Hannah and are trying their best to give more secure futures to other targets, such as that rumoured to be given to Sam Russell at Darlington, playing-wise that is starting to take place.
Stuart McCall was given time though not without its ups and downs, and even he was eventually hamstrung because the club did not budget long-term. Taylor himself was given short shrift and out after just a year. Now is the time for City must lay some solid foundations to avoid a repeat of this summer and no longer make knee-jerk reactions. Give Jackson time and give him the tools to do the job, and importantly club, justice.
Whatever any of us think of Jackson, the past is the past. City must now look to the future properly otherwise there may not be one.
Tuesday 24 May 2011
Future secured; now for the manager
So Bradford City are to stay at Valley Parade after all. There were many fans who believed the threats to leave our home were little more than threats, a bit of sabre-rattling and negotiating through the press. However, there was a real danger of leaving behind Valley Parade - the Bulls, the council and importantly the Football League were all engaged in some way.
While it is only correct for the board to try and negotiate the best deal for City, and they should be applauded for trying to improve our financial situation or even underwrite our future, it has felt unnerving to see this played out in the press. It's not like City have 60,000 fans on a shortlist for a stadium which is far too small. Great grounds of English football, like Highbury, Maine Road, Anfield, all have their price. But Valley Parade's is one steeped in history and emotion, and it's perhaps even been immoral to play this game of high-stakes poker to the full view of the world. The club's very soul is embedded in the ground.
The terms of the deal which have led to City's future at Valley Parade being secure remain unclear. While, City initially pleaded poverty in a bid to reduce the rental agreement on the ground, the solution has been to buy back the offices. We've simply swapped one landlord for another and now further indebted to three chairmen - Gordon Gibb, Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes - through a whole array of negotiations; loans, rental agreements, personal guarantees.
The stories have not gone unnoticed throughout the world of football. They potentially threatened our end of season form and turned a tiny threat of relegation into a battle. And they have certainly put off potential successors to Peter Taylor. Having signed one coveted striker though, in Ross Hannah, it's clear there are individuals who believe in the club's future.
Now it is up to the board to appoint the right permanent manager. There are good candidates, average candidates and poor candidates. This blog continues to nail its colours to John Coleman's mast. He has done a tremendous job at Accrington Stanley with limited resources and has huge potential. But whoever that man eventually is needs to be given full backing, time and resources to get the job done and done right.
While it is only correct for the board to try and negotiate the best deal for City, and they should be applauded for trying to improve our financial situation or even underwrite our future, it has felt unnerving to see this played out in the press. It's not like City have 60,000 fans on a shortlist for a stadium which is far too small. Great grounds of English football, like Highbury, Maine Road, Anfield, all have their price. But Valley Parade's is one steeped in history and emotion, and it's perhaps even been immoral to play this game of high-stakes poker to the full view of the world. The club's very soul is embedded in the ground.
The terms of the deal which have led to City's future at Valley Parade being secure remain unclear. While, City initially pleaded poverty in a bid to reduce the rental agreement on the ground, the solution has been to buy back the offices. We've simply swapped one landlord for another and now further indebted to three chairmen - Gordon Gibb, Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes - through a whole array of negotiations; loans, rental agreements, personal guarantees.
The stories have not gone unnoticed throughout the world of football. They potentially threatened our end of season form and turned a tiny threat of relegation into a battle. And they have certainly put off potential successors to Peter Taylor. Having signed one coveted striker though, in Ross Hannah, it's clear there are individuals who believe in the club's future.
Now it is up to the board to appoint the right permanent manager. There are good candidates, average candidates and poor candidates. This blog continues to nail its colours to John Coleman's mast. He has done a tremendous job at Accrington Stanley with limited resources and has huge potential. But whoever that man eventually is needs to be given full backing, time and resources to get the job done and done right.
Saturday 21 May 2011
Welcome back
Two goals from Peter Beagrie - one a controversial penalty and the second was followed by a vital sending off for John Hartson - and one from Dean Windass all but nailed the final nail into Wimbledon's coffin. The Wombles had bombed, while Bradford City, thanks to a single John Dreyer goal at Sunderland, had suddenly found their feet. Two weeks later, a single goal by David Wetherall and Southampton's demolition of Wimbledon, saw City stay up at Wimbledon's expense.
It ended up being a goal that arguably, nearly destroyed both clubs. The two did meet again before The Football League inexpliciably allowed Wimbledon to up sticks and move north. The club was shattered, its history at first divided between its rightful home in London and usurpers from the new town of Milton Keynes which immorally bought a place in the league. Instead, a phoenix club was born.
City's own uncertain path was very different of course. Two courses of administration, false dawns and too many relegations. A history told a million times. AFC Wimbledon's own numerous promotions now see the two teams meet again after the latter won 4-3 on penalties in today's Conference play-off final against Luton Town.
Well done to Wimbledon. Welcome back to The Football League.
It ended up being a goal that arguably, nearly destroyed both clubs. The two did meet again before The Football League inexpliciably allowed Wimbledon to up sticks and move north. The club was shattered, its history at first divided between its rightful home in London and usurpers from the new town of Milton Keynes which immorally bought a place in the league. Instead, a phoenix club was born.
City's own uncertain path was very different of course. Two courses of administration, false dawns and too many relegations. A history told a million times. AFC Wimbledon's own numerous promotions now see the two teams meet again after the latter won 4-3 on penalties in today's Conference play-off final against Luton Town.
Well done to Wimbledon. Welcome back to The Football League.
Saturday 14 May 2011
21st century signing
Speculation remains over the future of the ground, there's still an interim manager in place and season tickets have yet to be put on sale, yet Bradford City today have made their first signing of the summer. Welcome Ross Hannah.
An awful season might have only come to an end five days ago, and suggestions are that a new manager won't be in place until perhaps June, but that has not stopped Peter Jackson lifting some of the gloom and uncertainty by capturing the hitman Hannah. A former Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United trainee, he netted an amazing 52 goals in league and cup last season. Yes, 52. That's three more than our entire team.
News of the signing first came through on Twitter this afternoon only days after Hannah himself had posted on his own account earlier in the week that he was in talks with us and his current side Matlock Town. A number of fans this afternoon posted news of Hannah's signing even before it broke on the official website or in the local press. Twitter has brought fans so much closer to players than in a long time - perhaps since the outset of the Premier League.
But it will be on the pitch we really judge Hannah. Such a phenemonal goalscoring record will give Hannah something to live up to but shows we have bought ourselves an exciting proposition. And Hannah will follow in the footsteps of our better recent signings, all coming from the semi-pro ranks, such as James Hanson, Steve Williams and Dave Syers. Combine that with other recent top-performers like Joe Colbeck and Luke O'Brien from our own youth ranks, and it's easy to see where we should be trying to pick up our talent.
Welcome Ross Hannah. And the very best of luck.
An awful season might have only come to an end five days ago, and suggestions are that a new manager won't be in place until perhaps June, but that has not stopped Peter Jackson lifting some of the gloom and uncertainty by capturing the hitman Hannah. A former Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United trainee, he netted an amazing 52 goals in league and cup last season. Yes, 52. That's three more than our entire team.
News of the signing first came through on Twitter this afternoon only days after Hannah himself had posted on his own account earlier in the week that he was in talks with us and his current side Matlock Town. A number of fans this afternoon posted news of Hannah's signing even before it broke on the official website or in the local press. Twitter has brought fans so much closer to players than in a long time - perhaps since the outset of the Premier League.
But it will be on the pitch we really judge Hannah. Such a phenemonal goalscoring record will give Hannah something to live up to but shows we have bought ourselves an exciting proposition. And Hannah will follow in the footsteps of our better recent signings, all coming from the semi-pro ranks, such as James Hanson, Steve Williams and Dave Syers. Combine that with other recent top-performers like Joe Colbeck and Luke O'Brien from our own youth ranks, and it's easy to see where we should be trying to pick up our talent.
Welcome Ross Hannah. And the very best of luck.
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