Without knowing the ins and outs of every other club in our league I’d guess we’re in a unique position with our Manager and his academy being so deeply entwined in the structure and recent history of the club. During the good times that’s not a problem and indeed has been a benefit with young players coming into the squad, during the less good times, it potentially becomes one - especially if that pipeline of young talent starts to dry up or gets picked off before getting near the first team, with uncertainty as to who benefits in that situation - the club, the academy, or both?
As has been mentioned you get the impression the only way Gavin Rose leaves his role is if he chooses to. And if there’s any appetite for success at the club, eventually that’s going to be a problem. It also makes you wonder what motivation there is for the Manager to succeed in those circumstances - if he’s happy with the way things are going as a whole and doesn’t feel like his position is ever under threat, maybe he’s not that bothered with the current performances and disintegration of form. He certainly doesn’t seem upset on the sidelines.
To anyone pointing to the first half of the season as to what Gavin Rose is capable of at this level, I’d argue that this is the best squad we’ve had for many a year, certainly in his time as Manager. A large portion of the credit for bringing that squad together is with him, no doubt - but slowly but surely they’re getting worse and worse, to the point of the abject recent performances. Which the Manager generally watches from the sidelines in silence, whilst opposition Managers and their teams instruct, encourage, organise. And the players seemingly play with little desire or enthusiasm. The atmosphere around the playing side of the club seems rotten. I’m certain that a lot of the frustration being expressed from fans at the moment would be lessened a bit if we could see the management or the players actually cared and were giving their all to try and get a result.
And as has been pointed out a lot of times this season alone, there seems to be a real reluctance for the Manager and his team to communicate with the fans. Where other clubs at our level are putting out interviews with their Managers immediately after games, updates during the week, confirming players coming in and out, injury updates, whatever the result or circumstance, we’re lucky to get the odd run of two or three games and a couple of minutes of interview, then back to nothing for prolonged periods. It’s beyond the point where, in the absence of any other credible explanation, the only seeming conclusion is that Gavin Rose is choosing to do that.
To those that point to the vast majority of success that Gavin Rose has had during his time at the club, leading us to our best level ever, and his loyalty to the club over the years particularly during the period where we were homeless, that absolutely should not be forgotten. But there comes a point where the present needs to be assessed without the affection for the past colouring that view. Whether we’re at that point now is in the opinion of the individual - but if it’s not now, I think it’s worth asking yourself where that tipping point would be, and what should be done when it’s reached.
I get that the Board have a lot of other things to deal with at the moment, but there’s a part of me that thinks that’s a way to swerve the issue and wait to see if things get better or dissipate over the summer. You also wonder if they’re happy with the current situation, with the crowds of day trippers justifying things in their minds. Accountability seems a little stretched there as well, though, as seen with the whole Crouch / gambling issue remaining unaddressed despite assurances it would be.
And on that count, it doesn't help that if anyone has the temerity to question what the Board are doing, the challenge back is often to ask if you could do better then why not do it yourself or similar, which again shuts down accountability. We can be both exceedingly grateful for everything people who put their time into the club do, and ask questions of them at the same time - if those things can’t co-exist, there’s real danger that the club only ever looks inward, and that’s never a good thing.
As I say, everyone can make up their own minds on where the club is and if it’s a good situation or not - but I think it’s hard to deny that at this point there are questions that should be being asked of the Manager and the Board - and there seems to be little desire from the club to listen to them, let alone provide answers.
