PeteG

Looks like a 4-3-3 with McGahey in midfield with Lundstram and Sheron. Dickenson Norwood and Green as a front 3

7 subs today instead of the usual 5 so gives us a few more options.

Or Bunn unless the compromise at board level is that none of them get their preferred choice!!

Where is this new man en route from? Tuesday Tommo walked, that's 2 days now with nobody really taking training in preparation for an important cup tie. Given ST had given the players the day off on Monday it does seem we might be a little unprepared come Saturday especially as one of the coaches currently taking training is unavailable on Saturday due to commitments with another team.

I think there's a pretty good chance he was told he hadn't got the job before he walked don't you?

I remember asking JR at the time why we had sold Redfearn and his answer was "he's a first division player with a 2nd division brain" Redfearn certainly went on to prove him wrong really and I think Joe got that one wrong, i'd have much preferred to keep him and not bring Milligan back from down the M62.

All seems a bit of a mess this. Why tell ST he hasn't got the job until you've got the new man in? We now look like going into an FA Cup tie with an interim for the interim in charge. There's been a split with regards to who the manager should be, it will be 4 weeks on Saturday since Unsworth was sacked. They need to get a grip of the situation and get the new man in asap now. Imo they dithered getting rid of Unsworth and are now compounding the error. Can you be confident they will really get the man the board wants now and if not will he get the support, backing and time Unsworth was afforded? We are in danger of setting up the next man to fail.

Say what you want but there is a split on the appointment at board level and that's not come from Barry Owen as some are suggesting but from members of staff. Reading between the lines, Frank wants to give it ST whilst others don't.

It does appear that there is some kind of split in the camp regarding the appointment of the new manager.

17 in the league, another 4 in cup competitions, 21 in total in 46 games.

I think he'd want more as first team manager, plus a probable upgrade for Muzza too. I don't think the budget will really come into it, it's the most important position to recruit for within a football club and I just don't think the Rothwells will think, aye, let's have him he will save us £20k a year. Just an opinion though of course.

Think McAleny got 17 in a season a few years back.

Not sure why people think giving ST and Redders the job would be the cheap option. I doubt those 2 will be on peanuts and certainly more than say Williamson at Gateshead or Parkinson at Alty.

Funny now the squad isn't good enough etc. etc. What happened to everything behind the scenes being top draw, everything in place which will guarantee success providing we are just a bit patient? All these stats and investment, not quite gone to plan has it? Maybe it's just not as easy as everyone thinks. We need a proper manager in place, who takes responsible for the players he recruits and let him get on with the job of winning football matches. Nobody is really interested whether the players have nice meals after training or we have nice seats for the subs. Just win football matches.

I said before the season started, I wasn't sure that the players we signed were going to be as good as the hype. I could of course still be proven wrong and i hope i am but Willoughby had only done well at a level below, Ward wasn't one of Gateshead's top performers, Lundstram had really only had the 1 good season at Alty and had previously failed to make the grade in League 2. There was a lot of unknowns regarding the majority of the signings, only really Norwood stood out as a marquee signing with Raglan playing a bit part at Cheltenham over the past couple of seasons and possibly on the wane. Hobson is the one signing that has impressed so far. I've previously questioned the amount of staff involved and the recruitment policy and I stand by that. There is no one person who actually takes responsibility for this and that in itself is a problem. The whole thing needs a rethink imo and we must make sure the new manager gets the chance to recruit on his terms.

Agreed but don't worry, it's all ZEN!

That's not what we were told on the pod after they did interviews. @lookersstandandy clearly pointed out that it was a collective decision on transfers.

If ST now knows what we need to bring in why didn't he know in his role as head of recruitment or was it Unsworth who was choosing to ignore him? I can understand to a certain point a manager wanting total control over signings but then who's actually running the club atm? Sounds like Unsworth was allowed to do whatever he wanted and if I was Frank I'd be asking why I've been paying a head of recruitment for a year who's had no impact on signings.

Strong rumour that Frankie Bunn will appointed as manager early this week. No idea if it's true or not.

Good point that actually. Although my email address that is in OAFC's database is also in Bolton's and City's as i've previously bought tickets there as a daytripper!

Exactly, if you are not wearing any colours and keep your mouth shut how would anyone even know?

FWIW my preference would be Artell, i've been saying that for about the last 4 appointments but I doubt he's even on the radar. He did a great job at Crewe, plays decent attacking football and i've always liked the way he spoke after games (gives a very honest assessment). Remember chatting to him outside the ground when we had just either drew or lost to Crewe under Scholes and I complemented him on how they had played. He seemed genuinely pleased to hear an opposition fan say that and he actually said he was surprised as he thought it was the worst they had played in about 10 games! Shows what i know!!

He was appointed in February, had plenty of time to turn it around. He was terrible for us and i've never been able to warm to him as a result.

As I said after Saturday, I wouldn't be opposed to giving it to ST but I certainly wouldn't be giving him a contract longer than the end of the season just because we've won 3 games.

Personally, i would have got rid of Unsworth at the end of last season, if not before but no point going over that now. The interesting thing is, I don't think the board would have sacked him when they did if it wasn't for fans getting vocal at games and considering the patience lot were very much against anyone voicing their opinion, they do look a bit stupid now saying it was the right time for him to go. Be thankful fans did voice their opinion and especially the ones at Bromley who approached Frank in a calm and respectful manner to ask him to make the change.