Listening to Fighting Talk, a question was asked, on the back of Ronnie O'Sullivan's comments about snooker, as to what was the worst sport governing body. As an Englishman I am spoilt for choice! Surely though the ECB's recent handling of the Pietersen affair has put them top of the list.
The ECB has made English cricket a joke. After the shambles of a series in India, losing all the innumerate money driven one-dayers, and throwing away a sizeable lead in the second test, the ECB were once again looking for heads to roll.
Pietersen whilst on holiday in Africa, issued ultimatums to the ECB regarding the future of his captaincy, and role of coach Peter Moores. The ECB took slight at Pietersen's manner of dealing with the situation, and thereby released him from his role as captain. Moores, whose postion now untenable, was soon to follow.
The public way in which the situation was dealt with, and in which the story broke was a mistake. The whole episode has shed light on the inner workings of English cricket management. Little communication appears to have taken place. Both Moores and Pietersen went about their jobs thinking they were the one in control, making the decisions. Their relationship was therefore strained.
It has left the changing room divided, the future direction of the team and their best player Pietersen far from certain. This embarrssing episode has proved that open and honest dialogue is essential for any team or institution to run smoothly and ultimately be successful.
Bring on the Ashes!
Sunday 18 January 2009
Saturday 10 January 2009
RFU, salary cap, little future?
In 2008 the salary cap was increased for Premiership clubs from £2.2 to £4m, enabling clubs to bring in high-profile Southern hemisphere players, and therefore compete on a level playing field with the economic might of the French league Top 14. Now the RFU want to reduce the cap to £3.5m.
The increased salary cap doesn't reflect the economic status of many Premiership clubs however. Bristol are operating at an annual loss of £1m, and Bath recorded a loss of £250,000 for 2008. These are worrying figures.
By having a salary cap the RFU are maintaining the competive nature of the league, at the detriment of allowing ambitious, well managed clubs such as Leicester and Northampton from pushing on. If clubs can't control their finances then they should pay the price. However we are inthe position to help these clubs so that the Guinness Premiership remains one of the top leagues in the world.
The argument at the moment is whether the size of the league should be altered, having 10, 12 or 14 teams. Reducing the league to ten teams would mean therewould be more money to share round, and the devil take the rest! Unlikely, as the 12 premiership clubs usually stick together. Staying at 12 clubs would mean the probable reduction in salary cap and open a whole can of worms, regarding size of squads, and re-nogotiation of contracts. Increasing the size of the league to 14 would create extra revenue through two more home games, c.£400,000 for the smaller clubs, £800,000 for the likes of Leicester!
This all wreaks of 'ringfencing', a calamity for the growth of the sport. By ringfencing the Prmeiership the RFU are thereby recognising that rugby doesn't exist outside the top flight. The argument is that no relegation/promotion would produce a more attacking game. Hasn't the innumerate ELV's sorted that? Surely a more professional and competitive 2nd teir would be beneficial for the production of young talent, an a widening player base!
The reduction in the salary cap will affect the top league own. Ambitious clubs like Exeter Chiefs who lie in 2nd place in National League One, have a professional squad of 50 players. By reducing the cap tp 1.5m for the league, how will they push for the promised land next season? Let's just tell all clubs who have built stadiums, or invested in squads, to pack it all in now.
A couple of months ago rumours were rife of National One being turned into a Championship, with money being pumped in to make it a fully professional league. Now we're hearing of less wages, less premiership teams. Are we moving forward or back?
With the current economic climate, clubs at all evels needto know how and where they stand sooner than later. The RFU need to start dialogue with all clubs and come to a decision as early as possible. Communication is key, don't keep clubs in the dark!
The increased salary cap doesn't reflect the economic status of many Premiership clubs however. Bristol are operating at an annual loss of £1m, and Bath recorded a loss of £250,000 for 2008. These are worrying figures.
By having a salary cap the RFU are maintaining the competive nature of the league, at the detriment of allowing ambitious, well managed clubs such as Leicester and Northampton from pushing on. If clubs can't control their finances then they should pay the price. However we are inthe position to help these clubs so that the Guinness Premiership remains one of the top leagues in the world.
The argument at the moment is whether the size of the league should be altered, having 10, 12 or 14 teams. Reducing the league to ten teams would mean therewould be more money to share round, and the devil take the rest! Unlikely, as the 12 premiership clubs usually stick together. Staying at 12 clubs would mean the probable reduction in salary cap and open a whole can of worms, regarding size of squads, and re-nogotiation of contracts. Increasing the size of the league to 14 would create extra revenue through two more home games, c.£400,000 for the smaller clubs, £800,000 for the likes of Leicester!
This all wreaks of 'ringfencing', a calamity for the growth of the sport. By ringfencing the Prmeiership the RFU are thereby recognising that rugby doesn't exist outside the top flight. The argument is that no relegation/promotion would produce a more attacking game. Hasn't the innumerate ELV's sorted that? Surely a more professional and competitive 2nd teir would be beneficial for the production of young talent, an a widening player base!
The reduction in the salary cap will affect the top league own. Ambitious clubs like Exeter Chiefs who lie in 2nd place in National League One, have a professional squad of 50 players. By reducing the cap tp 1.5m for the league, how will they push for the promised land next season? Let's just tell all clubs who have built stadiums, or invested in squads, to pack it all in now.
A couple of months ago rumours were rife of National One being turned into a Championship, with money being pumped in to make it a fully professional league. Now we're hearing of less wages, less premiership teams. Are we moving forward or back?
With the current economic climate, clubs at all evels needto know how and where they stand sooner than later. The RFU need to start dialogue with all clubs and come to a decision as early as possible. Communication is key, don't keep clubs in the dark!
Monday 8 December 2008
How about that prawn sandwich Roy?
Nearly a week on from Roy Keane walking out on Sunderland and what do we find? Statements have been made, but there are still no conclusions. There would seem to be a bit of a communication break-down. Neither party has come out of this scenario smelling of roses - PR disaster! Where does this leave Sunderland, where does this leave Roy Keane? These questions should have been answered by now. Get off the football bus a couple of stops too early Roy?
A football club must retain complete confidence of its fans. Although the leaving of Keane was dealt with in a low-key and effective manner, questions marks remain over the reason to Keane's leaving and the future direction of the club. If a man they invested so much confidence in, and with it large amounts of money, decided that Sunderland was not going places it doesn't say too much for the leadership of the club.
Keane didn't really think this through. Walking out of Sunderland in the manner, and for the reasons he did could have a dramatic effect on the future of his managerial career. There have been question marks over his ability as a manager. I don't believe though that his credentials are in doubt. However, walking out of a club half way through a season, after a slight dip in form, because he felt he couldn't take Sunderland any further, smacks of a lack of commitment and a lack of ambition. Sam Allardyce left Bolton because he too felt he could't take them any further. But noone could deny 'Big Sam' his chance at one of England's biggest clubs, Newcastle. And although it didn't work out for him there (I could blog on the joke that is Newcastle for hours!) he was completely justified in his decision. Isn't it funny that Sam Allardyce is favourite to succeed Keane at Sunderland!
Sunderland IS a bigger club than Bolton. Keane had been there for not even 2 years, and would have had the time given, and financial backing of the board and chairman. There is no reason that, given the size and ambition of the club, Keane and Sunderland should not have reached European competition within the next few years. Keane's name had brought in the sort of quality and flair that the club in its modern years had not seen before. The old adage that great players make great managers could be said to be true in Keane's case. And he did learn from the best, in Clough and Ferguson. Up to the point that he left he dragged Sunderland out of the depths and gave them a new lease of life.
So why did Keane really leave Sunderland? Like in previous instances, such as the 2002 World Cup, we have expected there to be another story to this episode. A spat between Keane and Niall Quinn (the chairman) for instance. However none has materialised, yet!
In crisis management Mike Regester advocates telling it all, truthfully, and fast. Perhaps in this case, to maintain reputation, Keane could well have done with doing otherwise. He is telling the world that he can't hack it as a manager. Listening to the legendary podcast 'Fighting Talk', Keane supposedly didn't even attend training sessions.
Where now for Keane? Some suggest he work his way up the management ladder, like Clough who started at Hartlepool. British managers should be given a chance, and he will surley get his again, but who will put faith in him now. He was being groomed for the Man Utd job, perhaps a seat in the upper terraces would be more likely. Prawn sandwich anyone?
A football club must retain complete confidence of its fans. Although the leaving of Keane was dealt with in a low-key and effective manner, questions marks remain over the reason to Keane's leaving and the future direction of the club. If a man they invested so much confidence in, and with it large amounts of money, decided that Sunderland was not going places it doesn't say too much for the leadership of the club.
Keane didn't really think this through. Walking out of Sunderland in the manner, and for the reasons he did could have a dramatic effect on the future of his managerial career. There have been question marks over his ability as a manager. I don't believe though that his credentials are in doubt. However, walking out of a club half way through a season, after a slight dip in form, because he felt he couldn't take Sunderland any further, smacks of a lack of commitment and a lack of ambition. Sam Allardyce left Bolton because he too felt he could't take them any further. But noone could deny 'Big Sam' his chance at one of England's biggest clubs, Newcastle. And although it didn't work out for him there (I could blog on the joke that is Newcastle for hours!) he was completely justified in his decision. Isn't it funny that Sam Allardyce is favourite to succeed Keane at Sunderland!
Sunderland IS a bigger club than Bolton. Keane had been there for not even 2 years, and would have had the time given, and financial backing of the board and chairman. There is no reason that, given the size and ambition of the club, Keane and Sunderland should not have reached European competition within the next few years. Keane's name had brought in the sort of quality and flair that the club in its modern years had not seen before. The old adage that great players make great managers could be said to be true in Keane's case. And he did learn from the best, in Clough and Ferguson. Up to the point that he left he dragged Sunderland out of the depths and gave them a new lease of life.
So why did Keane really leave Sunderland? Like in previous instances, such as the 2002 World Cup, we have expected there to be another story to this episode. A spat between Keane and Niall Quinn (the chairman) for instance. However none has materialised, yet!
In crisis management Mike Regester advocates telling it all, truthfully, and fast. Perhaps in this case, to maintain reputation, Keane could well have done with doing otherwise. He is telling the world that he can't hack it as a manager. Listening to the legendary podcast 'Fighting Talk', Keane supposedly didn't even attend training sessions.
Where now for Keane? Some suggest he work his way up the management ladder, like Clough who started at Hartlepool. British managers should be given a chance, and he will surley get his again, but who will put faith in him now. He was being groomed for the Man Utd job, perhaps a seat in the upper terraces would be more likely. Prawn sandwich anyone?
Sunday 2 November 2008
Hero Harry!
Once again Harry 'Houdini' Redknapp is there to save the day. His ambition is still there. Is this the right time to move onwards and.....upwards? Do Spurs really match his ambition? A policy of selling your best players and the source of your success would suggest otherwise, no matter how much money has been pumped in elsewhere.
It is no surprise Spurs find themselves in the predicament they're in. The Jol fiasco brought about a manager devoid of understanding of the English game. Juande Ramos was left without his side-kick (sporting director at Sevilla), and, to begin with, couldn't speak a word of the English language. And to top it off the 'sporting director' (Damien Comiolli) was given the authority to interfere with football affairs and ill-advisedly determine and direct transfer policy. It just doesn't work in this country. Like Alex Ferguson says, a manager must have complete control, something which Keegan found to his cost. Comiolli HAD to go. It's the same story of an incompetent starry-eyed chairman that has dominated football headlines all summer.
But to Levy's credit he has come across an ounce of common sense and has this time acted decisively. It is, after all, his last chance to prove himself as a big fish, and after the appointments of Santini and Ramos, and the shameful dismissal of Jol, this is truly last chance saloon.
Spurs are a British owned club, and to that we must be grateful. And their policy of investing in youth must be acknowleged. Spurs do at least, in comparison to other Premier League clubs, have a large contingent of British players. These ethics havn't been seen throughout though. Spurs are in dire need of a British manager, and perhaps Harry is the right man for the job. Lest not forget he is the very least that Spurs fans expect.
It's good to see a British manager given a chance, and Harry is fully deserving. The fact is he's in his autumn years of his managerial career and with Pompey he can only go so far. Why he left Pompey merely a third of the way into the season though beggars belief. Having brought in Crouch and Defoe he had HIS strikeforce at his disposal. But he's left that for the shining lights of London, and the glitz and glam of a club staring relegation in the face; and in his wake he's left a ship without its captain.
'Tottenham is a club that has massively underachieved this year - to be sitting there with two points and, let's be honest, in a real desperate situation, a relegation battle'
Yes Harry we know the situation, we know it's a tough task! But hey, if he pulls it off!?! To be honest though, with all the talk of the inability of Spurs' strikers, there is still more talent there than many Premiership clubs. With the quality in the squad, even a trained monkey could keep them up. Perhaps Glenn Roeder would argue otherwise! Lets just hope it's not the poison chalice that Newcastle is. All the best Arry!
P.S. I'll take Poyet back at Leeds, he was the real brains behind Wise (I'm not suggesting Wise had much brains, but he did, it has to be said, get results!)
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