To many cooks
What do David Pleat, Darren Barnard and Colin Lippiatt have in common? For fear of legal recriminations Ill tell you; while ones done it at Tottenham, the other two have made a living from it in Non League Football and all with varying success.Their roles? Director of Football. Its a position thats been made infamous over the past couple of weeks by resignations at both Newcastle and West Ham, so is it a job really suited to the game at the top of the pyramid, let alone at grassroots level?
One of the major things that sets Non League football apart from the so-called big boys is the ability for one man to still manage the entirety of a club. Im not suggesting Jeff King, gaffer at Chelmsford City, runs up and down the line training the squad, hes got Glenn Pennyfather for that, but Id still like to think its his say on who comes and goes, and who, with a little advice, plays where. You try telling Big Jeff hes got to take instruction from a man in a suit who once managed at another club and youre likely to get short shrift.
There lies the problem. Football is full of uncertain egos. A third party buying players a manager hasnt even heard of is the equivalent of courting a rabid bull with a red rose whilst dressed in nothing but a winceyette, not only will you rouse suspicion, you could end up battered, bruised and heading for cover.
So can it ever be a success? Pleat argues he made a fair old fist of it at Spurs, but take a trip down the road to the Hammers, and Alan Curbishley cites it as one of his major undoings. Similarly, the sacking of Kim Grant at Woking, after the unconnected resignation of his Director of Football Colin Lippiatt, is obviously not a rousing drum beater for the role.
This week the board at Woking have another tough decision to make on how to take the club forward, and who should replace Kim Grant. Chairman David Taylor says hindsight could have saved him plenty of heartache in recent weeks, and Im sure hes not alone. No chairman knows if their appointment will be a success, but there are certain things they can do to at least guarantee a happy ship. One thing can go a long way towards progression; one member, one vote, one manager. I mean, with a boss like Jeff King in charge at Chelmsford, who am I to argue?
Caroline Barker presents The BBC Non League Football Show
Every Monday from 9pm via www.bbc.co.uk/nonleague
Real Football, real fans.
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