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Post by Icegas on Dec 16, 2019 14:38:47 GMT
I would never begrudge the man for putting his family ahead of anything else. However, this really could have waited until Monday morning, surely? Having stated he has spent an entire decade working away from Sheffield, I’m also scratching my head as to how much hurt another 5 months really would have done? Yet, as has been stated in another thread we have a huge game Saturday. We are 4th in the league, in unbelievable form and a chance to make yet another big statement result against The Posh. I hope the attendance is a large one and the Gasheads rally as one, getting fully behind our boys. Tbh it should be 10k plus.. People said that it was GC style of play that was the reason they were no showing this year. Our team is 4th.Playing at home againt a promotion rival.Time to pack the mem now GC is gone.
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Post by wilmslowgas on Dec 16, 2019 16:19:32 GMT
Totally agree. I was a supporter of GC from day one and his results as manager have been little short of outstanding. However, the manner of his departure demonstrated a complete lack of class and total disrespect for the club (which offered him his first managerial job) and fans.
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Post by station on Dec 16, 2019 16:26:25 GMT
Did a great job, I did not like the way he has handed in his notice, very unprofessional.
But we are losing a very good manager and I fear what is now awaiting us.
There is definitely more to his going than just the family issue - for sure.
The next few weeks are going to be very interesting., starting tomorrow night.
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Post by mehewmagic on Dec 16, 2019 16:43:49 GMT
Must be one of the most bittersweet reigns of any Bristol Rovers manager? Firstly he was always up against it to begin with replacing one of the most universally loved and respected managers we've had. The impact he made on the pitch was enormous, from being in the relegation zone in December of last year he completely changed our fortunes guiding us to a very respectable 15th place last year and taking us to 4th in this campaign. He assembled a very hardworking and devoted group of players. Placed an emphasis on giving opportunities to youth products like Kilgour, Menayese and Tomlinson and had an impeccable transfer record that saw us unearth the likes of JCH, Ogogo and Jaakkola. And yet, he never won all the fans around to his side. Even the most rose tinted fan will admit that his style of football, even though getting results, was boring and at times dreadful. Add to that his lack of concern about our progress off the pitch and his disrespectful attitude towards Chris Lines and with hindsight its easy to see why some could never get on board. I can't criticise Coughlan for wanting to be closer to his family, that's very reasonable. But the way he has handled his departure smacks of a lack of class and for that reason I don't think he will be looked back on too positively. Thoughts? Must admit I'm pretty shocked at most of this thread. The guy rescued us from very serious relegation issues. AND did it relatively comfortably. I think that should instantly put him up there as a very positive point in our history. How many times before have we had well meaning changes of manager and yet very little changed? I'm thinking of Garry Thompson, Ray Graydon, Dave Penney, Paul Buckle and to some degree Mark McGhee and John Ward (the return) . Years and years of our lives and our history wasted. He leaves us at the heady height of 4th in Lge 1 with a game in hand, despite some injuries and suspensions. he has given young talent a chance and been around when some decent signings were made. He hasn't left us to go to City or in the middle of a transfer window. I have to add a caveat though; that I haven't seen that many games of his managerial reign. Watching from 'a far' I see mainly the results. The results speak for themselves. I do though feel sad for people who spend time and money watching what nearly everyone says was awful football at times.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2019 20:18:45 GMT
Cards on the table. I was never Graham Coughlan's biggest fan, largely because I didn't enjoy his style of football. I don't subscribe to the view that you can't play good football and achieve good results. I think you can.
However, first and foremost I'm a Rovers fan. All I've ever asked of my team is that they give their all. I don't expect to see Messi in the quarters, but I do want a team that plays for the badge. Coughlan's team always did that, continuing the trait that all Rovers teams have shown since our Conference season. Leaving Portman Road on Saturday, I was really coming round to the view that maybe, just maybe, he was capable of delivering a special season.
And then he dropped his bombshell.
IF he is leaving because he wants to be closer to his family, he has my respect. No-one should criticise a man for that. Yes, he knew the geography when he took the job, but he may not have known the impact that being away from his loved ones would have. If that's the reason for his departure, fair enough. He was, in my opinion, unprofessional in the way he did it, but ultimately, family comes first.
IF, however, his reason for going is because he feels or even knows he won't get the backing in January, I have no respect for him whatsoever. Maybe he has to sell before he can strengthen? Well, welcome to the world of the lower league manager, Graham. Darrell Clarke had to sell his best player THREE times, but got on with rebuilding each time. Paul Trollope had to sell a striker good enough to go on to play for England, but didn't complain. Ian Holloway's first job as manager was to deal with a wantaway Marcus Stewart, one of the finest strikers we've had in my lifetime. He also had to rebuild after losing Hayles, Roberts, Cureton, etc. That is the lot of a lower league manager, but none of them (or countless others) threw their toys out of the pram.
"I don't know if I can take Rovers any further". If that was a Warnock or someone else who'd actually been around the block and achieved something, I'd have more respect for that view, but Coughlan was (is) a rookie manager who, whilst he has done well in his short time here, has achieved nothing of note. A bit of loyalty to the employer that gave him his break (on a lengthy contract at that) wouldn't have been amiss.
We can all speculate, but none of us really know the real reason for his departure. Assuming he has gone though, he deserves our thanks for a job well done. Not the miracle he kept calling it, but a job well done. What matters now is that we get the right person in to replace him.
My heart says Holloway, but that would be one hell of a gamble. He would inspire the place and probably put 1000 on the gate, but would his attacking philosophy be at odds with a side that has been drilled to whack it long for the last 12 months? Would he fall out with the board?
There's a few interesting candidates such as Nathan Jones and Paul Tisdale, each of whom would probably look to develop our style of play into something that might just bring back some of the missing thousand or so fans. But again, would that damage the outside chance we have of a special season that Coughlan, for all his faults and ugly football, has set up?
For me then, with no knowledge of who might apply, I would probably go for Chris Hargreaves, ideally alongside Lee Mansell. This would keep the continuity of what has been good about Coughlan's tenure, the team spirit, commitment and desire, but hopefully build upon that in time to develop the style of football.
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Post by Officer Barbrady on Dec 16, 2019 20:20:24 GMT
Has he actually gone yet or not?
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Dec 16, 2019 20:23:05 GMT
Has he actually gone yet or not? Does it matter?
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Post by Officer Barbrady on Dec 16, 2019 20:24:10 GMT
Has he actually gone yet or not? Does it matter? FFS wouldnt it just have been easier to say yes or no!? I'm been digging through all the threads and cant actually see it. Couple of class bum finger jokes though so not a total bust.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Dec 16, 2019 20:28:28 GMT
FFS wouldnt it just have been easier to say yes or no!? I'm been digging through all the threads and cant actually see it. Couple of class bum finger jokes though so not a total bust. No, he hasnt gone. I assume we are thrashing out compo with Mansfield. He wont be our manager again.
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Post by Officer Barbrady on Dec 16, 2019 20:29:04 GMT
FFS wouldnt it just have been easier to say yes or no!? I'm been digging through all the threads and cant actually see it. Couple of class bum finger jokes though so not a total bust. No, he hasnt gone. I assume we are thrashing out compo with Mansfield. He wont be our manager again. bit embarrassing if he cant agree terms
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Post by wilmslowgas on Dec 16, 2019 20:29:15 GMT
Technically he is still an employee of Rovers. In reality, he's serving a very short notice period whilst Rovers and Mansfield resolve compensation issues. I assume he is currently on "gardening leave".
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Post by South Stand Ultra on Dec 16, 2019 20:30:26 GMT
Technically he is still an employee of Rovers. In reality, he's serving a very short notice period whilst Rovers and Mansfield resolve compensation issues. I assume he is currently on "gardening leave".
Hope we ain't paying him!
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Post by lastminutewinner on Dec 16, 2019 20:30:45 GMT
No, he hasnt gone. I assume we are thrashing out compo with Mansfield. He wont be our manager again. bit embarrassing if he cant agree terms I will be a bit like the 'shame' scene from Game Of Thrones as he walks through Horfield
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2019 20:36:22 GMT
The family issues are obviously an easy excuse to cover GC bolting. It must be an absolute shambles behind the scenes if someone of Graham's caliber is desperate to get out.
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Post by South Stand Ultra on Dec 16, 2019 20:39:13 GMT
bit embarrassing if he cant agree terms I will be a bit like the 'shame' scene from Game Of Thrones as he walks through Horfield
Except Cersei is better looking.....
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Post by lastminutewinner on Dec 16, 2019 20:42:35 GMT
I will be a bit like the 'shame' scene from Game Of Thrones as he walks through Horfield
Except Cersei is better looking.....
Can't argue with that, even with a body double..
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Dec 16, 2019 20:48:14 GMT
No, he hasnt gone. I assume we are thrashing out compo with Mansfield. He wont be our manager again. bit embarrassing if he cant agree terms Hes obviously already agreed terms. It will be us and Mansfield agreeing how much its going to cost them while all the while pretending he wasnt either tapped up or sought out the move himself.
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Post by cj on Dec 16, 2019 21:34:31 GMT
bit embarrassing if he cant agree terms Hes obviously already agreed terms. It will be us and Mansfield agreeing how much its going to cost them while all the while pretending he wasnt either tapped up or sought out the move himself. Be funny with we failed to accept their compo. But it will be in our best interest to accept it otherwise we will be paying him while on garden leave as it will be unacceptable in my eyes to allow him to continue with us. Best to get something for him than pay him while on garden leave and be paying another manager.
I guess though that compo has already been agreed to allow them permission to speak to CG??
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2019 21:59:23 GMT
Good riddance. Turgid football led to 2k drop in home gates. Flattered league position because this is poorest L1 in memory. Tactically inept most of the time.
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Post by wilmslowgas on Dec 16, 2019 22:02:17 GMT
Because of Mansfield's speed in sacking one manager and publicly headhunting another it is safe to assume that GC has agreed his employment package with them.
He will formally cease to be a Rovers employee when the compensation figure is agreed by both clubs. At that point both the employer (Rovers) and employee (GC) terminate his contract by mutual consent.
It is more than slightly embarrassing that our current manager's contract is being "bought out" by a club in a lower division.
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