Cellino's Next Move
Article by Gwyn HughesClick here to follow e-Leeds United on Twitter!
So the Hockaday experiment has come to its predictable and embarrassing end. The whole universe was seemingly against Hockaday from the start and a quick departure was never in doubt; it was simply a question of when in the months of August and September it was going to happen. Although we all knew that Massimo Cellino likes to change his coach from time to time, I sincerely hope that he doesn't follow the pattern he established during his 22 year tenure at Cagliari!
Sacking the Hock and his assistant Junior Lewis after only six competitive games is disturbingly familiar to his track record in Italy. I believe that Cellino will learn to change his ways. He has to. He cannot experiment with coaches to the insane numbers that he appointed in Italy. He will destroy the stability that he has worked tirelessly to achieve at Leeds since he took over the club.
If appointing Hockaday was a mistake, as he has recently admitted, then did he get it wrong over 30 times while at the Sardinian club? Yes, he appointed as many as 36 coaches while at Cagliari! This madness has to stop at Leeds. His next appointment will determine whether he still is the 'manager eater' of old or one who has adapted to our game and willing to give people the chance to succeed.
Clearly he will have to change his hire and fire attitude and endure a bit more patience than he has been used to or he will only succeed in throwing Leeds into turmoil. The media will mock the club and have a field day. Leeds would continue to be seen as a joke. I hope that the recent signings and the appointment of a creditable coach or manager will be the beginning of the repairing the damage inflicted on the club these last 12 years.
Hockaday's successor should be someone who not only has the competency to manage a top club but also has a bit of gravitas with the football fraternity. In my opinion only one name truly stands out: Steve Clarke.
He is by far the best fit for Leeds at the moment. Getting him will depend on how much Cellino thinks he's worth. If hiring Clarke costs him more than he expected, Cellino will have a very difficult decision to make. He has been used to having things done his way, usually trying to get things done on the cheap, but I can't see Clarke taking a lot of bullshit from our president. Cellino should invest his money towards a good coach, so that his team can achieve future success. Hopefully he will then reap the rewards of this wise investment.
I think Cellino would have preferred if Hockaday had stood his ground a bit instead of being the 'yes man' that he was portrayed in the media. So, appointing Clarke may be a learning curve for Cellino, one that will probably do him good if he wants Leeds United to succeed. He has been brilliant in funding the deals for the 15 new signings, but all will be for nothing if he appoints another inexperienced coach.
Over the last few days there have been some able candidates that may have the ability to pull it off. But as I write this, those who were firmly in the frame to be the next Leeds United manager/coach, have either distanced themselves from the job or have successfully found employment elsewhere. Oscar Garcia was strongly fancied but has opted instead to become manager of Watford. One assumes that he was offered more money but I suspect that Cellino's reputation and Watford's current lofty position in the league may have something to do with it.
Simon Grayson was also a possibility but he has stated that he'd rather remain loyal to his current employers at Preston North End. I believe that both of these gentlemen would have been a success at Leeds, but it seems that the fooballing gods seem to be directing Steve Clarke towards us.
Clearly he would come if the money was right and, equally important, that Cellino can give Clarke the time to get on with the job. The last thing Clarke needs is to be sitting in the manager's seat over a trap door at Elland Road with a trigger happy president ready to push that big red button. Perhaps this is what is mulling over in Clarke's mind. I think a lot of Leeds fans are hoping he has the courage to take on the Leeds hot-seat. I think he does.
Whoever gets the nod it will be an eventful period at Elland Road. The new man will have more resources at his disposal, new untried recruits to work with, and hopefully time to steer the club on a successful path again. I am very pleased with the new players, although I have never heard of them before, and looking forward to seeing them play.
With the loan window opening next week I have a feeling that the recruitment drive is not over yet. Before our next league game at Birmingham, I have a strong feeling that Cellino will present the fans not just a new manager, but a surprise signing or two.
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