Thu Jun 09, 2016 3:58 pm
Why Cardiff City should appoint a new Head of Football following Russell Slade's departure
Scott Johnson argues that added footballing expertise at the club could make a big difference with Trollope in France
Thursday 9th June 2016
When Cardiff moved Russell Slade upstairs, it wasn’t enough for some people. The only move the anti-Slade brigade wanted him to make was through the front door. Well those people have got their wish and Slade has taken over as the new manager of Charlton. The problem is that Slade has left behind a ghost ship. With new manager Trollope in France with the Welsh national side, there is a vacuum of football expertise at the club for the foreseeable future.
I was not surprised to see Trollope promoted, but I must admit I’m mystified that the club have allowed him to spend the summer with Wales. Surely the choice is one or the other, but the club have indulged Trollope and he will now head in to his maiden season with something of a handicap. If Cardiff make a sluggish start, this will be readily used against him by many.
The added, albeit expected, departure of Slade has compounded the issue. He has departed a role that was created especially for him and no one yet knows whether it will exist now that he has vacated it. Cardiff are seemingly intent on shedding a dozen players this summer and bringing in up to four quality additions. The hard work starts now and there is no one around to do it. Trollope may argue that with technology, he is still very much in the loop, despite his distance, but Cardiff are not his primary focus at present and they may well lose ground on their rivals as a result.
I was rather pleased that Slade was given a job at board level and thought it made a great deal of sense. Tan’s statement when he was appointed shed some light on his school of thought regarding the appointment. “I’d like to thank Russell for his efforts since his appointment here in October 2014, Tan offered.
“Since then, we have seen stabilisation and progression, both on and off the field. Crucially, he is a man who I have been able to trust. Russell’s contribution has been significant, and I’m pleased that he’s accepted this new position to stay at the football club. He will help us as we look towards the future and begin shaping our squad for the new season. I also feel that he can help us create additional synergy between Cardiff City and our sister clubs.”
Trust is a key factor and that placed Slade in a very limited pool. It also felt like the fact that he would be helping to fashion next season’s squad was also reassuring, as he was essentially finishing the job he had been brought in to undertake. Although the signings on his watch were rather underwhelming, so maybe in that regard his departure may be a blessing in disguise.
Regardless of personal opinions on Slade, he does understand football and have a wealth of experience within the game. Something that cannot be said for those left at the club. For this reason, I hope that the Head of Role was not just a token gesture, but is instead here to stay.
When appointing Trollope, continuity was the buzzword. You can understand that after so much chopping and changing in recent years. The long-term appointment of a Head of Football would certainly aid that goal. I would love to know Slade’s thoughts on the prospect of the club bringing back Lennie Lawrence to aid the inexperienced Trollope on the touchline, but you can see the logic. Maybe he would be better suited in a more senior role though.
The likes of Lawrence, who is heavily involved in the UEFA Pro Licence training courses in Newport, is a former Cardiff manager and has a wealth of experience. Dave Jones is another that leaps off the page. An unsuccessful recent applicant for the Blackpool manager post, Jones has the added bonus of having previously worked with Tan too. He has been linked with a return in recent years and Tan has claimed that he would have replicated Mackay’s achievement in getting to the Premier League with only half of the funds provided to his successor.
Jones had his failings as a manager; a rather dour demeanour and a tendency to indulge his players, but his record in the transfer market was rather impressive. He made a little go a long way and Cardiff could certainly do with a bit more of that at the moment.
Of course, it’s not possible to mention a vacant post at the club without mentioning Craig Bellamy. What he may lack in experience he would certainly make up for with knowledge of the game and a passion for the club. Like Gary Neville, he is a student of the game and will continue to make his mark on the sport in some capacity and hopefully Cardiff will be the beneficiaries.
No one knows what his immediate intentions are, but it may be a post that would appeal, despite the steep learning curve involved. QPR and Crystal Palace are two clubs that are certainly benefiting from former favourites Les Ferdinand and Mark Bright in executive roles and it is a frequent occurrence in leagues throughout Europe. There was a fear that the continued presence of Slade would undermine Trollope, but the reality of this sort of role is that their paths would rarely have crossed.
Cardiff have been installed as sixth-favourites to top the Championship next season, which seems rather generous to me. If they are to make serious inroads in the division, they will have to be far better than last year in what will be a more competitive league. The hard work starts now and there is no one around to do it.
I appreciate that players are on their holidays and very little appears to be happening at this time of year, but the early bird catches the worm in the transfer market and plenty will be happening behind the scenes. Here’s hoping that Cardiff do not miss the boat ahead of another pivotal campaign. The appointment of a new Head of Football would help ensure that Cardiff do not find themselves in this sort of position again in the future.