I read the document a couple of times with a great sense of anticipation and took it in - before reading any comments on the Forum.
I'm glad the main body of the Report is clearly not written by the CEO – Peter Doust, and that people in key positions have written a response to it. And no, I am not being cynical and saying the quality of the spin has simply improved. Instead, it's more professional (I'd love to know who wrote it) and lends the outcome of the review more credibility and says to me each of those individuals have been given a set of personal goals as the basis for accountability. They've been "challenged", as Steve Price puts it – although of course he is only referring to the players.
It’s a good thing. However the value of goal-setting is only as good as the process of follow up, including consequences. Back to you Steve Price!
Really, the main message to me is that "commercial considerations", mean that Dragon's Options for a more comprehensive restructure are limited due to financial constraints - and quite likely that is the biggest holdback. Bear in mind, if you talking a new coach, then with him comes a heap of assistant coaching and other support staff changes too – again!
Ironically, and as a side issue, could it be that the financial downturn as a consequence of Steve Price's ineffective coaching could prove to be his saviour because they can't affort to replace him? ....Nahh, even I know that's drawing a very long bow, but it is an interesting notion.
Having said that, the other matter that comes through loud and clear to me is this.... now that the positive spin has worn off (um, it didn't work) and the reality of the end result has finally set in, the season was just not good enough! And by re-iterating specific accountabilities of individuals - the Club takes this very seriously. T h a n k y o u !!
I actually think what has been announced is the very best the Dragons can do within the constraints of the current situation and environment.
The move of Craig Young away from recruitment to forwards training is a best fit. I feel pretty confident his experience and dogmatic and stoic nature is ideal input to turn our young Forwards from powder puffs into Kevlar re-inforced carbon fibre (note – not steel) mongrels. It’s a best use of Albert's strengths and really it's a no brainer. He's true grit …And I’m pretty sure there’ll be no new tattoos allowed.
I also think Robert Finch to recruitment is another a best fit, somehow especially for his previous experience as Referee's Co-ordinator - that somehow carries credibility in recruitment. Not sure why, but it does.
I don't know enough about Paul Macgregor other than what I read. However, saying he is a Manager of 25 in is own successful business, is providing evidence that he is competitive by nature and outside of football too, and says to me he is driven. His fitness (and baldness) says he is lean and hungry.
At least that all sounds good. It remains to be seen if he has footy smarts to develop effective attacking plays - has to be better than Steve Price in this regard, but am happy to shouted down on this one.
All in all, IF due mostly to financial (and scoff) cultural constraints we have to be that Club i.e. where loyalty is our greatest value, and so we promote heavily from within (it's not jobs for the boys -ok ?!) ...then let's be the best version of that possible.
I think this is it – and gets my support.
Oh yeah, we have some new players coming too : )
But what I bolded above scares the shit outa me. It seems like we are fast tracking one of these guys for 1st grade coach for 2015... With the club struggling with money issues, they may well go for a cheap option in Hornby/Young if Price does indeed fail in 2014. By the sky wizard I hope not...
