- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
So, according to The World Game, Melbourne Victory is about to hand caretaker coach Jim Magilton a two-year deal despite having managed just one win in his 10 games at Melbourne, a record worse than his predecessor Mehmet Durakovic.
Comments from the Victory board in recent days even hinted that Magilton will be driving the club’s recruitment policy, having outlined what he feels needs to be done with the current playing roster.
At a fan forum last week Chairman Anothey Di Pietro explained that the hiring of a permanent head coach would dictate whether the Victory look for a Director of Football or a Football Operations Manager.
In other words, whether or not the tail will wag the dog.
All of this has left me startled.
Victory’s latest approach towards player identification and recruitment is a backwards step and taking advice off your caretaker manager who is struggling with results is a risky strategy.
It’s hardly a surprise a coach who has failed to implement a clear and successful system of play – though we’re told he has “good ideas,” as Victory defender Mark Milligan put it this week – would start blaming the playing squad he’s inherited.
You can hardly imagine Magilton walking in to a board meeting and saying: “Actually guys, the players I’ve got are definitely better than where we’re at, but hey, give me some more time and I’ll get us there. Promise.”
As one Victory insider told me this week, the board “are being badly advised”.
If we look at the best practice in club management across world football, with a few notable exceptions, decisions on player recruitment and contracts remain separate from the coaching staff.
Firstly, this allows continuity within the club, as if a coach struggles or receives a better opportunity elsewhere, his departure will cause minimal disruption to the club at large.
It also means a coach is assessed only on his ability on the training pitch in preparing his team effectively for games – results and the team’s system of play can be assessed without muddying the waters with accusations on the quality of players available to a coach.
Yet, after lurching from a “revolutionary” approach to the football department at the start of the season, through to an outdated system now, I can only assume those who are advising the Victory board are seeing something from Magilton that has yet to transfer through to his team’s performance.
Di Pietro and the Victory board best hope so, as there’s discontent brewing amongst the blue and white faithful.
The A-League’s biggest support base deserve a lot better than what they’ve witnessed this season.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.