New Manager

[Currycard]

If you look at the winners of this league over the last say 10 years with the exception of Sutton it's been those ex football league clubs with parachute payments, big budgets, big ownership and football league pedigree managers behind them which have pushed them back into the EFL (Luton, Stockport, Wrexham, Cheltenham, Leyton Orient, Lincoln City etc) .

And if you look at the play off winners at this level over the past 10 years the teams are pretty much the same ex football league clubs such as Bristol Rovers, Cambridge United, Tranmere Rovers, Grimsby Town etc, big budgets, football league managers etc.

It makes you realise just how tough of a league it is to get out of and really what Sutton achieved that season was exceptional.

I think the majority of us supporters are realists and realise as a club we aren't in the same bracket as the above obviously and we know it's a case of us wanting to be in and around those playoffs as we were last season with the aim of us trying to do what Sutton managed to do that season as does show you it can be done.

As for names I really don't know who is next in line as if this was say May 2024 I'd be thinking about a new manager arriving, two year contract, good pedigree, bringing in his own players, new approach, time to build a squad, new identity, new way of playing, different style etc but I feel with it being mid november there's clearly no time for any of that and it needs to be someone who can come in fighting and ready to get stuck in from the off.

It makes me think would it make more sense to bring a manager in initially until the end of the season and see how they get on? As it's going to be working with the bulk of the players we have already here and trying to get a reaction from them and go on a run and get some points on the board to push us into a safer position. You see it happen a lot in football in terms of managers come in until the end of the season initially and would that give a new manager something to aim for shorter term initially which may be appealing for someone out there aand potentially stops us from having to make a longer term commitment to someone now.

[JAM]

CC

3 of the teams that you mention in the 1st paragraph had been in turmoil. Lets not forget that Stockport had been as low as NLN, and that Wrexham had been in this league for god knows how long before the Yanks came along.
Lincoln belong in the same category as Sutton, in that they both had the money from huge cup runs. Had Sutton not made all that money, and not had the plastic pitch, i have no doubt that they wouldnt have been promoted.

You are right that over the last few years the teams that have gone up have been ex FL teams, but it hasnt stopped other teams like Bromley, Solihull, Boreham Wood being in and around the POs year after year. Yes Boreham Wood had that cup run, and they obviously make money out of Arsenal, but it seems that they havent made the extra step because they havent got the history, and therefore the fans base etc, of the other clubs that have been able to do that.

as for the next manager, I see it that there are 3 options
1) Give it to ID and see what he can do. Not sure that is the right option, and thats nothing against ID, but we could be in the position that we were on a few years ago where we made a last ditch attempt to stop relegation and had 3 managers in a season
2) your idea, which is similar to option 1, in that if it doesnt work out we could still get relegated
3) appoint someone with alot of experience on a longer contract in the hope that we get out of the current mess that we are in and to give said person the opportunity to get things right in order to go again next year. Who that person is, I have no idea, but this could be a big chance for someone.

[ROKERITE]

Being an ex-EFL club isn't necessarily an advantage nor never having been there a hindrance. When the Cowleys were appointed at Lincoln City The Imps had spent five successive seasons in the fifth tier and had finished in the bottom half every time. Their attendances throughout that period were about the same as yours are now. The Cowleys lifted the gloom and in their first season not only took Lincoln up as Champions, they had that extraordinary FA Cup run which generated the finances to be successful in subsequent seasons.

You just need to be lucky, or your owners clever, with who is appointed to the most important role.

[Adrian]

Not adding fuel to the fire but Lee Bradbury was sitting in the family stand on Saturday.

God no, just no.

[AshWFC]

So basically loads of ideas but none that sound very appealing except Danny Cowley...

I hope that JK and DV are wiser for the last eighteen months than we are.

[Card Sharp]

So basically loads of ideas but none that sound very appealing except Danny Cowley...

I hope that JK and DV are wiser for the last eighteen months than we are.

And what's your idea? If you had your way, Darren would still be here. In fact, Dowse would.

For someone who gives so much criticism to fellow fans, you give so little to the crap served up on the pitch.

I'm glad JK and DV don't share your views.

[Red and White Army]

So basically loads of ideas but none that sound very appealing except Danny Cowley...

I hope that JK and DV are wiser for the last eighteen months than we are.

And what's your idea? If you had your way, Darren would still be here. In fact, Dowse would.

For someone who gives so much criticism to fellow fans, you give so little to the crap served up on the pitch.

I'm glad JK and DV don't share your views.

Ash thinks it’s fine and both us and York and going to get in the playoffs.

[GU21_Cardinal]

Danny Cowley is on Talksport's H&J tomorrow, Ben Fletcher can grill him.

Heard from one of the stewards today that the cowleys were in the family stand on Saturday. I’d like to think that’s a credible st source but who knows. Will be interesting to see if we spot any tomorrow

[JWCard]

He did specifically say two games.

I'd expect people like Lee Bradbury to be sniffing around, but we need to do better than that or we might as well have stuck with Sarll.

spot on

[Beowulf]

There's an upcoming manager out of the states named Mike Henthorn that's name is getting thrown around in several other countries lower divisions. Given the ownerships connections to the USA, I wonder if they have noticed him.

Whoever manages the club for the rest of the season should have two goals. Don't get relegated and beat Aldershot.

[Red and White Army]

There's an upcoming manager out of the states named Mike Henthorn that's name is getting thrown around in several other countries lower divisions. Given the ownerships connections to the USA, I wonder if they have noticed him.

Whoever manages the club for the rest of the season should have two goals. Don't get relegated and beat Aldershot.

Welcome to the forum, Mike.

[Wokingcard]

Danny Cowley is on Talksport's H&J tomorrow, Ben Fletcher can grill him.

Heard from one of the stewards today that the cowleys were in the family stand on Saturday. I’d like to think that’s a credible st source but who knows. Will be interesting to see if we spot any tomorrow

Really shows the delusional nature of some of the fan base that think we could get the Cowleys. We have an above average but not amazing budget for the National League with no guarantee that the budget will be as good in the future and they’ve been in league 1 with Portsmouth. Come on. Let’s get a grip. We haven’t got the budget to pay them, budget they’d want to sign players, fan base, stadium, infrastructure, training ground or history.

[Adrian]

Heard from one of the stewards today that the cowleys were in the family stand on Saturday. I’d like to think that’s a credible st source but who knows. Will be interesting to see if we spot any tomorrow

Really shows the delusional nature of some of the fan base that think we could get the Cowleys. We have an above average but not amazing budget for the National League with no guarantee that the budget will be as good in the future and they’ve been in league 1 with Portsmouth. Come on. Let’s get a grip. We haven’t got the budget to pay them, budget they’d want to sign players, fan base, stadium, infrastructure, training ground or history.

They live not that far from the A3 North of Portsmouth and have turned down jobs that would take them away from that area.

So, they only live about 40/45 mins drive away.

How serious are those that run things?

This has to be an appointment that makes everyone take notice and one that sends a clear message that Woking are a club that wants to move on.

[Wokingcard]

Ahhh they live locally! They’ll definitely take a job two leagues below where they last worked, on less money than they were last on (we can’t match Portsmouth’s wages), to work for a club that has never been in the football league, averages around 2K fans, has no training ground, an old stadium that can’t be developed and a bunch of players that probably aren’t good enough, halfway through a season when they wouldn’t be able to sign their own squad. All this while knowing that if they get it wrong at Woking they’ll have undone the decade of hard work they put in to build their reputations to be football league managers. All that is negated by the fact it’s a short commute though!

[Adrian]

Ahhh they live locally! They’ll definitely take a job two leagues below where they last worked, on less money than they were last on (we can’t match Portsmouth’s wages), to work for a club that has never been in the football league, averages around 2K fans, has no training ground, an old stadium that can’t be developed and a bunch of players that probably aren’t good enough, halfway through a season when they wouldn’t be able to sign their own squad. All this while knowing that if they get it wrong at Woking they’ll have undone the decade of hard work they put in to build their reputations to be football league managers. All that is negated by the fact it’s a short commute though!

FWIW, I don’t expect them to even be aware that the job is vacant.

[Cardinals Rule]

Really shows the delusional nature of some of the fan base that think we could get the Cowleys. We have an above average but not amazing budget for the National League with no guarantee that the budget will be as good in the future and they’ve been in league 1 with Portsmouth. Come on. Let’s get a grip. We haven’t got the budget to pay them, budget they’d want to sign players, fan base, stadium, infrastructure, training ground or history.

For hire as motivational speaker, reasonable rates.

[jonwoozley]

Ahhh they live locally! They’ll definitely take a job two leagues below where they last worked, on less money than they were last on (we can’t match Portsmouth’s wages), to work for a club that has never been in the football league, averages around 2K fans, has no training ground, an old stadium that can’t be developed and a bunch of players that probably aren’t good enough, halfway through a season when they wouldn’t be able to sign their own squad. All this while knowing that if they get it wrong at Woking they’ll have undone the decade of hard work they put in to build their reputations to be football league managers. All that is negated by the fact it’s a short commute though!

I would say that with high interest rates depressing values, and a bankrupt freeholder, now is the perfect time for anyone to buy Kingfield, once all the legacy issues are sorted. Then develop some off field income. A bit like Leslie Gosden did. Then sell on.

The only other reason to continue long term would be to get into the EFL and then sell, but that must be the riskier of the two options.

[AshWFC]

So basically loads of ideas but none that sound very appealing except Danny Cowley...

I hope that JK and DV are wiser for the last eighteen months than we are.

And what's your idea? If you had your way, Darren would still be here. In fact, Dowse would.

For someone who gives so much criticism to fellow fans, you give so little to the crap served up on the pitch.

I'm glad JK and DV don't share your views.

Seems like I touched a nerve...

Dowse's sacking was entirely understandable. I think I might have given Darren more time if it was my call, yes... It isn't, though, and I've already stated I find it understandable why we pulled the trigger on this occasion too.

Does that clear things up?

I'm only really pointing out that like last time, everyone adamantly wanted change but with no real idea of what we d be able to manifest in terms of it. I'm genuinely hopeful the directors do have a good plan, because I think this is a harder appointment than the last one... And I still think the idea we can get Cowley is mad, but it's so regularly touted by our fans at this point that I live in hope!

[Card Sharp]

Think I touched one too....ooo-er.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. We're 'broke' on the pitch. A change had to be made.

It was the same with Dowse, although I'd have got rid of him after Hereford. Yes, that early.

Agreed on the Cowleys. There's been plenty of other suggestions. Sarll was mentioned after Dowse left pretty early on. I'm not going to accuse anyone of revising history, that's your job apparently.

[neverlostatwembley3]

Really shows the delusional nature of some of the fan base that think we could get the Cowleys. We have an above average but not amazing budget for the National League with no guarantee that the budget will be as good in the future and they’ve been in league 1 with Portsmouth. Come on. Let’s get a grip. We haven’t got the budget to pay them, budget they’d want to sign players, fan base, stadium, infrastructure, training ground or history.

The joy of being a fan is the hope. We dream of success even if it doesn’t materialise. That’s what keeps us coming back at 3pm every Saturday. I would give up on football if I was you.

[ClarkGlenn]

The rumour I've heard is Stuart Maynard from Wealdstone keen to try his hand at a full-time club

[Red and White Army]

Ahhh they live locally! They’ll definitely take a job two leagues below where they last worked, on less money than they were last on (we can’t match Portsmouth’s wages), to work for a club that has never been in the football league, averages around 2K fans, has no training ground, an old stadium that can’t be developed and a bunch of players that probably aren’t good enough, halfway through a season when they wouldn’t be able to sign their own squad. All this while knowing that if they get it wrong at Woking they’ll have undone the decade of hard work they put in to build their reputations to be football league managers. All that is negated by the fact it’s a short commute though!

I would say that with high interest rates depressing values, and a bankrupt freeholder, now is the perfect time for anyone to buy Kingfield, once all the legacy issues are sorted. Then develop some off field income. A bit like Leslie Gosden did. Then sell on.

The only other reason to continue long term would be to get into the EFL and then sell, but that must be the riskier of the two options.

What about if we sold Kingfield, bought bungalows and then built a football ground on the top of those bungalows?

[wokingcardinal]

And what's your idea? If you had your way, Darren would still be here. In fact, Dowse would.

For someone who gives so much criticism to fellow fans, you give so little to the crap served up on the pitch.

I'm glad JK and DV don't share your views.

Seems like I touched a nerve...

Dowse's sacking was entirely understandable. I think I might have given Darren more time if it was my call, yes... It isn't, though, and I've already stated I find it understandable why we pulled the trigger on this occasion too.

Does that clear things up?

I'm only really pointing out that like last time, everyone adamantly wanted change but with no real idea of what we d be able to manifest in terms of it. I'm genuinely hopeful the directors do have a good plan, because I think this is a harder appointment than the last one... And I still think the idea we can get Cowley is mad, but it's so regularly touted by our fans at this point that I live in hope!

Maybe we will get the "lesser" Cowley??

[wokingcardinal]

The rumour I've heard is Stuart Maynard from Wealdstone keen to try his hand at a full-time club

How would he be better than DS? Maynard has a 28% win ratio as a manager, Darrens was 43% with us and 39% overall. Facts do not lie.

[Kingfield Ender]

I presume thats skewed a bit by Wealdstone possibly working with the lowest budget in this league