Sacking experience a little too soon
Credit:
When I was invited to write about my experiences as a manager in the
League of Ireland for ExtraTime, the last thing I thought I would be sharing with you
is the experience of been sacked. Well, not so soon anyway.
I have been fortunate enough to have had a good seven year unbroken managerial run without having suffered the indignity and embarrassment of been sacked. As managers, we all know the ups and downs of football and with that comes the inevitability that we will be sacked one day. The fact that we know this does not, however, make it any easier when it actually occurs.
I think my record as a manager would suggest that given the time we would have turned things around at Waterford United, but that was not to be. Last Thursday against Monaghan United was my 100th competitive game in charge of Waterford. 62 wins 13 draws and 25 loses is a record my players coaches and the supporters can be proud off.
There is no doubt we did not have the most consistent starts to this season but I was still very confident we could turn things around. When we won the First Division with Cobh Ramblers in 2007, we were 14 points behind Dundalk at one stage, so I knew with the additional few players we had lined up, winning promotion was not insurmountable by any means. Especially with two automatic and one play-off place up for grabs. Unfortunately the opportunity to prove this was taken away from me last week but what cannot be taken are some great memories I have of Waterford.
Getting to the final of the EA Sports Cup in 2009 was enjoyable up to the point where we lost the final to a very strong Bohemians team. Beating Shamrock Rovers in the quarter-final was important as the games between the Blues and the Hoops are steeped in LOI history and rivalry .
Our FAI Cup run in 2009 also stands out, with young Kevin Burns emerging in the semi-final against Sligo Rovers as a young ‘keeper with huge potential. The players’ spirit that season was never more evident when we played Athlone Town with nine men for over an hour and managed to win 2-1, scoring the two goals after the two lads were sent off.
In 2010 losing the playoff to Monaghan United still rankles but great credit to the players who fought their way through many, many obstacles that season. We weredepleted as a squad when Dundalk came to the RSC for the EA Sports quarter-final, although we were to lose 2-1 that night the players were magnificent. I will also take away the pleasure of working and associating with people like Mick and Ritchie Walsh and Aido Maher, people whose passion for the club rubbed off on me every time I was in their company.
I still believe The Blues can be successful this season and I do genuinely hope they are, starting this weekend against New Ross Celtic in the FAI Cup. It will be a difficult game for Paul and Billy because they are expected to win and I for one hope they do.
The First Division is up for grabs and the July transfer window will more than likely determine who the winners will be. Whichever club does the best business during the transfer window will ultimately end up as champions. Shels and Cork look the favorites but Monaghan United seem reluctant to leave the party, Limerick’s Pat Scully is a good guy and a top manager who knows he needs two more players to seriously push for automatic promotion. Waterford United and Longford Town are capable of going on runs that will put them in a position to capitalise on any slip ups from the leading pack. It is a very competitive division again this year with Mervue announcing themselves as a team who will have a say in where the title ends because they will take points off the big boys. It is going to be a great fight and my only regret is I am not in there throwing a few punches.
I have been fortunate enough to have had a good seven year unbroken managerial run without having suffered the indignity and embarrassment of been sacked. As managers, we all know the ups and downs of football and with that comes the inevitability that we will be sacked one day. The fact that we know this does not, however, make it any easier when it actually occurs.
I think my record as a manager would suggest that given the time we would have turned things around at Waterford United, but that was not to be. Last Thursday against Monaghan United was my 100th competitive game in charge of Waterford. 62 wins 13 draws and 25 loses is a record my players coaches and the supporters can be proud off.
There is no doubt we did not have the most consistent starts to this season but I was still very confident we could turn things around. When we won the First Division with Cobh Ramblers in 2007, we were 14 points behind Dundalk at one stage, so I knew with the additional few players we had lined up, winning promotion was not insurmountable by any means. Especially with two automatic and one play-off place up for grabs. Unfortunately the opportunity to prove this was taken away from me last week but what cannot be taken are some great memories I have of Waterford.
Getting to the final of the EA Sports Cup in 2009 was enjoyable up to the point where we lost the final to a very strong Bohemians team. Beating Shamrock Rovers in the quarter-final was important as the games between the Blues and the Hoops are steeped in LOI history and rivalry .
Our FAI Cup run in 2009 also stands out, with young Kevin Burns emerging in the semi-final against Sligo Rovers as a young ‘keeper with huge potential. The players’ spirit that season was never more evident when we played Athlone Town with nine men for over an hour and managed to win 2-1, scoring the two goals after the two lads were sent off.
In 2010 losing the playoff to Monaghan United still rankles but great credit to the players who fought their way through many, many obstacles that season. We weredepleted as a squad when Dundalk came to the RSC for the EA Sports quarter-final, although we were to lose 2-1 that night the players were magnificent. I will also take away the pleasure of working and associating with people like Mick and Ritchie Walsh and Aido Maher, people whose passion for the club rubbed off on me every time I was in their company.
I still believe The Blues can be successful this season and I do genuinely hope they are, starting this weekend against New Ross Celtic in the FAI Cup. It will be a difficult game for Paul and Billy because they are expected to win and I for one hope they do.
The First Division is up for grabs and the July transfer window will more than likely determine who the winners will be. Whichever club does the best business during the transfer window will ultimately end up as champions. Shels and Cork look the favorites but Monaghan United seem reluctant to leave the party, Limerick’s Pat Scully is a good guy and a top manager who knows he needs two more players to seriously push for automatic promotion. Waterford United and Longford Town are capable of going on runs that will put them in a position to capitalise on any slip ups from the leading pack. It is a very competitive division again this year with Mervue announcing themselves as a team who will have a say in where the title ends because they will take points off the big boys. It is going to be a great fight and my only regret is I am not in there throwing a few punches.
