After firing long-serving manager Mick McCarthy earlier this month, Wolves chairman Steve Morgan has struggled to settle upon a definitive replacement for the straight-talking Yorkshireman. Zarif Rasul wonders whether Wolves could have benefitted from a more defined approach.
And so another pair of targets have been locked in the crosshairs. Morgan, spurned by his first choice Alan Curbishley, and beaten by Leeds in the pursuit of Neil Warnock, has decided to complete his varied managerial shortlist by reportedly making moves to lure the Championship club-managing pair of Gus Poyet and Brian McDermott to Molineux, all while a fidgety Steve Bruce watches on with bated breath.
The decision to relieve McCarthy of his duties last week was not surprising, nor unjust; a tally of five league wins from 25 outings this season, coupled with increasingly vocal disapproval from the Molineux faithful meant McCarthy could have no complaints about being handed his P45.
However the timing of the decision – less than three months before the end of the season and after the close of the January transfer window – and Wolves’ scattergun approach to sourcing McCarthy’s successor do not emanate assuredness, nor are they emblematic of a holistic, long-term strategy.
The five aforementioned candidates comprise a wildly multifarious shortlist, with each man equipped with his own distinct skill-set, managerial style and level of experience. The club’s recruitment policy, quite plainly, smacks of desperation and a clear lack of focus. From looking at the five candidates it is practically impossible to see what type of manager Morgan desires and whether or not the club is considering its long-term future.
Wolves currently sit in 18th place – albeit level on points with 17th-placed Blackburn Rovers – with 13 games left to safeguard top flight survival. Whoever fills the vacant hotseat will be unable to bring in any of his own players, and will effectively have to rely on his man-management skills and tactical nous to steer Wolves away from relegation.
While Morgan and the Wolves hierarchy may be unsure of the type of manager they desire, it’s clear that they feel any form of new approach will help to drive away the stench of stagnation and decline at the club, with whomever replaces McCarthy expected to bring with him a sense of impetus and drive.
The benefits of the so-called “bounce” effect of a new managerial appointment are well-documented, and seemingly supported by empirical evidence.
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Neil Warnock’s dismissal at QPR last month was preceded by a dismal run which saw his former charges gather two points in eight games; Mark Hughes has already gained four points from five games since arriving at Loftus Road.
The swinging of the managerial axe was even more justifiable at Sunderland. Steve Bruce had overseen a run of five wins from 27 Premier League games prior to his exit, with successor Martin O’Neill steering the side to seven wins in his first 12 Premier League games and hauling the side into the top half of the table.
There are of course a number of factors which may explain the occurrence and prevalence of the bounce effect. The arrival of a new manager signifies a clean slate for all players at the club, with the opportunity for previously frozen out members of the squad to impress, while established first-teamers will be provided with a further incentive to up their game in order to retain their first-team berths.
And in the case of relegation-threatened clubs, the ever-nearing prospect of impending Championship football should act as increasingly relevant motivation tool. If the thought of trading fixtures at Old Trafford and Anfield for matches at Ashton Gate and The Den doesn’t encourage Wolves players, then surely nothing will.
Since promotion to the Premier League in the summer of 2009, Wolves have admirably fought off relegation two seasons in a row. While their continued presence among the country’s elite may have heightened expectations among a small minority of Wolves fans, it is clear that survival is still imperative and the primary concern for the club.
But irrespective of whether or not they succeed in securing Premier League survival, the club cannot afford to proceed with a haphazard managerial selection process at the expense of sacrificing the creation of a long-term vision. Wolves could stand to suffer in the long run if they opt for a short-term fire-fighter instead of someone ready to imbue his own identity and ethos on to the club for years to come.
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