Tuesday 9th February, 20107 months ago
Fans at the top risk belittling the ‘other’ Bradford City legend
So after months or rumours and speculation we now know. The Telegraph & Argus has said it, Stuart McCall tellingly said nothing; but the truth is out that the former manager and joint-chairmen Mark Lawn’s relationship was strained to the point they had “barely communicated in months”.
It seems incredible that a professional football club could operate with two key figures working on such fractured terms. It also raises legitimate concerns over the state of the partnership between Lawn and co-chairman Julian Rhodes, and the damage a clear difference of opinion might have caused in both the short and long term.
Rhodes and Gordon Gibb were widely-stated to have begun their painful fallout because of the decision to sack Nicky Law in 2003, will recent debates over the future of McCall cause history to repeat itself? It’s claimed Rhodes owns 51% of the club to Lawn’s 49%, was the latter willing to accept the former’s wishes to persist with McCall?
McCall’s lack of comment on Lawn, choosing instead only to praise Rhodes as he departed, speaks volumes. Lawn’s weekend quote on McCall’s expected departure that, “Obviously I’ve only heard this through the grapevine. Stuart hasn’t spoken to me,” does him no favours. The last few days has demonstrated just how many supporters still wanted McCall to be manager and, as they come to terms with the departure of a legend, Lawn is becoming an increasingly obvious target for their anger.
Lawn was probably not the only Board member keen for a change. I missed the Christmas games against Shrewsbury and Cheltenham so didn’t get to buy my usual copy of the matchday programme. When in the days after the Cheltenham game McCall publicly declared, “If anyone wants to pack up and clear off, then I don’t want them here. That goes for anybody connected with the club,” the target of the attack was unclear. The City Gent’s John Watmough, via the Official Message Board, suggested Stuart’s anger was aimed at director Roger Owen for comments in the Cheltenham programme. Intrigued, I had a look at the article when visiting the club shop on Saturday, and was as stunned as John by Owen’s words.
Talking about the JPT 3-0 defeat to League One Carlisle, he seemingly dismissed the sending off of Simon Ramsden as having no bearing on the game before bemoaning the so-called gulf in class which showed how far behind City are from their intended target of League One football. City were very unlucky to lose the game, giving everything with 10 men and coming very close to pulling back the tie at 1-0, so it’s understandable if McCall was fuming at reading these criticisms from a member of the Board. It was unfair for any manager to have his team so publicly attacked internally; it also suggests lifelong fan Owen sees things from Lawn’s point of view.
Perhaps this is the downside of the much trumpeted ‘fans running the club’ idea of a couple of seasons ago. No one doubts the huge work rate and commitment of those responsible for running the club, but come 3pm on a Saturday afternoon it seems they are no different to the rest of us in becoming fans, with conflicting views and ideals to others.
With access to bending the manager’s ear and a financial interest in how the club is run, they have greater opportunity to share those views, such as perhaps suggesting a lack of firepower could be rectified by some Chilean flair. But ultimately their views as fans are no more or less insightful than the rest of us, and were probably sometimes unwelcomed by a single-minded manager.
I can’t help but feel Lawn and Owen, like other fans, were of the opinion that the removal of the manager is all that is needed to catapult City up the leagues. A friend of mine used to work under Lawn many years ago, at his driver hire company, and regularly told me how his boss had a box at City and complained all the time about how bad we were. As a supporter, perhaps Lawn has allowed himself to take a regular fan’s view of blaming all faults on the manager, when it’s partly his job to help them find positive solutions.
There’s a sense of irony that, after so many fans moaned McCall had no plan B, we find that, after allowing him to leave, the City board don’t have one either.
But it is Telegraph & Argus’ reporting of the cause of the fall out between McCall and Lawn which troubles me the most – that of the apparent lack of experience in the coaching staff. It’s a well run and frankly boring debate which has been raging amongst City fans ever since Stuart appointed Wayne Jacobs as his assistant. That Jacobs had a few years experience as assistant at Halifax Town seemed to be ignored.
The whole thing never made sense to me, it was as if fans didn’t believe McCall knew what to do so had to have someone older telling him. Surely if people really believed he needed an assistant to make the decisions, he shouldn’t be the manager in the first place?
But it’s really more to do with the fact it’s Jacobs. He spent some 10 years as a player with City, raising from Division Two to the Premiership with the Bantams, yet for almost his whole Bantams career we had to endure supporters at games loudly screaming abuse at him.
Jacobs was the soft target to pick on, the obvious choice for those who like to inflict their football knowledge onto other people to highlight as the cause of all problems. How these people became excited when other left backs were signed to replace Jakes, how disappointed they were after he fought challengers off to keep his place. Jacobs, the worst left back in Division Two back in 1996, marking David Beckham in the Premier League in 2000 – how did that happen?
And as Lawn apparently argued with McCall that he should ditch his ginger friend and bring in someone like Terry Dolan, fairly or unfairly I can’t help but picture Lawn sat a few seats along from me at various games over the years, ready to jump on his feet and scream at Jacobs when he next lost the ball. The fans who were doing this were probably the same ones who shamefully tried to pin the blame for two-and-a-half years of League Two failure on Jacobs, and on McCall for employing him.
And if you believed McCall should have appointed a more experienced number two, but you say it’s nothing personal against Jacobs, please answer me this honestly – would you have been demanding a more experienced number two if McCall had instead recruited Peter Beagrie?
As we say goodbye to McCall, it seems the lesser celebrated legend that is Jacobs will also soon be departing. He seems to have no chance of earning the managers job, those who ridiculed him as assistant are already informing the rest of us on the message boards that they would hurl their season tickets on the floor in disgust if he were appointed.
Personally I think this is really sad, because there’s merit in enabling Stuart’s building work to be continued in the same manner Paul Jewell once continued Chris Kamara’s, rather than ripping everything up. Yet losing a manager is always coupled with an abandoning of the policy which led to their appointment. If Colin Todd was the cheese to the chalk of McCall, it’s likely his ultimate replacement will be the type of experienced man Lawn and others were apparently craving to be his assistant.
So unless the new guy has a need for Jacobs, he will be gone too. Ridiculed by fans and indirectly insulted by the Board, hopefully he’ll at least get to be in charge for Saturday’s game with Grimsby.
If that is the last time he’s employed by Bradford City, let’s make sure he too gets the reception he deserves.
I think the vocal critics are in the minority – let them throw their season tickets out of their prams, while the rest of us see if Jakes can get put a team out to beat Grimsby.
The talk of two leading figures at the club not communicating for months is nothing new in the game or other businesses – true it usually ends in one departing – but I can understand Lawns frustration this season.
A change was needed – can we move on now, Stuart has left with his dignity and status intact plus a mutually agreed pay off.
The ‘fans’ that sit behind us in the main stand have been giving Jacobs more and more abuse as the season has gone on, I imagine that they were the same ‘fans’ who gave him it throughout his playing career. Interestingly the player who receives the most abuse from them is Luke O’Brian, the left back. He never marks anyone and is always out of position you see.
I spend most home games resisting the temptation to turn round and give them a piece of my mind, they on the other hand are never shy in letting everyone in our block know whats on theirs.
That would be the same Wayne Jacobs who marked England international Steve Stone out of the game at the City Ground when we beat Forest in the League Cup in 1995 – he hardly got a cross in all night!
As you say, easy target for the boo boys.
Come on you Bantams!
I’ve not ventured into the realms of the bcfc official message board but if its anything like the t&a comments then i would hope that mr lawn et al take it with a pinch of salt. There are people on there who just throw in stupid remarks for an angry response, who couldn’t give a fig about the fortunes of bradford city. If mr lawn and others are to listen to fans in this way then they should read all bcfc associated message boards- particularly the more sensible ones like BfB. Better still introduce quarterly fans forums, backed up with a way of submitting your question in advance (if it makes it more appealing/ less intimidating). The owners of our club need to listen to all fans young and old and especially those who can’t/ won’t use the internet!
On the Wayne Jacobs issue i would just love it (keegan style!) if he could stay on til the end and engage Lady Luck. We’ve got a good team of players and we are more than capable of getting 30 points+. That way Wayne could leave in the summer and stick two fingers up to all those fans who abuse him (they’d probably change their minds and want him – fickle lot!). He’s been a great player for us, a great servant and he doesn’t deserve any of this nonsense.
Great article Jason, and I can’t help but chuckle that the negative section of the clubs support have got part of their wish in seeing McCall leave only for Jakes to be made caretaker!
I’ve commented before on the bad press he gets as assistant manager (based on very little evidence I’d wager), but for all we know he is a great coach and maybe a great manager one day. For me he is one of my favourite players of the past 20 years for his loyalty, determination and no little ability. Don’t forget that Beagrie wouldn’t have had such success without Jakes to work with. They had a fantastic winger/full back understanding and credit goes to both of them for the magic he enabled Beagrie to weave back in the halcyon days.
I would absolutely love him to end up being the man to take us up and stuff all the criticism down the throats of the people who have belittled him down the years. Go on Jakes!
If the plan is to have a temp in charge until the end of the season, then why not Jakes? He knows the players as well as anyone. We have a decent Team with the defence playing by far it’s best game all season against Bury. Some minor changes by a Manager who has seen first-hand what needs improving could totally change the fortunes of the Team. If he (Jakes) only suffers 50% of the decisions going against him that Stuart had then he will be looking like the next Paul Jewel. Unless Jakes has already expressed ‘no-wish’ to take on the role for a temporary period, (longer than the 1 week/game type of temporary work) then it would seem that one or both Chairmen have found Jakes ‘guilty by association’. (By the way did anyone else besides me see Jakes appearing to wave ‘farewell’ to the crowd at the end of the Bury game?)
If the ‘Temp’ has us shooting up the league like a rocket -which I think is quite likely-, do we give him the full-time job? I suppose we would have to wouldn’t we? Maybe I’m just a born optimist.
I said in a previous post that Lawn should be given a chance. Since that time (the last time I logged on) we’ve seen about three stories and 60 posts – it’s difficult to keep up! Most of the discussion seems to be based on how there is no plan and what a mess we’re in. How de we know there is no plan. Do we expect Mark Lawn to show his cards in the media? The last few weeks should tell us that he doesn’t go blabbing to the papers. Everything so far is pure speculation. All I’ll say about Lawn is that he gave the fans everything they wanted and it didn’t work out – it can’t be argued any other way, we’re 16th and heading downwards not up. As for Jacobs, spot on – he has been knocked throughout his career at City and he is still here – I for one hope he gets a winning start. If it’s Jackson who gets the job, I retract everything I’ve said – he has no plan!
Robert – agree with you that Lawn and Rhodes must have a plan, but the fact us supporters are so far being kept in the dark suggests communicating it to us fans is a low priority.
So far, we’ve heard quotes from both chairmen via the local media and one statement on the website. I don’t think that, during a period of uncertainty like now, this is satisfactory. I write this at 7.30am and perhaps today’s T&A will tell us more, but right now we’ve heard (without even direct quotes remember) that the club are saying there is no chance of promotion or relegation so are just going to let the season peter out and hire a caretaker. We hear that Lawn and McCall did not get on and all we’ve heard from Lawn is some off-the-cuff remarks and an unnecessary hint the board would have sacked McCall anyway. Many supporters did not want McCall to go, but I think most would have accepted it if there was some clear plan B in place, but it doesn’t seem there is. Lawn and Rhodes are the leaders of this club, but they are not showing clear leadership, at least in the eyes of us supporters who are hearing nothing.
Have to agree with you Leon,a great article a great read and i more or less agree with all the points Jason makes.
Leon,Jakes proving the doubters wrong would be fantastic but i doubt he’ll get the chance i believe a quick appointment will be made and should be made to fill the vacancy.That doesn’t mean no thought should go into filling the position but to pussy foot around at this stage of the season could be disastrous.BCFC need another strong personalty on the touch line to galvanize both the team and the support.To allow the present situation to drift would be madness in my opinion.
It’s a valid suggestion about the similarity of previously promoting from within.
However, I would point out that this was done previously following a fairly successful period for the club and the internal team – not really something we can say about the present situation?
(Having said that – I’m not sure what would be better.)
Ahhh. the who will get the managers job debate starts to rage with the age old argument experience/hunger/wages combo……I wanted Stuart until the end of the season while the search could have gone on in the background however not to be. For myself I would like Jakes to get a crack at the whip not only has he been a loyal servant to City but he is a really nice man.
I would also say that for all appointments there will be fans that disagree, the problem is if you have experience as a manager and are out of work at the moment it means you failed at your previous post, If you are a manager of a small club tempted to a (bigger) club you dont have the experience of working with higher profile players, if you have no experience god help your first defeat. so on and so forth….but is a managers only job about the saturday result, several articles written on that one so I’ll leave it unanswered..
p.s. back to the article really good read with some great points that I agree with.
Having stood at a couple of away games this season and heard people around me hurl some vile abuse in the direction of Jakes, I can truly say it baffles me. We can debate it till the cows come home, but the truth is no one should be able to make any comment on him as he was the assistant – a man whose job it is to stand behind the manager, not be the face of the team and not court the media. The simple truth is he was just an easy target for people who weren’t brave enough to direct it at Stuart.
In my book, Wayne Jacobs is close to McCall levels in his status as a City legend, and you only have to look what he has been through with us to see that he deserves every chance. Like Leon says, I’ll have a wry smile on my face thinking of all the abuse he gets if he can sort us out on saturday and pull off a win. If it’s his final act at City, then whatever the result, he can walk out proudly and I will be sorry to see him go.
Also whipped in the cross for Ormondroyd, which resulted in me getting a black eye from an over excited supporter in front. Well worth it though.
I don’t know what Jacobs did or did not do, therefore I feel I am in no postion to criticse. Other people dare I say slightly less eductaed, are in the same postion and therefore assume by not knowing what he did do, assume he must have doing nothing or something wrong.
Throughout my life of supporting Bradford there has always been the need for a scapegoat and boo boy at Bradford. Some of the more impressionable people jump on the bandwagon and continue this booing, sometimes more to fit in with the big boys rather than having a clue what they are booing about. I for one have never known any player or manager suddenly turn around their performances after getting lambasted.
Personally i’ve never needed to scapegoat anyone and can’t understand the mentality that needs that outlet.My thought process is,if a player is having a bad game the last thing he needs is me on his back to make him play even worse,as for the present situation,Lawn would make the perfect scapegoat and his comments yesterday do him no favours but the last thing he needs or the club needs for that matter is for the crowd to turn against him.The club needs the finance that he offers.
As for Jakes,having read his comments in the T&A today i probably owe him an apology, as i’ve based my opinion on what i’ve heard rather than what he’s actually said,and i was impressed with his rallying cry in todays T&A so maybe (and i know this contradicts what i said in a previous post) a few games under his stewardship would give everyone a real insight into the real make up of the man and hopefully get a few more points for Bradford City Football Club.I think it’s imperitive that the crowd backs whoever is in charge on Saturday,it’s an important game and three points would go along way to cementing thge clubs position in mid table.The last thing the club needs is for City to go 1-0 down and the support for the team evaporates with that goal.The crowd needs to stay with the players for 90 minutes that is the way to guarantee they have the best chance of picking up all the points.
I totally agree with Neil. Why does there always have to be a scapegoat, can’t we just accept that unfortunately things didn’t work out for Stuart?
We are very fortunate that we have 2 chairmen who are fans of the club, and have been prepared to put their money in.