GRAYSON LOOKS A SHREWD BANTAMS CHOICE
I’VE been critical of the managerial merry-goround in the past but Simon Grayson’s return to the dugout with Bradford is fully deserved.
As Chris Coleman is finding out, the Sunderland job is a poisoned chalice. Failing there is par for the course, so I don’t think Simon’s reputation has suffered too much at all. He certainly won’t be the last Sunderland manager to last less than a year.
I feel sorry for Stuart McCall, the man Grayson replaces at Valley Parade. They lost some huge players in the summer. Billy Clarke and Mark Marshall went to Charlton. James Meredith went to Millwall. Rory McArdle joined Scunthorpe.
That would hurt any side, but especially one trying to bounce back from a play-off final defeat. Even so, he left them in the top six.
Not many people inherit a club in that position. Having walked into a shambles at Sunderland, this will feel like luxury for Grayson.
That said, it’s common knowledge that McCall clashed with the Bantams’ German owners over recruitment. He came very close to leaving last summer.
But Grayson will have done his research. He’ll be aware that signings aren’t always 100 per cent the manager’s.
He was in a strong position to wait for a different job to come up, so he must have had some reassurance.
He’s worked at Leeds under Ken Bates, for the Oystons at Blackpool. I’d be surprised if they don’t make the play-offs.