Fresh blood is good, but experienced managers should not be binned just because of their age
What has gone on at Forest is deeply saddening and, on a wider scale, concerning for the managerial business as a whole
Gordon Strachan is on the verge of becoming technical director at Dundee.
If the club can get that one over the line in the next few days, it will be a tremendous appointment.
I’ve never hidden my admiration for Gordon’s work, and made that clear when I stated that he should have been allowed to stay on as Scotland manager 18 months ago. But the SFA decided to let him go. He has been away from the front line since then, but has been working on different projects and researching into the best ways to develop our academy footballers.
That has taken him all around the world, and his findings are extremely interesting.
Indeed, I’m surprised it has taken this long for him to get back into football, and to be offered something that really excites him.
I’m not privy to the full ins and outs of the role he will take on at Dens Park. But I would imagine he will be responsible for looking at the whole structure of the football department, from top to bottom, from first team to the youths.
He will then look at changes that need to be made and, as long as he is left alone and allowed to implement his ideas by the American owners, I’m sure his work will be well received and will put Dundee on the right path in many different areas.
At 62, Gordon still has all the energy needed, and has a wealth of experience.
From the outside looking in, Dundee will benefit from some longterm vision and strategy. It needs to produce more home-grown players and see as many quality youngsters as possible coming through their own system.
At first-team level, new manager James McPake should also be thrilled with Gordon coming in. He definitely should not see it as a threat.
James has been handed his first managerial job, and it will present many challenges for him to deal with.
Having Gordon there will be of huge benefit.
Gordon will make sure James is protected, and that will be vital.
Along with assistant manager, Jimmy Nicholl, young McPake has solid people in there with him and that is vitally important. That should allow him to relax and believe in himself.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. McPake should not be afraid to ask for their opinion and seek their counsel.
All three of them will want to see the club progress, and the goal for this term will be to win promotion back to the SPFL Premiership.
Of course, that won’t be straightforward, and the Tayside derbies will be interesting as Dundee United will also have their eye on the main prize.
But with Gordon set for an involvement at Dundee, that will surely bring a new wave of optimism to the club, exactly what they need after the disappointment of being relegated in May.
I’ve always been on the opinion that there has to be room in the modern game for experienced managers, as well as a pathway for our younger ones wishing to get on the managerial ladder.
Such opportunities have been given to the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
However, people within the game should not be discarded or have their methods ridiculed once they get over theageof60.
That’s why I was disappointed to see Martin O’Neill lose his job at Nottingham Forest a couple of days ago.
Martin is 67, and has been at the sharp end of top-flight management for 25 years. He has achieved some fantastic success with Leicester City, Celtic and the Republic of Ireland.
He returned to Forest only five months ago, the club where, as a player, he helped win the League title and two European Cups.
That doesn’t guarantee you success there as manager, but it should afford you time and respect. Sadly, that appeared to be lacking towards him.
Some reports have stated that the players weren’t happy with his methods, and wanted a more “modern” approach to day-to-day training and preparation.
What is most disturbing is that this alleged “senior players revolt” was entertained by the Forest owners.
Now, they appointed O’Neill and handed him the task of getting the club into the Premier League.
Did they think Martin was going to ditch the methods that have served him so well in previous years?
Did they think that Martin has one birth certificate for the public domain and another one for Forest that has him 20 years younger?
The players should have been told to get on with it, and been made fully aware that going behind the manager’s back would not be tolerated, if that was what happened.
It’s deeply saddening and, on a wider scale, concerning for the managerial business on the whole.
However, nothing surprises me nowadays.