Manager is not solely to blame for this mess

PERHAPS nice guys really do finish last. On Sunday, 103 days after landing his first ever manager’s job in the League of Ireland, Dave Mackey resigned from Bray Wanderers.

In that time, Mackey saw his Seagulls side get dumped out of the Leinster Senior Cup and EA Sports Cup at the first hurdle, and they are yet to pick up a victory after the first series of Premier Division games. They have conceded an average of three leagues goals per outing and notched just four in total - never more than one in a match and they have lead for a total of one minute throughout the entire course of the season.

Dave Mackey is an incredibly knowledgeable, committed and experienced coach. His ability to develop young players is a gift and above all else he is an absolute gentleman and an incredibly nice man. Unfortunately, the FAI do not award points for good characteristics and that is why he has walked away from his downbeat and crestfallen side.

The relationship was seemingly beyond repair. Bray players - for whatever reason - appeared to have completely given up as was evidenced by their body language in recent weeks. Mackey was not the man to manage or motivate this bunch of players.

Was the reason Mackey never found a job in senior management until now - in his late 50’s - there for all to see? He has forged a brilliant reputation for himself in LOI circles and deservedly so and it would be a great shame to see that tarnished by the last three and a half months.

His appointment of Gary McCabe as captain - which raised eyebrows amongst Bray fans - was a puzzling one. He was left high and dry days before the season started when Peter Cherrie switched to Cork City at the 11th hour and he was left scrambling for a shot-stopper. He would go on to secure Aaron Dillon on loan from Blackburn Rovers but the Galway man’s role in goals has been questioned many times this season.

The squad of his players at his disposal - on paper - should not be on one point but do not think for one second that Mackey is solely to blame for this mess.

A lot of the squad have been pathetic in recent weeks and should hang their heads in shame.

But there’s still time for it all to be saved. There is no more time for Dave Mackey.

Time waits for no man - no matter how nice he is.