46 Russell: clubs axe too much

JOHN RUSSELL has called for clubs and supporters to be more realistic after a third Premier Division boss lost his job this season.

St Pat’s parted ways with a manager for the second time in 12 months when Jon Daly was sacked on

Tuesday.

“I really felt for Jon,” said Sligo boss Russell (below). “It was a shock to me, coming so early in the season.

Ruthless

“For a manager to win the FAI Cup six months ago and to be let go shows you how ruthless this business is.

“I understood that coming into this game as a manager.

“It’s all ahead of us — I don’t think you’re managing until you get sacked!

“Some times the expectations are a bit out of sync.

“Everyone goes through difficult spells.

“I had to become realistic in my approach and say, ‘We’re not going to win every game but as long as we’re performing you can move on to next week’.

“It’s riding those waves and giving belief to the players and staff that what we’re doing is the right thing. If you do it over the long term, you’ll get results.”

Russell spoke last September of the huge pressure he was under when Sligo were battling to avoid the relegation play-offs.

He believes managers often deserve more time and points to Stephen Bradley, who was “under severe pressure” during the early years of his Shamrock Rovers tenure but is now looking to make history as the first fivein-a-row manager this term.

“Look at how it turned out because they had patience and believed in what he was doing,” Russell said

“We’re all trying to get to Europe and win Leagues and Cups, but very few teams can do it.”