There’s no way to tell a manager is the right fit, so we must back Lyttle

ANOTHER corner was turned in the history of Sligo Rovers last week when Gerard Lyttle became the club’s sixth full- time first team manager in five years. As expected, the appointment was from outside of the league and a relative unknown. Given the precarious nature of the club’s recent fortunes all that is required now is survival as the whole rhetoric of staying up, stability, consolidation and building for the future begins again.

A stability that will hopefully see the Bit O’Red’s status as a Premier Division club safely secured well before the finish line is in sight.

The news of Lyttle’s appointment was initially met with a lukewarm reception by Rovers supporters. Many had harboured hopes that an experienced Micky Adams type might ride in and rescue us from our anxiety in the relegation zone. Lyttle arrives with small experience of the full- time set up having spent the last few years in the more greenhorn environment of the Irish League.

With Adams not interested in a return to Sligo and as the names of potential candidates stacked up, there really wasn’t a stand out competitor. Former Crawley boss Mark Yates and once Hartlepool manager Craig Hignett were touted as the leading names but were apparently never in contact.

Warren Feeney and Gary Holt were reported to be two of the final three on the panel’s shortlist and were interesting applicants but were not the correct fit.

Keith Andrews was a prospect but it didn’t work out for whatever reason. While fellow former Irish international Stephen Reid was always unlikely to leave a comfortable coaching position at a potential Premier League club for the rough and tumble of the League of Ireland.

The thing about recruiting managers at this level is that you can never be sure you’re appointing the correct one.

Clubs at Rovers’ level are going to struggle to attract proven talent.

Adams even had his own uncertainty and whatever way you look at it, recruiting in Ireland is a risk.

Just ask Shams or Bohs when they appointed Pat Fenlon.

Owen Heary was set to be the next bright light in the league when he arrived here in 2015 but he only lasted a number of months.

Unfortunately, there is no tried and tested method of gauging whether a manager will be a success or not.

The selection panel have decided that Lyttle is the right fit for the club just as the people who selected Paul Cook, Ian Baraclough and Dave Robertson did and we the supporters now need to back that choice. Gerard has talked a good game in the board room and although the necessary time should be granted, his honeymoon period comes to a sharp end come kick- off in United Park this Friday.

Interesting it would be to tune into Gerard’s thoughts on the weekend’s draw with Derry. He saw in one game a good chunk of the goods and bads of this current squad.

Our defensive frailties, our inability to hold on to possession and our lack of leadership and creativity. He will also have witnessed one or two players who simply don’t have the talent required to play football at this level.

As I’ve said recently, that is not the fault of those on the pitch but of a serious lack of judgement on the part of the former regime.

That ‘ kick up the backside’ Gerard mentioned on Saturday is sorely required in certain corners. There are three or four well paid and well looked after individuals in the current team who simply are not doing themselves any favours with some continuous under- par performances week after week.

On the positive side and the stand out feature of Saturday’s game was another superb showing from Kieran Sadlier. Gerard must know he has a gem in the rough in the 22- year- old who has netted just under half of Rovers’ league goals to date and was a joy to watch against Derry.

He was a little muted against Shams and Bohs but made a telling difference when he came on against Harps in the EA Sports Cup and was a different class on Saturday.