Rodwell: I’ll prove myself to sceptical Cats support
Jim Rodwell says he understands the scepticism with which his appointment was met by many fans.
A statement from Scunthorpe United chairman Peter Swann had said Rodwell’s brief at Glanford Park was to secure Championship football and a new stadium.
Rodwell says their current position–20thinLeagueTwo– doesnotfullyreflecthistimeat theclub,butsayshewillhaveto prove himself to Sunderland supporters.
“I’m grown up enough to know that when I was appointed chief exective of Sunderland, you’re not going to have people doing cartwheels acrosstheWearmouthBridge,” he said.
“Having said that, would fans ever react that way over a chief executive appointment?
“You work from the position that when you come in, people are going to be sceptical – which is the most elegant way of putting it.
“You have to change people’s perception of you, which can be hard, but I just have to come in and do a good job.
“People will look at my time at Scunthorpe, but we constantly punched above our weight for three years and then had one bad season and got relegated.
“As for the stadium, there are a million and one reasons why we didn’t get to build a new stadium but Scunthorpe have got planning permission to build a brand new stadium and that is no mean feat.
“All you can ultimately be judged on is the job that you’ve done and I accept that totally.
“I’m confident in my own ability, I’ve been given an absolutely wonderful opportunity – the opportunity of a lifetime, really – and it’s up to me to make the most of it, it’s as simple as that.”