Well what a week....

What a difference a week makes in football. Two late winners and you can sense the optimism returning. Where once if we went behind we would struggled to get back on terms and generally lose our way. Now there is a belief we can turn things around if we’re hit with a setback. 

What’s caused the turnaround? Well, the signings in the transfer window has had a big impact on our performances. Now, if we have injuries or suspensions we have replacements ready to move on up, which in turn puts pressure on the players out to perform better if they want their places back. No one now has a guarantee of a starting place, which is a good thing. Too many times in the past players maintained their positions even though their work rate and commitment was to say the least, below what was required. Hence the slide down the table.

The other big factor was the sacking of Simon Grayson. It’s no surprise that results have improved since his departure. Personally, I wasn’t jumping for joy when he was given the job, but like most fans you support whoever is in the hot seat. I could see why he was originally approached to take over. He was out of work, he had previous knowledge of the club this being his first managerial job and he had success at this level before too. At the beginning of the season it looked like it would work out. We were getting results and up there in the play-off positions. That said, you could see we looked very disorganised and prone to silly mistakes, the mistakes and loses grew as the season progressed. I was always disappointed with his aloofness on the sidelines, which had a bearing on how the team reacted to him. Something was missing, his man-management skills weren’t there, his tactics were predictable, so much so, opponents knew how to play us and this was affecting team morale. So the owners took the questionable decision to sack him. I say questionable, because some fans thought he should have been given longer to get things right, especially after the club agreed to sign so many players in the transfer window under his watch. Others said, why get rid of someone if there is no replacement to take over? I think the owners like the majority of fans knew he wasn’t the right man for the job. Managers who have had previous successes at clubs very rarely replicate that success if they return and so it proved with Grayson. 

It’s been well documented how trying to get a manager has been difficult. Names are springing up all the time as are the odds. I’m not worried how long it takes, because at the moment with David Dunn in situ results are encouraging.

He’s made it obvious he doesn’t want to be considered as the new manager and wants to remain a coach instead, you have respect his decision. But we have all seen the big improvements he has made to the players. He has them playing in positions, which suit their skills. He has made them sharper, better organised and willing to take on opposing defences, something that was totally lacking previously. The midweek rearranged match against Bolton was a good example of never giving up. Playing Bolton at the beginning of the season would have been a lot easier for us, because their situation is far different now. Even though Bolton equalised late on and we all thought the game would end up as a draw, up popped Dewsbury-Hall

with a cracking winner. Yesterday’s game followed a similar pattern with another exciting 2-1 finish in injury time. We again thought we would end up with a draw but that was until the much maligned Joe Nuttall headed in a superb winner from a Liam Feeney cross. In fact if it wasn’t for a brilliant game saving stop by Chris Maxwell minutes earlier the result could easily have gone to Ipswich. But his long ball up the field made all the difference.

I was hoping to finish this blog yesterday, but fate must have taken a hand in events. Simon Sadler and his board have announced this morning that they have appointed Neil Chritchley as the new Blackpool coach, who was until today the Under-23 coach at Liverpool. 

Neil has been given a contract until the end 2022/3 season, which is testament to the faith the club have in the appointment. Personally I think this is a very positive step. Neil is only one of 16 coaches who has achieved the highest UEFA coaching qualification. Although this is his first managerial position he has been both the Under-18 and Under-23 coach at Liverpool FC over the last 6 years there. He was born in Crewe and previously worked as Academy Director at Crewe Alexandra. Looking forward to welcoming him to Bloomfield Rd and to a successful time here. I’m sure the fans will give him the welcome he deserves.

Finally, I would like to thank Dave Dunn for the improvements he’s made to the team in the short time he’s been in charge.