Re: Gary McCann

By Morgs26/5/2018 00:32Sat May 26 00:32:55 2018In response to Re: Gary McCann

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Strewth!
Didn't see that coming.
Have to be fair though: even with a good, flexible job and the kids more or less grown-up, the required increase in both commitment of time and the difficulty of negotiating what will be an unsettling transitional period in the Southern League changed Mr.McCann's job description markedly.
Yeah, the Club has done him a few favours in his early days in the dugout, but he's repaid those with interest and we are all at least vaguely aware that he's turned-down job offers at clubs that finished a fair bit higher than Hampton on the Pyramid last season. Nobody needs to be told that the opinion on the Isthmian League street is that Mr.McCann is the main reason Hendon FC still plays at Step Three.
Everyone should be grateful for what he's done for the Club and wish him well for the future.
Yes, from the Club's viewpoint, it is arguably the worst possible time to leave, but the switch to the Wurzel League was generally unexpected and had happened more suddenly than is healthy for either the Club or an incumbent manager.
I don't envy the Board in their task of finding a replacement. Ideally, someone with knowledge of the Southern League would be preferable, but the localish Southern League contingent have had long-serving managers for a while. Money isn't likely to be available to entice the likes of ex-O's midfielder Steve Castle from Royston or Mark Burke from Hitchin. Andy Leese switched clubs last season.
Drax might be a good choice, but the job isn't attractive without money.
Young Bracken at Cor-Cas has done well.
I note Dave Anderson took the reins at Chertsey a couple of months back, after a spell concentrating on media duties. His predecessor at Arra, Owsy, hasn't been seen since failing to improve St.Alban's in the required time-scale, but a bloke familiar with kids from Council Estates in Ammersmiff, Arra Road and White City is probably what the Club needs.
The Club hasn't quite been plunged into a crisis, and it's not quite time to ring Tony Choules, but the situation's uncomfortably close to one and I have a horrible feeling a call to Uxbridge might be necessary at some point in the next six months.

Edited by Morgs at 00:36:25 on 26th May 2018