Quote Ferocious Aardvark="Ferocious Aardvark"Let me start that I was never a fan of Cummins being in the assistant's job, wished we had someone like our old boys keen to coach eg (of course) Menzies, McDermott, Anderson or maybe Jimmy Lowes even.
I don't know FC so can only judge on what little I've seen of him on the box, superficially don't immediately see either a steely man manager or an inspirational character.
That said, I ask myself, does he deserve a chance, and surprisingly have convinced myself that the clear answer is a resounding "Yes". Some factors:
1. Potter stuck with him. Potter would have been unlikely to have done so with a mug or a useless appendage
2. What does an assistant coach actually do? I suppose it varies club to club, but you need one, a coach can't do everything on his own, and you'd have to say that we have seen a very steady and very big improvement as the months have rolled by, to th extent that of late, while we could still have a 'mare, we were far more consistent, and genuinely back to a situation where nobody would relish playing us. We had been built into quite a formidable force, certainly compared to wher we started from. Therefore indisputably, FC must have been an integral part of achieving that.
3. We would not be picking a beginner. He is a man who now has 7 (?) years experience working under some very able coaches, watching and learning from their methods. He has therefore served a decent apprenticeship.
4. If you can promote from within, then to me that's the best way. Dynasty building and all that. The players presumably know and trust him, and he knows them. He also knows inside out the methods that have achieved such an improvement to date.
5. We certainly can't afford a top dollar Aussie coach
6. Potter has gone out of his way to recommend him.
In a nutshell therefore, I like his work, he's served his time, and if he's thrown his hat into the ring, he must feel he's ready, so bring it on.'"
I can't argue with a word of that, I still wouldn't give it to him though. Having been at a lower club when the head coach left I have witnessed a BoD, with no in depth RL knowledge, scrapping around for a new coach. They appointed the bloke who used to drive him to the club from Cas, as the coach couldn't drive. I am not directly comparing the 2 but do wonder what experience OK & GS do have & what soundings they have taken. Obviously MP has recommended FC, & I am not qualified to argue with him, but history is littered with failed assistants recommended by the last head coach.
