I didn't know until today, that he's the current Oldham manager. And now hes just guided them to promotion, back into the Efl. He's actually got a very good record of winning six promotions as a manager. And three of them are like this, bringing teams back into the Efl. So Ive always wondered, did we miss out on something by not giving him the job full time in season '13. Flicker had totally lost the plot of course, and was sacked. And then a few weeks later we brought Wilson back instead, and got rid of Mellon. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c331j5617pno
I think it was best for all parties that he left. He was very much Hill & Flitcroft’s mate & the dressing room was poison. I’m sure others will remember more details than me but about half the dressing room shared the same agent & it wasn’t a good place to be. They had a full clear out of every Hill / Flitcroft connection & it enabled us to rebuild with younger players like Hourihane, Winnall, Scowen, Watkins etc & although it took a season it wasn’t long until we ended up back in the championship with Heckingbottom so it all worked out in the end. Mellon’s definitely a more than capable manager though. There’s no arguments from me there & at another time he may well have been the right man for us.
Ive never become more disappointed and angry by a manager, in such a short space of time, as I did then with Flitcroft. What on earth happened to him, just totally losing the plot like he did. I didn't know much about Mellon so I wasn't too disappointed, at him not getting the job. And especially when it became known in early-mid December, that we were showing an interest in Wilson again.
I was ill in 2014 so I have no memory of what transpired that season, and very little of the Wilson mk2 season. I've read all about the Shea business with the fans, and the Wiseman comments. However I do remember the Hillcroft era very well, up to the Huddersfield miracle - a bright spot in an otherwise grotesque miscalculation in Cryne's judgement. We were rapidly becoming Yorkshire's Rochdale. Grim times.
Made a very good career in management at lower levels. Decent stats, and will always be in demand. Whether a club higher up the pyramid will give him a chance. Is anyone's guess.
I’ve still no idea to this day as to why Flitcroft refused to play 3-5-2 after getting the job permanently. It was like he decided that teams would have worked out how we played over the summer & that he wanted to do something different but even when we were on a terrible run he wouldn’t go back to it. I think he played a flat midfield 4 of Dawson, Etuhu, Perkins & Mellis for about a month before he got the sack & it just wasn’t working & wasn’t ever going to.
Yeah he has a very good record of winning promotions, but I think they are from the Conference and Lg Two. So maybe that explains why nobody in the Championship, seems to want him. But in Lg One though, who knows, and maybe his aim now is to bring Oldham into this league next season!.
This also brings back memories for me, of the Wilson part 2 era. And to be honest, to this day, I still think Danny should have kept us up in that season '13. But I suppose he has got the excuse at least, of what he took over from, after the Hill & Flitcroft (and maybe even Mellon) disaster!.
Remember there was the exodus and clear out, in the summer of '14, and that usually happens of course after a relegation season. Sadly we lost players Luke Steele and Chris O'Grady, and even Tommy 'the Pole' Cwyka, who was decent. And btw, he actually went to Blackpool with Jacob Mellis!!. And although they were still a Championship club at that time, they were on a terrible downer for a few years. And both players regretted their moves there, as neither stayed for the full season.
As soon as we stayed up the season before would.have been the best time. Thank you, bye. But it would.have been harsh