MICHAEL DUFF'S FIRST WORDS AS REDS HEAD COACH Interviews In the South Yorkshire sunshine, Michael Duff took his seat in the dugout at Oakwell and spoke at length about what lies ahead. Continue reading on the official site...
Already liking this bloke, comes across extremely well. Fantastic interview by Duff just posted on the website and looks like he will not suffer fools or any pre Madonna's pinching a wage at BFC. He has a personal history with Josh Benson so hopefully he can take the handbrake off Benson and get him fit and playing properly. Playing for the badge and sweat on the shirt + reconnecting the supporters and the community back with BFC he has promised the supporters...............Duff is the kick up the ar*e that some of our squad needs, either get with the programme or you will be out on your ear with this bloke by the sounds of it. He needs a clear out of the dead wood, cash in on the big money sales that will be inevitably leaving and hopefully he is given funds to re invest that into a mix of youth and experience to do a job at this level. Over to the board now to fully support him and give him what he needs. Plus he's played in every league coming up through the pyramid and Northern Ireland also so very experienced. Actions not words....it's a shame he wasn't appointed last season instead of the chuckle brothers Schopp and Poya whilst Conway was playing hide and seek. Only thing left to do is to get rid of the locusts still in the background at our club and answer the questions that are still not being answered about the finances / court cases / business model of the 'silent' investors etc In Duff we trust (hopefully !)
Certainly saying the right things! After the two cardboard cut outs we've had in Schopp and Asbaghi, this is a breath of fresh air
Very grounded and realistic interview. I like that he mentions on more than one occasion that the board recognises there's a disconnect between the club and the fans, and that (one of) the main priorities is to repair that bond. There's certainly been gestures of that this summer. A couple of the lads I played football with (mostly blades) have commented on how much I've been down to Oakwell during the close season, with the different initiatives going on. Nice to hear that Ben Williams gave the club a glowing reference too. He also addresses why it's taken so long, and that it's mainly down to him making the right decision for his family. I guess that pours a bit of cold water on the rumours about why JFH 'turned the job down'. I'm looking forward to the season now!
Great interview. The man sounds like he means business. Easy enough to say when we haven't seen what he can do here yet but I'd his starwd objectives hold true we're in for an exciting ride. His background is the right background and his experience is relevant. He appears to be a good man motivator/manager and he has a strong hard work ethics. Very very pleased with this appointment. From me and possibly just a few others on here, it's a big well done to Khaled and the new Board for getting the man they wanted. MD now needs to experience the buzz of a packed Oakwell. For that he'll need the patience of us fans; even when we lose two or three on the bounce he will need the patience of us fans. Hope that's not a pig I've just seen flying through the sky.
I'm going to stick up for those two a little and say, I feel the previous board left them both a little in the dark. The disconnect between the board and the fans was evident, but I wonder whether that stretched to the coaching staff too. Hopefully the current board will be a little more closely involved, particularly because they're not trying to run 7 football clubs at once. I hope they back Duff with all the tools he needs, because I don't think his two predecessors were necessarily given that luxury. I'm not saying they were good coaches by any stretch, but I do think they were dealt a poor hand, to a degree.
Interesting comments about Devaney, got to assume he'll be assistant manager. Glad that we've clearly got our first choice option.
Absolutely superb. Talking the language almost all of us have wanted to hear from our coach for the last 12 months. This is 100% the best appointment we could have made from the names realistically available. The challenge will be in the delivery, the support, shaping the squad, and getting results on the pitch. But for now, I personally hope supporters can separate some of their negativity and welcome this as the second big and positive announcement of the Summer. Welcome Michael. Here’s to a successful three years or more.
I don't know, I feel like they were given a very good opportunity way above their skill level. The friction between fans and board certainly wouldn't have helped their cause but in terms of a disconnect between them and the board, if there was then I would say the fault was with the CEO.
Well said Ben. Spot on re some supporters now needing to filter out the negativity and recognise that this is a new era with a well intentioned new Board and a manager who matches up with pretty much everything the fans were asking for.
Exciting times. That we will be offloading so many he probably sees as a plus as he gets to put his own stamp on the team.
How refreshing god the piffle that came out of the last two head coaches mouths even allowing for English not been there first language was hard to listen to. Anyway onwards and hopefully upwards everything you hear and see now fills you with confidence. The boardroom changes now Duffs appointment two big positives now the small matter of ins and outs.