Forum Topic

New Manager for Brentford FC.

Martin Allen has resigned after two failed attempts in the playoffs. I thought Charlton would be beckoning, but apparently not. Any ideas as to who should take over the post?

Colin Vaughan ● 7465d90 Comments

Sorry Guys and Girls I missed the reply on that further down, two threads on the same subject.

Colin Vaughan ● 7465d

Who knows we the new manager will be, it might even be Allen as it appears that Ronnie Moore has the Tranmere job.I prfesume Allen will be hawking himself around the other clubs who are managerless

Neil Chippendale ● 7464d

Sven's gonna be free in a couple of months. Think he could handle it?

Keith Iddon ● 7463d

Its such a shame that Brentfords best manager in years feels he has to leave because of of lack of funds. I dont blame him though. I fear now that with the lowest transfer fund in the division relagation is a real posibility.

Mark Welland ● 7463d

Could be right there Mark, Barnet, season 2007/8? If only someone could get Bill Gates interested in Football, and Brentford in particular!

Colin Vaughan ● 7463d

My understanding was that the budget was the same as he was given before the season began last year. BFC topped up his budget, at his request, and the clubs debt went up.We now know, from Greg Dyke, that MA has been interviewd for jobs previously. At least 3. So his commitment to the club wasn't very strong. It was time to BFC and MA to part company. The board, of the club, now has people with spines who can stand up to MA. I presume thats one reason why he walked.

Neil Chippendale ● 7462d

For anyone who hasn't heard, Leroy Rosenior was named as the Bees' new manager today.

James de Vivenot ● 7451d

james this is what i found on another site On 30 March 2006, he was named first team coach at Shrewsbury Town acting as assistant to manager Gary Peters. He left on 13th June 2006 to take up the managerial position at Brentford.

Steve Fulham ● 7451d

Sounds like you got that from Wikipedia....in which case I edited it!

James de Vivenot ● 7451d

There's now an excellent article on this website, however they've spelt his surname "Rosenoir".

James de Vivenot ● 7451d

yes i did

Steve Fulham ● 7451d

Where James have they mispelt it? I've had a quick look and can't see it.There is short video of press conference and photos up on www.brentfordalways.org in case anybody missed it and an interview on BeesWorld if you are a subscriber.

Kath Richardson ● 7451d

They've corrected it now!

James de Vivenot ● 7451d

Brentfordalways.org oh no..GPG for me.

Neil Chippendale ● 7451d

Also according to Wikipedia - he came on as a substitute to replace Martin Allen in the 1986 League Cup Final.  Isn't it funny how these things come around?Rosenior's managerial career up until now has been undistinguished, but I've got a good feeling about this appointment.  Time will tell...

Phil Andrews ● 7451d

Also according to Wikipedia - he came on as a substitute to replace Martin Allen in the 1986 League Cup Final.  Isn't it funny how these things come around?Rosenior's managerial career up until now has been undistinguished, but I've got a good feeling about this appointment.  Time will tell...

Phil Andrews ● 7451d

Leroy Rosenior !!! God help us !!! He is quoted as saying "People here want to be successful." Thats a joke for a start off if that was the case the board would have backed Martin Allen. Rosenior is a cheap option who was out of work and will be given no money to improve the squad...RELEGATION A CERTAINTY !!!

Mark Welland ● 7450d

Neil may not approve of this but BBC Radio London interviewed Leroy on Wednesday and the broadcast can be listened to http://www.brentfordalways.org/brentford-fc-bbc-london-sport-rosenier-interview-14-a-13436.htmlif anyone is interested in hearing our new manager. There's no need to register.

Kath Richardson ● 7449d

Although I always liked him as a player his managerial record is very patchy and he was on the brink of back to back relegations when Torquay dumped him. There was a very telling comment from the Torquay chairman in the statement on Rosenior's departure " we have also seen a standard of football that has surprised us all."I think Ian Holloway would have been the interesting and funniest choice.

Andy Jones ● 7446d

Well you can't say you weren't warned. It is a shame in a way in that a promising start followed by a few injuries spriralled into such a rapid decline. Iain Dowie anyone? Suspect he would be literally out of Brentford's league.

Andy Jones ● 7292d

The 'Bees' playing the 'Bees' next season?? Send for 'Big Ron', sorry, the PC Brigade put him out of favour.

Colin Vaughan ● 7292d

Well I hope Brentford dont go for the cheapest option like they did for Rosenior.As I understand it there were eight candidates for the post and Rosenior was the cheapest.Theyve gotta go for the best man for the job.

Mark Welland ● 7292d

There was probably an element of Greg Dyke wanting to appoint a black manager to give himself cred with his 'meeja' chums. Nothing wrong with appointing a black manager but this one didn't have a great record. If he was seen as an emerging talent why not give him funds to do the job?

Andy Jones ● 7292d

Talking of Greg Dyke (tenuous BBC link), did anyone see Chegwin on Extras asking Gervais if the Beeb was still full of Jews and queers?

Colin Murphy ● 7292d

It may be worth, allocating more funds to a 'decent' manager. We just need a manager who will motivate his players in a way Martin O'Neil is and has been doing over the years, with hardly any resources in his early years, which is not too disimular to Brentford.

Martin Kelly ● 7292d

Although his record wasn't great he did acheive promotion with Yoevil. I also understand he wasn't the cheapest option of the candidates that were interviewed.BFC did recieve postive comments on him from a number of football insiders.

Neil Chippendale ● 7292d

As you will see from an earlier post I was one of those who felt that Rosenior would do well (not that I'm an expert or a "football insider" by any stretch of the imaginiation!).I often wonder how Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho would fare operating under the budgetary constraints which any Brentford manager has to work within.  Any views anyone?

Phil Andrews ● 7291d

As i mentioned previously, you really need a manager to motivate the players, to make them think and play a level above of what they are, like Martin O'Neil. Ferguson & Mouriniho, will obviously look good with the money have to spend, but I reckon I would keep Chelsea in the Premiership, if I could go out and buy the best players !!!

Martin Kelly ● 7291d

Well I don't think Martin O'Neil has got too much at the moment, he has just used what he has got, plus some of the up and comings pretty successfully. Perhaps someone like Steve Copell or Paul Jewel might do ok, as they both have experience in the lower divisions.

Colin Vaughan ● 7291d

ColinSteve Coppell was of course manager of Brentford before he went to Reading.  If you can persuade him to give that up and come back to Brentford then I think you should be offered the job, as even Martin O'Neill doesn't have motivational skills of that magnitude. ;o)

Phil Andrews ● 7291d

Both Mourinho and Ferguson won European trophies with 'smaller' clubs before they got their present jobs. They showed it is not just about motational skills but identifying good players at an early stage and forming them into a team. These are principles that would apply at any level and therefore it is daft to even consider a manager who doesn't have a track record of doing this.I think the best thing that Brentford could do now is look at the lower league or even the Conference and rule out anybody who isn't managing a team in the top three.

Andy Jones ● 7291d

When Steve Coppell was managing Brentford I was fortunate to meet him one evening in the Popes Lane Fish 'n Chip Shop. He was a lovely guy, very approachable. I felt a bit over-awed being in the presence of a god (as a Man Utd supporter) and was very disappointed when he eventually (and, inevitably)moved on. Like Martin O'Neill, he was a brilliant player with a sharp brain and, like O'Neill, would probably be a success in whatever field ofendeavour he chose.Unfortunately players and managers like those two are few and far between.

John Coxall ● 7291d

Personally think that yeah,Fergie would do a better job(especially at the same stage of his career)but I also think he is an exceptional manager,one of the greatest of all time so the comparison doesn't really bear up.Mourinho,I'm not so sure.I personally don't think Rosenior could motivate a Catholic to go to mass at Christmas and ,in fairness, a lack of funds can only compound what is becoming a grave situation.Go for a successful lower leagues manager who has hunger,anger and desire and they might have a chance.Could you see Rosenior swimming rivers to motivate his men?

Keith Iddon ● 7291d

The line about Jews and queers was in The Larry Sanders show first,me thinks,in the last series..'Is Hollywood still run by the gay Jews?'

Keith Iddon ● 7291d

Brentford had a hungry lower league manager in Martin Allen and look how he was treated.

Mark Welland ● 7289d

It's a vicious circle. The Bees are always going to struggle until the debt is reduced to manageable levels. The club's cashflow is never going to improve while attendances dwindle around the 5,000 mark.Even loyal Bees fans have been put off coming to Griffin Park to see the kind of performances that Brentford have managed this season. Kids growing up in Brentford do not want to support a losing team when they can opt for Premiership clubs, so the fanbase will decline even furtherWith no budget to bring in quality players, the team will struggle to avoid relegation from League 1 and even League 2, whoever is managing the club.So it looks pretty grim...

James de Vivenot ● 7289d

Please excuse the rant... GPG has been blocked by my employer's firewall!

James de Vivenot ● 7289d

But look what he did for Brentford.

Keith Iddon ● 7288d

Could be bottom of the table tonight, after Cheltenham loss.!!!

Colin Vaughan ● 7287d

Martin Allen was good for Brentford and the club were good to him. He applied for various jobs while at BFC and the club gave him permission. They also upped his budget even when they couldn't afford too. He seemed to have lost the team towards the end of last season when promotion was in the offing.

Neil Chippendale ● 7286d

'Lost the team' and 'lost the dressing room' seems to be the vogue justification for sacking a manager. The only way Rosenior lost the team was having to let go Tabb, Sodje and Turner with little quality coming into replace them. Last night's result suggest the manager wasn't the problem. What amazes me is that there was no plan B. Why get rid of Rosenoir in a hurry if there was nobody lined up to takeover. This looks very like the directors being intimidated by a vociferous and nasty minority of fans.

Dan Evans ● 7276d

I cant believe what Ive just heard!!! Not only are Bees getting beaten they are getting hammered!!! We could argue the manager can only work with what hes got but the buck has to stop at the managers door. Maybe a new face will do the trick Brentford made the mistake of holding onto Phil Holder when he went on a run from Boxing Day to the second from last game of the season without a win..the writing was on the wall and the board didnt act outcome?....RELEGATION.At least they have acted early problem is with a £5 million debt if they do get relegated there will be no coming back from that.

Mark Welland ● 7276d

... 'problem is with a £5 million debt' this response is not very helpful, I know - but it will only be a matter of time before they can rebuild the ground under a 20 storey complex of flats above!  :-(

Sarah Felstead ● 7276d

Mark, the debt is nearer £10 million than £5 million!

James de Vivenot ● 7276d

Yes the debt is nearer 10m.Regards Dan Evans post, Mark is right. What was Brentford meant to do. Let LR keep going. 16 games without a win is not good enough. The club had to get rid of him before the Christmas games. It does take a few weeks to advertise and interview. According to reports the club had almost 50 applications for the job. If the club is lucky one may have come from Phil Parkinson who led Colchester to the Championship, although he failed at Hull.

Neil Chippendale ● 7276d

"Regards Dan Evans post, Mark is right. What was Brentford meant to do. Let LR keep going"In retrospect not appointing him in the first place would have been the best thing. However, having taken on a relatively inexperience manager with an indifferent track record I think there should have been a plan B. Ultimately if Brentford's financial position is such that the manager has less funds than others in the division then you can't blame him for the current position. It is likely to prove difficult to attract someone who is better as the job is clearly a poison chalice.If I would have been a director I would have given Rosenior funds to buy two 30+ experienced professionals who had been discarded by other clubs in higher divisions due to age and were willing to come on a one year contract. This would have given him leadership on the pitch and helped enforce his authority in the dressing room.By not backing him at the first sign of trouble and not taking steps to line up a replacement before kicking him out the club has got the worst of both worlds. The payoff won't be cheap and the managerless side is proving even worse than it was under Rosenior. It will take a miracle to save them now although I think that Phil Parkinson's availability could be a stroke of luck. You could hope that the problems at Hull were a sign that the club had over achieved under the excellent Peter Taylor and Barmby was no longer a force for them.

Dan Evans ● 7275d

I think Brentford are really in a position that there is no coming back from if they are relegated.But Im afraid it dont stem from current boards/managers it goes back way beyond that. To the 1950s and Dunnets..Piggots etc who only took money out the club not put money in.And it now looks like they are now in the last chance saloon.

Mark Welland ● 7275d

The problem with the LR appointment was that he was talked up by a number of people in the game and he was also known to one of the staff at BFC. He'd had one good year in management and the rest was history.Parkinson would be good but who knows if he put his hat into the ring.

Neil Chippendale ● 7275d

MarkIt is worth remembering that it was the supporters who rescued the club from the designs of Jack Dunnett and his cohorts in the 1960s.  I seem to recall that we raised in the region of £100k to thwart attempts to sell the club off, a not inconsiderble sum at the time.  It would be nice to think that supporters will respond similarly to the current crisis.

Phil Andrews ● 7274d

Trouble is Phil how long have the supporters been throwing money at Brentford eg Lifeline...Bees United etc And still the board never repay the supporters faith with serious money.There comes a time when enough is enough.

Mark Welland ● 7274d

"It is worth remembering that it was the supporters who rescued the club from the designs of Jack Dunnett and his cohorts in the 1960s.  I seem to recall that we raised in the region of £100k to thwart attempts to sell the club off"Phil, it is very commendable at what must have been a very tender age, you were already actively involved in raising funds for the club.

Andy Jones ● 7274d

The "we" was possibly an overstatement.  I think my dad let me put the money in the bucket!

Phil Andrews ● 7274d

It could be argued that Directors shouldn't have to put "serious" money into any club. Thta football should be like any other business.Regards BFC Dyke put 100k in via Bees Utd. Eddie Rogers has 200k via BFC & Bees Utd. Davis Heath is the the nominate of Alan Bird who put in 250k. Burgess, Bourke and Gosling are on the Board via all the money that BU has put in.Not sure how much the Midas Way nominate put in.

Neil Chippendale ● 7272d

This morning BFC announced that Scott Fitzgerald's appointment has been made permanent.

James de Vivenot ● 7261d

Shame.

Neil Chippendale ● 7261d

What did you expect Neil? Alan Pardew?. According to the Club Website the players are more than happy with the arrangement, but then perhaps you have access to  a 'deep throat' in the Club offices that knows different.

Colin Vaughan ● 7261d

I agree with you Neil,relegation a certainty now.Three points adrift at the bottom Fitzgerald in charge for 4 games 3 of which hes lost.Even the sports presenter on Talksport had to laugh at the appointment considering his record !!!Im afraid its another appointment done on the cheap.

Mark Welland ● 7260d

Fitz wasn't the number one candiddate. Patterson was. He was offered the job on Monday and then withdrew after failing to agree terms.Not sure how far down Fitz was in the pecking order.Rumour is,  is that the panel wanted one candidate and then the two D's stepped in and changed the criteria for selection.It now appears that a certain poster on the GPG is getting the blame for the breakdown in talks with Patterson.

Neil Chippendale ● 7260d

Its still an awfall appointment though Neil.Problem Brentford have is if the board arnt willing to back the manager with some form of cash they are only gonna get people who arnt up to the job.When you consider the managers they have lost Allen,Adams and Coppell in recent years theyve all gone on to better themselves.

Mark Welland ● 7259d

Your are right Gentlemen, only a miracle will save us now. I do hope SF can save us, but very doubtful, all to do with not spending any money. The more we raise, the more they say we havn't got. If we go down, we will stay down for a number of years !!

Martin Kelly ● 7259d

Looks like its only some loanees coming in during the Jan transfer window. The fans have so far collected 23k, not sure how much the Board will put in. Certainly the BU reps aren't going too.One problen is that the club/BU have to pay Ron Noades 250K in the new year that must cut any available money.

Neil Chippendale ● 7258d

I agree I think though once relegated with a massive debt there would be no comming back from that.I fear the club would fold.

Mark Welland ● 7258d

Another defeat v Millwall looks like a good appointment..not only a defeat but a heavy one from the team just above them...truely awful.

Mark Welland ● 7255d

Relegation has to be accepted now. It is very sad, especially with just under 5 months of the season still to play.

Martin Kelly ● 7254d

If Brentford are relegated and go into administration as a result what happens to the money that was loaned to them by us, the local tax payer?

Mike Hardacre ● 7254d

I think the loan is secured against Griffin Park.

Neil Chippendale ● 7254d

It is secured against the ground which means that the money could be recovered if absolutely necessary. The loan was from reserves, which are unable to be spent on day-to-day runningh of the council, and enabled Bes Utd to go ahead with the takeover.

Matt Harmer ● 7254d

Well at least there was a 2-1 win today, can we hope, or is this a false dawn??

Colin Vaughan ● 7252d

Hopefully the corner has been turned, but will be very suprsied if we can survive. We'll just have to give the boys our full backing and hope for the best !!

Martin Kelly ● 7252d

Well sadly you were right. I find it hard to blame Fitzgerald or the players although they may not have what it takes to bounce back. Brentford's natural position given the club's fan base and location is in the Championship and it is just mismanagement at director level that has led to the current situation. If the board had ignored the clamour from the loudest but not necessarily most intelligent section of the fans and let Rosenoir carry on the worst that would have happened that Brentford would have still gone down but there would have been an opportunity to appoint a manager without a panic.

Dan Evans ● 7151d

I just hope we can survive in Leauge Two next season !

Martin Kelly ● 7151d

Conference in 2008/9??? The ghosts of the past must be spinning in their graves!!

Colin Vaughan ● 7151d

Seach for another new Manager......not that appealing job now is it.I dont think Chris Coleman will sending in his CV .

Martin Kelly ● 7150d

Well the appeal for Coleman would be that he wouldn't have to move house! He might be persuaded, particularly if his main aim is to get the Welsh job. He could reason that Brentford is a good bet for positive results but no one would blame him when he jumped ship when Toshack was sacked - possibly next November.Mourinho might also be available in the near future although he saved his job last night. Or maybe even Neil Shipperley in a player (ahem) manager role. Second option more likely perhaps.

Dan Evans ● 7150d

Whilst there is bound to be the suspicion that Terry took this job because it will allow him to continue with his undoubtedly more lucrative media work this doesn't seem to me to be too bad of an appointment.I'm not Terry Butcher's biggest admirer. I think his punditry betrays a very simplistic view of the game and rarely offers any insight. To me he epitomises the blood and thunder school of English football which believes that by shouting and running around a lot we can beat Johnny Foreigner who doesn't have the stomach for a fight. Although he was a terrific servant for Ipswich and England he was fortunate to play along side really top quality centre halves like Russell Osman and the peerless Des Walker.Whatever Greg Dyke might say his management record is poor and he hasn't had any success at any of his former clubs. The man is no Steve Coppell. However, he is a legend and I would imagine that initially the players will respond well to him. Brentford have the squad to bounce back if they can keep key players and get a few early wins they should come straight back up. However if things don't go well they may soon realise that the manager's plan A is to shout at them and demand more effort and there is no plan B.

Dan Evans ● 7136d

Could have been worse. Lets hope Butcher can progress with the club, and if sucessful, not use it as a stepping stone.

Martin Kelly ● 7136d

While his time at Motherwell wasn't fantastic he did keep them in the SPL on a very limited budget and when they were in Administration.At Sydney he was asked to get the team into the play-offs. At one time he only has 13 fit players. He did it and he was still sacked.BFC haven't any real key players, O'Conner and Frampton have been a disgrace. Kouffor is off. Loydies contract is up and Nelson is a pony

Neil Chippendale ● 7136d

In the circumstances (bottom of the table, no money), I agree with Dan that Butcher isn't a bad appointment, although his track record isn't inspirational. His blood-and-guts approach (which Greg Dyke was praising on TV last night) may be what getting out of the basement division needs. He has some experience of this kind of scrapping, and could attract one or two useful oldies to back up the youngsters. Forever hopeful...

Malcolm Peltu ● 7136d

So...who should manage the Bees next?Hopefully this will be a turning point and a new management team can be brought in to help avoid relegation from the football league while working on a shoestring budget.As Martin Allen would say "Onwards and upwards!"

James de Vivenot ● 6906d

Bring back Bill Dodgin!!!!!

Account suspended ● 6906d

I just wonder how many times this thread will keep on getting resurrected?

Kath Richardson ● 6906d

As many times as it takes Kathleen.Seems reasonable to 'resurrect'it,Brentford having no manager at the moment and all.Whoever it is has his work cut out and will have to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Keith Iddon ● 6906d

I guess the repeated resurrection of the thread depends on how long it takes the board to fathom out what qualities the Bees' manager needs. Terry Butcher was a disaster at Coventry a few years ago and seems to have improved little, if at all, in the meantime. So what possessed the Brentford board to make them think he was the right man for the job in the first place ?

Richard Greenhough ● 6905d

My point exactly. I think it also points to more general problems at the club than merely an inability to choose the right manager. Although no doubt that inability will rear its ugly head again with the next (and no doubt different) selection process to choose the next poor sod.

Kath Richardson ● 6905d

I presume it was his time as manager at Motherwell. Keeped them in the SPL on a shoestring budget. I also think he did ok at Sydney FC, although a lot of people think otherwise.

Neil Chippendale ● 6905d

Looks like the new man could be Andy Hessenthaler at the second attempt. Did ok at Gillingham with little money. Could be the right choice? See ES Sport P65.

Colin Vaughan ● 6904d

A very good away point at Milton Keynes this evening to cheer up Brentford fans.I`d also like to remind the forum that Brentford F.C. is still the only league club in history to win every home game (21 games in season 1929-30).Manchester City are giving it a good try with nine in a row but don`t worry because they can`t make it past 19!

Robert Darke ● 6896d

Will it be enough for Andy Scott to get the job though.

Neil Chippendale ● 6896d

Andy Scott has been appointed full time today:http://www.brentfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~1206273,00.html

James de Vivenot ● 6882d

No surprise really especially, if the rumour is true,  that Martin Allen turned the job down.

Neil Chippendale ● 6882d