Gary McSheffrey interview

[Bessie Red]

Copps role: He was asked to bring back the SOD ways of playing by the directors. Who admitted they were going with the flow of whichever manager we had at the time. When that went wrong we needed a rebuild, this role was designed to promote continuity and a defined way of playing.

Unfortunately the crowd are not set on a style, they just want winning football, and the noisier fans are part of the gerrit up their brigade, so will always skew the argument when it doesn’t go to plan.

DS was trying to implement that style, and may have got close with his own players. it was never going to work with the players we had, and was a risk to continue.

Both Copps and DS are victims of trying to implement the directors wishes, and the directors then moving the goal posts.

I am fully confident in Grant, but wonder what happens when he leaves.

Think this is a fair analysis. McSheffrey was sacked purportedly because he failed to give the side any identity or style of play after achieving at best mixed results during his tenure. Fair enough. Schofield gets brought in with the remit of providing a clear identity and style of play. He's very process-driven and methodical but results are again mixed before falling off a cliff completely. Then he's sacked and we go back to McCann.

I'm confident it'll work in the short term with TB's extra funding but long term, when McCann goes, the underlying problems of no real professional-level football structure at the club will remain.

With McCann in charge though it will buy Copps or any future HOF time to refine the role. We couldn't continue with two rookies in such important roles as we would have been non league next May. Hopefully Grant will be here 2, 3 or 4 seasons and the HOF role will be a well oiled machine & in a more established place within the club structure by the time we inevitably part company!

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

My gut tells me the HOF role will be gone soon, just doesn't appear to have worked.

[ForsolongaRover]

As Head of Football Operations you need a practical man rather than an Artistic Director.

It is interesting that McS tells us that Copps had control over signings whereas it was Schofield who was given the final say when he took over.

Assuming that “SODball” was what Copps prescribed, and McS quite rightly recognised that it was not practicable with the quality of players that were affordable, the conflict should have escalated. Thus, Baldwin and Blunt should have made a judgement which correctly would have been that Copps’ policy was infeasible. 

They didn’t and Schofield blundered on and on supported by Copps until it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that the cause was lost. Knowing this doesn’t really change my opinion of Schofield who didn’t have the imagination to even make slight variations on the theme, but it explains the inertia and Copps’ discomfort at DS’s dismissal.

At the time of the “substantial funds” statement, it seems as though Blunt etc were still clinging to the belief that the Copps vision could still materialise under Schofield if bolstered by a batch of suitable summer recruits.

You wonder if it then took an intervention by TB, even influenced by JR’s criticism, to bring the Board to its senses.

If “SODball” was Copps “Big Idea” you might ask where he feels he can realistically take football policy from here with a manager like McCann.

Working in League 2 is not a job for the purist.

[silent majority]

I can assure you that there was no ‘lightbulb’ moment where TB, or anybody else for that matter, had a sudden change of heart, nor any kind of awakening which precipitated a change of direction.

I can also assure you that no outside influence was party to the changes that took place.

It was a challenging time for all parties, and the directors were no different than us, they could clearly see what we saw.

[Canadian Rover]

I can assure you that there was no ‘lightbulb’ moment where TB, or anybody else for that matter, had a sudden change of heart, nor any kind of awakening which precipitated a change of direction.

I can also assure you that no outside influence was party to the changes that took place.

It was a challenging time for all parties, and the directors were no different than us, they could clearly see what we saw.

There must have been though. Blunt had publicly backed the manager for next season just a few weeks prior to his dismissal.

Outside influences had an influence; without a doubt!

[GazLaz]

As Head of Football Operations you need a practical man rather than an Artistic Director.

It is interesting that McS tells us that Copps had control over signings whereas it was Schofield who was given the final say when he took over.

Assuming that “SODball” was what Copps prescribed, and McS quite rightly recognised that it was not practicable with the quality of players that were affordable, the conflict should have escalated. Thus, Baldwin and Blunt should have made a judgement which correctly would have been that Copps’ policy was infeasible. 

They didn’t and Schofield blundered on and on supported by Copps until it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that the cause was lost. Knowing this doesn’t really change my opinion of Schofield who didn’t have the imagination to even make slight variations on the theme, but it explains the inertia and Copps’ discomfort at DS’s dismissal.

At the time of the “substantial funds” statement, it seems as though Blunt etc were still clinging to the belief that the Copps vision could still materialise under Schofield if bolstered by a batch of suitable summer recruits.

You wonder if it then took an intervention by TB, even influenced by JR’s criticism, to bring the Board to its senses.

If “SODball” was Copps “Big Idea” you might ask where he feels he can realistically take football policy from here with a manager like McCann.

Working in League 2 is not a job for the purist.

“As Head of Football Operations you need a practical man rather than an Artistic Director”

That’s a great point. It’s always been obvious he wasn’t the right man for the job. He’s an optimist for a start. Optimists generally don’t make good critics!

[Campsall rover]

100% outside influences dictated that DS had to go.

The fans were voting with their feet. Nothing more need be said.

The discontent was getting very loud and quite aggressive from some.
JR might have had a little influence also.
If he spoke to TB it was not just a polite call to say hello was it.

No I think it got TB to take decisive action.
Let’s face it Blunt would have taken us into the National League next season if he had been allowed to.

[silent majority]

I can assure you that there was no ‘lightbulb’ moment where TB, or anybody else for that matter, had a sudden change of heart, nor any kind of awakening which precipitated a change of direction.

I can also assure you that no outside influence was party to the changes that took place.

It was a challenging time for all parties, and the directors were no different than us, they could clearly see what we saw.

There must have been though. Blunt had publicly backed the manager for next season just a few weeks prior to his dismissal.

Outside influences had an influence; without a doubt!

Why must they?

I’ll say it again, there was no lightbulb moment.

[GazLaz]

The reason we are where we are fully rests at the doorstep of David Blunt. Grant may come in and do ok to paper over the cracks but nothing can change longer term until there is a change at that level. Whether it’s a new chairman or a head of football that is strong enough to run a football club who knows.

[roversdude]

Did they actually say they were backing Schofield though or backing the manager

[ForsolongaRover]

I did not suggest that there was a “lightbulb” moment, but that there was a change in the plan to allow Schofield (with Copps’ guidance) to press on with squad-building to meet the Copps vision.

Whether this was sudden or gradual is not the point.

SM may well be the closest contact we have with “official” decision-making, and he can only base his comments on what he knows and what people admit to. Dare I say that it is not unreasonable to assume that he cannot know everything about every situation about which we speculate?

We are all aware that he acts as representative of so many on here that are members of the VSC of which he is the chief office-holder. In this capacity it seems that if his account of events is to be believed, here is yet another issue on which the club have seemingly ignored the views of those whom he represents?

In his shoes, assuming that I carried my members’ views to the club, I would find that rather frustrating.

[Bessie Red]

All this talk of replicating a SOD style of football is ridiculous.  It is not an "off the shelf" style that can be easily replicated a decade later. It was a one off period in our history that came together due to the sum of its parts and worked because of the individuals involved in it at that time. It can never be recreated and it is plainly stupid for Copps or the board to believe that it could've have been. Let's move on and just bask in the memories created back then. Let Grant build a new team in his image!!

[Canadian Rover]

It was a challenging time for all parties, and the directors were no different than us, they could clearly see what we saw.

The directors were different than us...because we saw this coming ahead of time.

The vast majority of our support did.

The decision is now made to improve the first team management and playing staff to which we all welcome.

We shouldn't have been in this position and that's down to the way the club has been run; shambolic. Outside influences and voices have without a doubt made a difference.

From CR to JR we all have an influence and that should never be underestimated or devalued.

Now please let's move forward.

[ncRover]

https://youtu.be/0tkAGIR-B7Y

2:40

“We’ve had a lot of conversations with players who want to come to us because of the way we play and the way we do things”

I found this an audacious statement at the time. I feel that an external influence must have been a struggle to attract these players that were alluded to.

How any player could have looked at us a month ago and thought that I do not know. If I was a good L2 level player I wouldn’t have come anywhere near Rovers if they were offering the same as other big clubs at the level.

That’s all changed now though.

[redarmi66]

Im assuming as he is now speaking to the press he has been fully paid up and is no longer under any NDA agreement?

[Ryaldinhio]

Im assuming as he is now speaking to the press he has been fully paid up and is no longer under any NDA agreement?

That was my exact first thought

[TonySoprano]

It appears that my comment has been deleted.
I guess free speech doesn't apply to this forum.

Oh well. I'll say it again.


100% the reason why brammall put out his injection of funds statement and the sacking of schofield was due to fan pressure, and the scathing reports in the press of how the club was being run.
Coupled with the boycott of season ticket purchases and a growing protest movement, all led to where we are now.

To try and suggest otherwise is laughable, and an insult to the fan base.

[GazLaz]

It appears that my comment has been deleted.
I guess free speech doesn't apply to this forum.

Oh well. I'll say it again.


100% the reason why brammall put out his injection of funds statement and the sacking of schofield was due to fan pressure, and the scathing reports in the press of how the club was being run.
Coupled with the boycott of season ticket purchases and a growing protest movement, all led to where we are now.

To try and suggest otherwise is laughable, and an insult to the fan base.

The additional funds is an interesting one. Why not do it last season after a truly horrific season in L1?? Something must have changed in recent months to change (or built up)  Terry’s thinking.

[Nudga]

It appears that my comment has been deleted.
I guess free speech doesn't apply to this forum.

Oh well. I'll say it again.


100% the reason why brammall put out his injection of funds statement and the sacking of schofield was due to fan pressure, and the scathing reports in the press of how the club was being run.
Coupled with the boycott of season ticket purchases and a growing protest movement, all led to where we are now.

To try and suggest otherwise is laughable, and an insult to the fan base.

The additional funds is an interesting one. Why not do it last season after a truly horrific season in L1?? Something must have changed in recent months to change (or built up)  Terry’s thinking.

Maybe he saw the real threat of going back into non league football and didn't want to have that as his lasting legacy?

[steve@dcfd]

In the latest second part of the interview. The expectation was to return to league one. Signing players with the money we had. Some on low wages and missing out on experienced players. Losing Tomlin was a big blow to the team the link between midfield and strikers had gone.
Playing the SOD way was difficult with the players we had. He was disappointed we were relegated.

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-gary-mcsheffrey-on-style-of-play-budget-expectations-and-more-4150492

So the extra funds were required this season let’s hope it is enough to allow Grant to get the players we need.

[Canadian Rover]

Mcsheffrey was treated unfairly (in my opinion) and Steve Eyre evenly more so. I imagine there were mistakes in managing the staff from the set up we had with the structural changes at the club. I have to be careful here on how I place things as I have seen my posts deleted recently.

How much support did they receive from the chairman? The ultimate figure at a club? Was Gavin the one fulfilling the regular chairman's tasks? How involved is the chairman with people at the club?

Were Mcsheffrey and Eyre being forced to play the SOD style with players that couldn't come remotely close to doing it? Was Schofield the same? It appeared Danny had way more support than Mcsheffrey. But with less money and worse results and a style of play.

Now more to the point - will we see a change of duties to the HOF and will GM be given the true funds for success? And will be be given this without interference?

And how can we get clear communication from the board members to the fans? I'd love to see David Blunt speak to someone like 18Dapper like JR did. Imagine that!!!

Things will get better with Grant and Cliff but we shouldn't be in this position.

It does appear now with the appointment of Grant either the fans influence has been listened to or a light bulb moment has happened and those in charge of the club have seen the errors of their ways.

Something has changed though and hopefully for the better.

[pib]

I think McSheffrey comes across as a nice bloke, but the re-writing of history is always interesting in these situations.

OK, maybe he didn't have the budget that McCann will supposedly have, and yes he was probably right in retrospect that he didn't have the squad to play a possession-based game.

But I have to pick up on a few things he says. He says we were competitive in his time last season and the aim was promotion. Even though he left us in a better position than we finished at the end of the season, I think most of us would remember it that we had a few very fortunate near-misses in the first few games of the season that put some points on the board, but from the start of September our form was really poor lower-half form, which started to match the performances, and was only made to look better by unconvincing wins against two of the bottom 3 in Rochdale and Crawley.

In that run we also lost to Hartlepool away, which was a complete abomination of a performance in which we got outdone in every way.

The point about Tomlin is a valid one in one sense, as we relied upon him for creativity and ability too much in the first couple of months of the season, so him retiring did weaken the team.

But on the other hand I felt at the time (and still do now) that he's one we never should've signed. Relying on one player for creativity, who was 33-34 y/o, had been an unreliable/patchy player throughout his whole career, who could clearly barely run when you watched him throughout pre-season, and had only made something like 1 start and 4 sub appearances the whole of the season before, was clearly a very ill-thought out move.

I don't think McSheffrey was ready for the job when he was given it, and I think we'd got to a point where he had to go. Just because we got the next bit wrong as well doesn't mean we would've been better keeping him on. Good luck to him with whatever is next though.

[steve@dcfd]

Tomlin signed and his wage was not a big one it was said at the time by MCS. So signing a younger version would been hard on the money we were offering. GMC took a risk, which what you do when money is short, it didn’t work out. Feel sorry for him now and especially after Copps was given the HOF wanting to bring in DS who was far worst than GMC. Over to Grant and Cliff now I’m really hoping the club give him the funds to move the club back up the table.

[Chris Black come back]

The whole thing was desperate. Even with a budget half what we had there was no need to end up with the squad we did. Terrible decisions that we all knew were terrible and ended up being terrible.

[Sammy Chung was King]

There was nothing wrong with Schofield wanting to play a certain way, but he wasn’t practical enough, to realise those players were not capable of playing that way. His first thought should have been to get enough results to save his job.
It was a shame it didn’t work out, we now have a new era that hopefully starts our regeneration as a club and team.

[EasyforDennis]

It seems to me that both Gary Mac and Danny S were operating with one arm tied behind their back. The players just weren't good enough or simply couldn't play the way people other than the coach wanted them to play. Whilst they will have to shoulder most of the blame it certainly wasn't all their fault we ended up how we did.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Every manager will have a hand tied behind their back apart from Pep.

It’s about choosing to chop your other hand and feet off or finding a way to make the best of it

[Colin C No.3]

It seems to me that both Gary Mac and Danny S were operating with one arm tied behind their back. The players just weren't good enough or simply couldn't play the way people other than the coach wanted them to play. Whilst they will have to shoulder most of the blame it certainly wasn't all their fault we ended up how we did.

I don’t buy that.

Before you sign any contract of employment you have to ‘talk money’ & in the case of becoming a football coach or manager that ‘money talk’ SHOULD include what monies you have at your disposal in order to buy players.

If the answer is ‘two shillings & sixpence’ & you accept the role then you can’t have any grumbles.

If you’re also told that you will not have sole responsibility for bringing in players then again, if you choose to accept that because the pull of being a manager/coach for the first time (or after you’ve been sacked from your first role managing a professional football team) is still so great then you’ve been shown the ‘deck of cards’ & still ‘picked them up’.

You can bet your bottom dollar that McCann would have ensured that a) There were sufficient funds available for HIM to spend to strengthen the squad
b) He would be responsible for identifying & bringing players to the club
c) He would play the style of football he feels will get us out of this god awful division

If McSheffrey or Schofield settled for anything less then be it on their shoulders.

I wish them well in their next endeavours, but it’s all water under the bridge now & we move on with a ‘proper’ manager at the helm.

[Avsuptem]

I can assure you that there was no ‘lightbulb’ moment where TB, or anybody else for that matter, had a sudden change of heart, nor any kind of awakening which precipitated a change of direction.

I can also assure you that no outside influence was party to the changes that took place.

It was a challenging time for all parties, and the directors were no different than us, they could clearly see what we saw.

This seems to be saying that fans power had no influence on the decision

How very odd that would be if it were so.