[Archived] Nickos (newer) Thread

[John]

I keep reading in various articles that Ince would command the respect of the dressing room. Perhaps he did for the MK Dons, not very difficult (no disrespect to the darkness etc).

I am not so sure with us.

How come everyone who mentions the Guv'Nor to me says it with a cheeky grin. Also, how come everyone I speak to, seems to think he is an obnoxious t@at.

It may seem, from my last few posts, that I am being very negative about Ince, but I can't help but state these facts, especially when non Rovers fans keep bringing it up (they are not purposely trying to wind me up).

Anyway, trust JW, but then again, he's going to get it wrong sometime....

[RevidgeBlue]

The only thing we know for certain is that he has 2 years to get his qualifications. It's entirely possible that the rest of the clubs said they didn't care if he went through the motions now, the only important thing was that he did it for real in the next 2 years.

Speculating about conversations is fun!!

Come off it American, don't let common sense get in the way of a good old fashioned witch hunt!

It's also entirely possible that the Premier League Chairmen knew about Ince's non - attendance on the course (for whatever reason) when special dispensation was granted. If the FA of Wales were as incandescent as nicko claimed about the matter, it seems odd that news of this wouldn't emerge until three days later on Saturday evening.

[SamTheShrew]

What has always concerned me about the persuit of Ince is that I don't think he deserves our club, despite it appearing that he thinks he has a god given right to.

this episode just seems to confirm this

[John]

What has always concerned me about the persuit of Ince is that I don't think he deserves our club, despite it appearing that he thinks he has a god given right to.

this episode just seems to confirm this

He does not deserve our club.

Comments about his '3-4 plan' and his T@at mate from the Mirror confirm this. That article from the Mirror also seriously makes me cringe. This is not to sound rude, but the man does not have the intelligence to be a top manager.

I do think he will do ok in management, but preferably we won't see it first hand.

[jim mk2]

Ince probably never got to Aberystwyth because he hasn't a clue where Wales is. Or he just couldn't be "bovvered" going in his parlance.

I'm still upset that Ince is likely to be the next manager of my club. He's an unpleasant human being and I'm staggered that an apparently intelligent man suh as Williams is considering appointing him.

A club of Rovers' standing can and should be able to do much better.

[Sysagent]

The thing is he won't do the qualifications in two years will he.

What he will be thinking is that by then he will have got his feet under the management office desk, earning whatever millions, and then he can do a Southgate or the other manager that got away with it due to being in the job.

As Nicko has hinted at most of the EPL lot don't think that the Qualifications are worth toffee anyways (and the EPL officials seem to re-enforce this with their dispensations) and that they are just a hinderance in getting the manager's job and just do them to avoid the ear ache / hassle invoked if you haven't got them (or getting them), a bit like O / A Levels so to speak.

Point is our prospective employee didn't even bother to turn up and watch how the exam is taken let alone begin to prove he can do them!

Who knows... Perhaps he might not have the brains to be able to?

Oh and another thing about all of this ongoing saga is...

How much of it is fact / fiction?

(Not doubting you at all Nicko old boy here as you can be fed some yarns as well no doub't like the rest of the people)

There hasn't anything of real substance at all been forthcoming from Ewood Towers has there, much of what has been discussed around here is from our own source (read Nicko) and what we pick up off the rest of the media.

To be honest I don't blame Mr Williams for keeping his cards firmly to his chest on this matter, as the past few days have shown he could have really ended up looking a real simpleton by others actions couldn't he?

Oh and thanks Nicko for the continous information here, I know you don't need to do it but it's appreciated that you do.

[Sysagent]

n/t

[Paul Mellelieu]

It's getting very strange, but if the club still wants Ince, the Wales thing will be swept under the carpet with a single dismissive line, as would the Mirror story and all the rest of the stuff that annoys us so much here.

I wonder if there are other factors at play here: for example the Bryan Robson issue. Unlike Hughes, and Souness, Ince has no ready-made team to bring in, with the type of experience needed to run a premiership level club. The Board may be unconvinced with the Ince's proposals, he may not have any. He may be scrambling around looking for recruits.

[LeftWinger]

Everyone seems ready to slate Ince for not being bothered to turn up to this course in Wales. Anyone think he might have had a good reason for it? Maybe people shouldn't criticise so fast before knowing the facts.

[bats]

Nicko, do you know who the mystery big money manager is that you mentioned yesterday?

[philipl]

Everyone seems ready to slate Ince for not being bothered to turn up to this course in Wales. Anyone think he might have had a good reason for it? Maybe people shouldn't criticise so fast before knowing the facts.

In which case nicko should apologise for calling it shabby and reporting the very adverse reaction of the FAW.

As it is, there is circumstantial evidence pointing to Ince having lied to John Williams and to John Williams having included the FAW audit attendance in his "compelling case" to the LMA and Premier League Chairmen in which case he probably is no longer holding a clearance to appoint Ince.

If Ince were already employed by Rovers, Rovers would be in the soup with Ince and need to decide whether to back their errant employee or ditch him. However, Ince is not employed by Rovers so Rovers can and should demand an extremely clear explanation with the onus on Ince to clear his position to remain a candidate for the job.

It would seem Ince was either dishonest in which case you simply do not appoint candidates who prove to have been dishonest in their attempt to get the job... or stupid. Stupid employees do not get hired on £1.5m a year contracts.

[Sysagent]

Everyone seems ready to slate Ince for not being bothered to turn up to this course in Wales. Anyone think he might have had a good reason for it? Maybe people shouldn't criticise so fast before knowing the facts.

That's the whole point though LeftWinger we don't have any "real" facts do we?

Most of all this is conjecture...

[walk down bolton road]

I think the drill here is that they will announce the time and date of an appointment a few hours in advance.

Bear in mind that there is another club -MK Dons - in this and they may blab first if an official 'we want Ince as boss' approach is made.

Mind you, since the Premier League 'broke' the story that they would NOT block him over his lack of coaching qualifications there has been a deathly hush from Rovers.

I make that 39 hours and counting.

Nicko Do you think there may be a chance Rovers are going to ditch Ince and look elsewhere ?.

[DannyKeg]

I wonder if Bilic's (or Laudrup's) agent is responding to calls today ?

[RevidgeBlue]

Rev seems to like him because he is English. (I suspect the fact that it will 1- give the club liberal credentials and 2- upset a number of the rather colour-challenged locals, also helps)

All things being equal I would certainly favour a British manager over someone with no previous experience whatsoever of football in this country.

We also have to bear in mind that this is Blackburn not London and the person in question would have to settle in this country every bit as much as a foreign player.

It's fairly insulting tbh to suggest I would like Ince appointed simply because it is an overtly PC move or because he is black. Couldn't care less about Ince being black which shouldn't even be a consideration. It's almost as annoying when e.g. the Guardian parades it as a great step forward for mankind simply because he is black as when someone is obviously prejudiced against him because of it.

I just thought (and still do) he might be the best person for us in our current situation at this particular moment given his personality, playing background and track record as a manager to date.

It might also just be me but I've seen nothing in the you tube clips that everyone is so dismissive of to suggest anything other than an ebullient likeable personality.

[Paul Mellelieu]

Considering the number of black players, I think the first black British premiership manager is newsworthy Rev, whatever your political hue.

[nicko]

Most of all this is conjecture...

Hold on.

Ince was going to go to a coaching course in Wales to watch last Wednesday. This was to help his case, help Rovers get round the rules, help the Premier League do the old ring-round among the jolly boys network.

Then he doesn't show, the Welsh are furious to be messed around.

Where is the conjecture in that?

I see the 'con' part but I don't get the 'jecture.'

[RevidgeBlue]

Considering the number of black players, I think the first black British premiership manager is newsworthy Rev, whatever your political hue.

Obviously it is, and one potential upside to the appointment would be that it should reflect well on the club, subject to how he conducted himself once in the post.

That's no reason at all though to appoint a black manager just for the hell of it.

I mean you wouldn't just appoint Ian Wright straight into the post off the cuff would you?

(Or maybe you would if you thought you could do the same with Shearer. )

[philipl]

The following statement was posted at the head of the LMA web site on 20 June:

LEAGUE MANAGERS ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS FOR PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGERS

The League Managers Association is committed to the principles of education, continued career development and appropriate qualifications for professional football managers and coaches. The LMA actively encourages all of its members to gain both professional qualifications, to the highest level, and broader qualifications and experiences such as the LMA Certificate in Applied Management, run in conjunction with the Warwick Business School.

The requirement for mandatory qualifications for managers to manage in the Barclays Premier League is a rule established by the Premier League and UEFA. Where exemptions to this rule are made by the Premier League, the LMA has a duty to support the manager. Further, the LMA will work closely with the PFA, the Premier League and The FA to offer all possible support and assistance to its member, in helping him to gain any qualifications that may be necessary

That is obviously in response to the Ince situation. Let's go back to the situation on Wednesday:

PROBLEM

Ince is in a tiny minority of Managers of a professional football club with no qualifications whatsoever

Ince has funked and walked out of the Warwick University course referred to by the LMA and has not attempted to go back

Ince has been in management two years including a time between Macclesfield and MK Dons and made no attempt to get even the most basic of qualifications.

SOLUTION

Ince agrees to go to audit the FAW Course in Aberystwyth (which happens to be the only one running) as a sign of good faith in his intention to get qualified given his shocking record so far.

REASONABLE SPECULATION

If JW and the Rovers felt so committed to Ince, they would not only have stated facts as they knew them- Ince presumably promising to get qualified within two years and demonstrating his commitment by going to Aberystwyth, but JW will have given his personal commitment to supporting Ince in every way (time, resources etc) in order to get qualified.

RESULT

Ince not going on that course in Aberystwyth makes JW and Rovers look fall guys at best and puts a serious questionmark over JW's judgement in the eyes of the LMA and his fellow-Chairmen some of whom according to Nicko involved international manhunts to track down and others were dragged off their sun loungers to hear JW plead his case so aren't going to forget this in a hurry.

The situation is a horrible one for Rovers to find themselves in and is damaging the club no matter what the outcome is. Either Ince has lied to JW or JW is at risk of having fingers pointing at him for being less than thorough or both.

[The Prof.]

Well, I'm beginning to worry we're running out of options here. £1.5 MILLION a year for a LEague 2 manager is joke money.

If you doubled what he's on a MK Dons he'd surely come (can't on more than £250,000K can he?).

This 'highly rated' and 'much sought after' tag is wearing thin on me - who else wants him? He's been out of touch with the PL for years and certainly won't have international contacts across Europe. How many favours is he owed in football - not many I think.

This appointment will end in tears - mark my words.

I am beginning to prey that JW is sat down with Bilic now and offering him £1.5m and maybe letting him do some work for Croatia as well for a while too.

Also - How expensive is expensive Nicko? £1.5m for a Divi 4 (still didi 4 for me when all said and done) manager sound bloomin' ridiculously expensive to me!

Fed up now.

[RevidgeBlue]

Hold on.

Ince was going to go to a coaching course in Wales to watch last Wednesday. This was to help his case, help Rovers get round the rules, help the Premier League do the old ring-round among the jolly boys network.

Then he doesn't show, the Welsh are furious to be messed around.

Where is the conjecture in that?

I see the 'con' part but I don't get the 'jecture.'

nicko, what was the reason for his non - attendance?

And if you don't actually know, please say so.

[The Prof.]

nicko, what was the reason for his non - attendance?

And if you don't actually know, please say so.

(Doesn't like Welsh people - ask MArk hughes)

[Sysagent]

Hold on.

Ince was going to go to a coaching course in Wales to watch last Wednesday. This was to help his case, help Rovers get round the rules, help the Premier League do the old ring-round among the jolly boys network.

Then he doesn't show, the Welsh are furious to be messed around.

Where is the conjecture in that?

I see the 'con' part but I don't get the 'jecture.'

Sorry if you misinterpreted what I was trying to convey Nicko!

The "conjecture" part was in reference to the whole employing a new manager scenario (BFS, McClown, Laudrup, Ince et al) not just specifically the Wales non-attendance aspect of it, which I don't doubt for a moment happened.

So back on track then with my first ever Nicko question...

Who was the Big Money Manager you mentioned 600 threads ago or so then?

[philipl]

Nicko, the way you are writing it, there was an empty desk marked Paul Ince and not even a phone call of apology or explanation.

Is that correct?

[nicko]

nicko, what was the reason for his non - attendance?

And if you don't actually know, please say so.

Don't know - didn't tell the people who set it up for him.

That's a bit close to the ignorance-arrogance borderline.

If he had a good excuse he would surely have told them...