Paul Mitchell to leave club by mutual consent at end of June (Official)

[Theregulars]

1 hour ago, McCormick said:

Super smug to say but I’m glad my wanker radar still works. Guy’s interview was all business speak, deflections, power plays and he just reeked of arrogance. Monaco fans said similar.

Absolutely the same here. Thought he was a grifter on first sight and never thought otherwise. Made no sense at all to publicly shit on a transfer policy that gave us the spine of a fantastic side.

[Kid Icarus]

1 hour ago, Shadow Puppets said:

That Craig Hope article sure makes for good drama, but it’s Craig Hope… I’ve witnessed first hand a number of times how economical is he with the truth (direct from the subjects he’s written about).
 

From my interactions last summer, the bad feeling between Howe and Mitchell had been blown all out of proportion. They had some differences of opinion, but nothing that was overly drastic.

 

As far as I’m aware, too, this Mitchell departure has everything to do with Eales leaving.

 

Tbf...

 

[Optimistic Nut]

Mehrdad clearly coming back. 

[JigsawGoesToPieces]

2 hours ago, SUPERTOON said:

Do find it mad that Eales appointed him without any input from Howe mind. 

 

Why would a manager have input into DoF/SD job which is essentially a more senior job 

 

[Miggys First Goal]

Maybe Eddie is going to become DoF when he’s done with managing us. 

[FLUMPO235]

5 minutes ago, JigsawGoesToPieces said:

 

Why would a manager have input into DoF/SD job which is essentially a more senior job 

 

Because in normal everyday life that’s how a lot of businesses and recruitment works. 
 

for senior high paid jobs like that, it’s common to have a number of people interviewing or on a panel and inputting.

 

its fairly common for all sorts of level of job and really not unusual for people in an organisation or key people to be asked if they know a candidate or have an opinion.

[NSG]

Surprised no one’s mentioned Rafa as DoF yet  

[St1pe]

One of the reasons that makes me doubt this Hope article is he’s never held back any information at any point regardless of how damaging it’s been for the club because of the timing of the story. If he’d have known any of this he would have been writing “exclusives” any chance he got. 
 

I bet there’s probably an essence of truth in it but it feels like it’s been exaggerated a lot for his own benefit to me. 

[Dr Venkman]

29 minutes ago, St1pe said:

One of the reasons that makes me doubt this Hope article is he’s never held back any information at any point regardless of how damaging it’s been for the club because of the timing of the story. If he’d have known any of this he would have been writing “exclusives” any chance he got. 
 

I bet there’s probably an essence of truth in it but it feels like it’s been exaggerated a lot for his own benefit to me. 

Feasibly he could have sourced that article yesterday with someone speaking anonymously. Mitchell’s on the way out so there’s little reason to be concerned for the source. 

[huss9]

3 hours ago, St1pe said:

One of the reasons that makes me doubt this Hope article is he’s never held back any information at any point regardless of how damaging it’s been for the club because of the timing of the story. If he’d have known any of this he would have been writing “exclusives” any chance he got. 
 

I bet there’s probably an essence of truth in it but it feels like it’s been exaggerated a lot for his own benefit to me. 

probably didnt want to risk his relationships with anybody within the club.

now that eales and mitchell are leaving it doesnt matter.

 

 

 

[huss9]

like some on here, they've seriously underestimated how good King Eddie is.

[Optimistic Nut]

5 hours ago, huss9 said:

probably didnt want to risk his relationships with anybody within the club.

now that eales and mitchell are leaving it doesnt matter.

 

 

 

 

That has never stopped Hope from a story if he's got something like, pre or post takeover. 

[Sibierski]

DoF just needs to be someone who’s extremely competent in negotiations and able to link up key guys (Manager, Head Scout, CEO/Chaiman) to come to an agreement.

 

Doesn’t need to be someone who’s a talent spotter as Nickson is that guy, and you bolster up his team. CEO/Chairman for the strategic view point and ensure club doesn’t fuck itself financially (basically a common sense, boring view in the room) and the manager who’s going to be working with the players and ultimately responsible for if that signing works or not (and the results). Howe has clearly shown now he can improve players, deliver consistently, so should have more of a say in decisions.

 

Mitchell if sounds like wanted to have more of the say in that room, which he didn’t warrant at all. Then with Eales leaving, he was going to be on his own as Nickson / Howe are likely very well aligned right now. 
 

It’s all jokes aside, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Ashworth is brought back. All things considered, there was good relationships with Howe (Ashworth even wanted Howe at Man Utd) and for all Ashworth ‘hype’, his main skill is bringing people together and negotiating deals.

[r0cafella]

14 minutes ago, Sibierski said:

DoF just needs to be someone who’s extremely competent in negotiations and able to link up key guys (Manager, Head Scout, CEO/Chaiman) to come to an agreement.

 

Doesn’t need to be someone who’s a talent spotter as Nickson is that guy, and you bolster up his team. CEO/Chairman for the strategic view point and ensure club doesn’t fuck itself financially (basically a common sense, boring view in the room) and the manager who’s going to be working with the players and ultimately responsible for if that signing works or not (and the results). Howe has clearly shown now he can improve players, deliver consistently, so should have more of a say in decisions.

 

Mitchell if sounds like wanted to have more of the say in that room, which he didn’t warrant at all. Then with Eales leaving, he was going to be on his own as Nickson / Howe are likely very well aligned right now. 
 

It’s all jokes aside, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Ashworth is brought back. All things considered, there was good relationships with Howe (Ashworth even wanted Howe at Man Utd) and for all Ashworth ‘hype’, his main skill is bringing people together and negotiating deals.

Aye, of course he did. Its his job to set long term strategy. Obviously the club has decided this isn't the direction of travel and decided to bin it. 

 

Your not getting people of his stature to come in and do a diminished role. 

 

I get Mitchell may have been unpopular but we can't criticise him for wanting to do the job he was appointed to do. 

[ExiledGeordie]

From some of the Craig Hope quotes he sounds like a bit of a social hand grenade who won’t be missed. 

[Sibierski]

8 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Aye, of course he did. Its his job to set long term strategy. Obviously the club has decided this isn't the direction of travel and decided to bin it. 

 

Your not getting people of his stature to come in and do a diminished role. 

 

I get Mitchell may have been unpopular but we can't criticise him for wanting to do the job he was appointed to do. 

Don’t think he has much stature anyway. Far too hyped for stuff he did like 8+ years ago. 
 

We’ll still be an attractive role for many, because whilst maybe not having the full power, the finances over the coming years thanks to Howe delivering, will mean a DoF can spend £100m+ most seasons. Which can provide room for the established signings and their own little pick ups. 

[r0cafella]

Just now, Sibierski said:

Don’t think he has much stature anyway. Far too hyped for stuff he did like 8+ years ago. 
 

We’ll still be an attractive role for many, because whilst maybe not having the full power, the finances over the coming years thanks to Howe delivering, will mean a DoF can spend £100m+ most seasons. Which can provide room for the established signings and their own little pick ups. 

The signing was lauded when we brought him, let's not play silly beggars over his stature. 

 

In terms of a replacement let's see how it goes, I don't expect a direct replacement personally 

[Coffee_Johnny]

12 hours ago, Abacus said:

I wasn't Eales' biggest fan at one point, but then he got ill so like most I just wanted the best for him.

 

Read elsewhere that he and Mitchell are personally close. The comment along the lines that Eddie was better concentrating on the pitch, or words to that effect, seemed a bit unnecessary at the time. Maybe it was an attempt at creating a defined structure in the various roles, but I just don't think it was that helpful to do in public.

 

The only time I've heard Eddie speak out of turn in public was in reaction to that, so I don't think communication can have been great. For what it's worth, I don't think they'd have had a much easier time with any manager worth his salt.

 

Whatever the truth of it, hopefully they go out on a high.

There’s always a tension when the talent, in what ever field, in this case Howe—the person who has the knowledge and personal attributes to ensure the conditions are in place to deliver the performances required—is also smart enough, and committed enough, to see through the corporate and managerial power plays and bullshit.
Mitchell seemed a poor choice (no insider info) just reading the room and between the lines. Glad it has been corrected; hope it hasn’t damaged any of the relationships which need to continue. Shouldn’t be able to get a cigarette paper between manager/coach and executive leadership and owners. 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 06:16 by Coffee_Johnny

[Ben]

Im not sure the DOF should be as high profile as what they are made out to be, they are basically admin, Ashworth has a reputation for been at clubs when they do well and so does Mitchell, however clubs do perfectly fine when they move on.

 

With Eddie at the club i don't think we needed a Mitchell type working against him, as for Ashworth at Man Utd.......well they just fucked up that whole situation.

[Sibierski]

19 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

The signing was lauded when we brought him, let's not play silly beggars over his stature. 

 

In terms of a replacement let's see how it goes, I don't expect a direct replacement personally 

I was probably in the minority then that didn’t get swept away with the nonsense around him, because people were attributing every recognised signing to him. 

[Menace]

Those Monaco posts were eye opening - I guess past clubs are always right about their ex staff. Still, I was willing to give him a chance considering his CV but we'll be better off long term if they've decided to go separate ways. Still pretty shit with what Eales done and I think he's escaped a lot of criticism here to be honest.

[duo]

11 hours ago, Optimistic Nut said:

Mehrdad clearly coming back. 

Or helping them to buy another club

[TRon]

13 hours ago, McCormick said:

Super smug to say but I’m glad my wanker radar still works. Guy’s interview was all business speak, deflections, power plays and he just reeked of arrogance. Monaco fans said similar.

 

 

He does come across as a bit of "Cockney Wanker", but that doesn't necessarily mean he's bad at his job. I just think Howe wants to do things his way and doesn't really want anyone else impacting it. I just think that made it the wrong club for Mitchell, who probably expects a lot more final say.

 

The club had no choice but to back the manager given how successful he's been so far. I wouldn't be surprised if Mitchell goes on and does a good job somewhere else though.

[The College Dropout]

1 hour ago, TRon said:

 

 

He does come across as a bit of "Cockney Wanker", but that doesn't necessarily mean he's bad at his job. I just think Howe wants to do things his way and doesn't really want anyone else impacting it. I just think that made it the wrong club for Mitchell, who probably expects a lot more final say.

 

The club had no choice but to back the manager given how successful he's been so far. I wouldn't be surprised if Mitchell goes on and does a good job somewhere else though.

Think the problem was Mitchell was brought in to do it a very different way to Eddie. One that would fundamentally change Eddie’s role or force him to leave.  
 

Eddie has disagreements with Ashworth but they worked well together enough that Ashworth wanted Howe at Man U. But Ashworth wasn’t a transfer target man, Mitchell is. And I do think some Ashworth era signings weren’t Howe’s first choice but Howe was happy enough to take them. Eg I just think Antonee Robinson is a perfect Howe player and we were linked but we got Hall instead - probably a higher cielinf. 

[TRon]

3 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Think the problem was Mitchell was brought in to do it a very different way to Eddie. One that would fundamentally change Eddie’s role or force him to leave.  
 

Eddie has disagreements with Ashworth but they worked well together enough that Ashworth wanted Howe at Man U. But Ashworth wasn’t a transfer target man, Mitchell is. And I do think some Ashworth era signings weren’t Howe’s first choice but Howe was happy enough to take them. Eg I just think Antonee Robinson is a perfect Howe player and we were linked but we got Hall instead - probably a higher cielinf. 

 

Agree Ashworth was more of an infrastructure man, I don't think he had so much say on transfers. Supposedly one of the reasons he wanted away, he felt he should have more input, although how much truth there is in that I don't know.

 

I still feel Mitchell might work well at a club where the manager is seen as more of a coach. Just Howe is not that type, he wants full control, and with his record here, who is going to argue?