And so bets are off. After the departure of Phil Parkinson, it appears as though the bookies know what they’re on about. Many of us ridiculed them for having such low odds on him going to Bolton, and then ‘puff’ off he vanished like football’s Keyser Soze.
Since then, there has been a raft of names linked with the vacant role at City. Uwe Rosler, Steve Cotterill, Nigel Adkins, Neil Warnock and Steve Evans have been strong contenders from the outside. Many other names have also cropped up, including ex-midfield general and hero to a legion of Bradford City fans – Stuart McCall. He appears to be inching closer to the job for the second time in his career – and the reaction is definitely mixed.
Stuart McCall is a genuine hero at the club, thanks to two legendary playing spells. The first, in the 1980’s saw the birth of a new hero at Valley Parade, and the second – after he’d gone off to grander stages – saw him enhance that reputation at the heart of a midfield which won promotion to the Premier League. He is one of a few of players who deserve a suite naming after him. I love him for that and confess to naming a teddy after him when I was younger.
Football is profoundly sentimental like this. Fans cling onto past glories. We idolise ex-managers and players. Bradford City fans definitely fall into the category, and some see the possible return of Stuart McCall as a godsend. However, football can be brutally unsentimental at the same time. Managers are axed suddenly, crowds turn on players, and honeymoon periods come to an end in the blink of an eye. This paradox of sentimentality and short-termism means that it is almost impossible to know how to react to McCall returning. Will it be a fairy tale story or is there a horrible last chapter to the tale?
Quite frankly, nobody knows. It is tough to judge McCall’s last spell as manager – for he took over the club at a torrid time. What is not in doubt is that he struggled. It was, to be frank, too much for him at the time, and it ended in failure. Some of his transfers were poor and the performances were not good enough. It hurt the club, it hurt the fans, and it hurt him. It was a bruising experience. What kind of football club would reappoint a manager who had been at the helm during all that?
That is a fair question, but in response you could argue that Bradford City is a different club today. Stuart McCall certainly claims that he is a different manager. He has more experience and has notched up some impressive achievements north of the border. Despite the lack of quality in that league, the list of managers who have emerged from Scotland cannot be overlooked. It has been a breeding ground for some superb managers over the years.
Despite the gnashing of teeth, only time will tell. His suitability on an emotional and ‘brand’ level is ideal but his suitability from a purely results level is questionable. McCall will unite the fans and club in a way Steve Evans would struggle to, but will he deliver success like Steve Evans seems to do in this league? Ultimately, results are what count in this business after all.
What is not in question is McCall’s desire. He will bleed for this club and he will demand his staff do the same. That’s all fine, but it is the minimum required at this point in the club’s development. In a time of heightened expectations with new owners in the driving seat, McCall will have to deliver.
Let’s see what happens. Don’t forget, when Phil Parkinson joined, the response was one of general bemusement. When Brad Jones the mood was one of delight. Despite what we all claim to know about the game, we truly don’t know what’s going to happen. What’s certain is we have a manager who loves the club and who will do everything to succeed. Let’s get behind him. After all, if he succeeds, this could be the best trip we’ve ever been on. If not, Steve Evans might be free...
@jpieslak
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