Managerial recruitment

[Napster]

This is how we've recruited managers over the years:

1. Bob Jack - recruited from Plymouth as a player-manager, a position he held at Plymouth so was already well-regarded (5th in the Southern League).
2. George Molyneux - already playing for Southend, promoted to player-manager, only lasted one season
3. Joe Bradshaw - already playing for Southend, promoted to player-manager, 1911-1919
4. Ned Liddel - former Southend player, recruited as manager after WW1, only lasted one season
5. Tom Mather - first manager with no real connection to Southend, former manager of Bolton before WW1. Gave Stanley Matthews his Stoke debut in 1932. (1920-1922)
6. Ted Birnie - first real long-serving manager (1922-1934). No real Southend connection, played for Chelsea 1906-9, coached at Mulheim, Sunderland and Rochdale. Retired after Southend and died in Westcliff.
7. David Jack- first real celebrity manager, (first footballer to be transferred for a fee in excess of £10,000, first to score at Wembley – in the 1923 FA Cup Final – and was capped nine times for England, scored a lot for Arsenal). Son of Bob, so Southend connection. (1934-40)
8. Harry Warren - 1946-56 - during World War II, Southend moved into Chelmsford's New Writtle Street Stadium. Warren, who was Chelsmfod's manager, became manager of both teams, remaining at Southend until 1956.
9. Eddie Perry - 1956-60 - former Fulham coach and Wales international, credited with spotting Johnny Haynes. No real connection
10. Frank Broome, 1960 - former Exeter manager and England international. (Played in the game v Germany where the players gave the Nazi salute). Had done well at Exeter, so we offered him more money.
11. Ted Fenton 1961-5 - first West Ham and/or Col U link, he played and managed both before coming here. Well regarded at West Ham still.
12. Alvan Williams 1965-7 - no real connection, managed Hartlepools before Brian Clough, took players from Southend to Wrexham.
13. Ernie Shepherd - 1967-9 - no real connection, coached Hastings and others before joining
14. Geoff Hudson - 1970 - no real connection, journeyman player. lasted 13 games
15. Arthur Rowley - 1970-76 a well-known striker at both Leicester and Shrewsbury, he managed Shrewsbury and Sheffield Utd before coming here. Got us promoted. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/dec/21/guardianobituaries.football
16. Dave Smith - 1976-83 - coached at Newcastle and Arsenal and managed Mansfield before us. Highly regarded at Plymouth as well
17. Peter Morris - 1983-4 - played over 600 games at Mansfield and Ipswich. Managed Mansfield, Peterborough and Crewe before us. Got Mansfield promoted in 76/7 as player/manager. Vic's first appointment.
18. Bobby Moore - 1984-6 - World Cup winner. West Ham connection. Stayed with the club after his sacking.
19. David Webb - 1986-7 and others - well-known defender, London roots. former player/manager with Bournemouth and Torquay (He was also MD at Torquay)
20. Dick Bate - 1987 - recommended by Howard Wilkinson to Vic. Lasted 10 games. Experienced coach but not as manager.
21. Paul Clark - 1987-8 - first person since Joe Bradshaw to be promoted to player-manager, reverted to player when Webby came back
22. Colin Murphy -1992-3 - former coach and manager for Derby, Lincoln and Stockport before us. Lincoln came 2nd to Southend in 80/1 under Murphy. He also signed players such as Harford, Peake and Cockerill for Lincoln. Left Lincoln 10 days before the Bradford fire (Lincoln played Bradford)
23. Barry Fry -1993 - well known as a manager at Barnet. Also managed other clubs before Barnet.
24. Peter Taylor - 1993-5 Not much experience as a manager/coach (short spells at Dartford and Enfield). But after Fry, Vic wanted someone local and a former player, the first since Paul Clark and the first non-player-manager since Ned Liddell
25. Steve Thompson - 1995 - former Lincoln manager, played under Murphy, was actually DoF at Southend when Taylor went, so took over as manager before joining Murphy at Notts County
26. Ronnie Whelan - 1995-7 - promoted to player-manager, well-known international, played for a season before taking reins
27. Alvin Martin - 1997-9 - first West Ham connection since Bobby Moore, no managerial experience
28. Alan Little - 1999-2001 - former Southend player (first since Peter Taylor not to be player-manager), managed York before us to some success - first appointment by Ron Martin
29. Rob Newman - 2001-3 - helped out as coach under Little/Gooding, promoted to player/manager like Whelan. Had Crown as assistant.
30. Steve Wignall - 2003 - first Col U connection since Fenton - experienced manager at Col U and others. First ever manager of Aldershot Town
31. Steve Tilson - 2003-10 - former Southend player, came through academy coach - wasnt wanted originally, no real managerial experience.
32. Paul Sturrock - 2010-3 - no real Southend connection but excellent managerial and playing experience
33. Phil Brown - 2013 and others - no real Southend connection but managerial experience at Hull and others
34. Chris Powell - 2018-9 - former Southend player, managerial experience.
35. Kevin Bond - 2019 - no real Southend connection, no managerial experience
36. Sol Campbell - 2019-20 - no real Southend connection, one season of managerial experience at Macclesfield, well-known/good experience as player
37. Mark Molseley - 2020-1 - no real Southend connection, some managerial experience at Weymouth

So, 37 managers:

10 had some Southend connection before joining as manager (27%)
5 were promoted from player to player-manager
A mixture of well-known and lesser-known players
Only a handful of managers had a West Ham or Col U connection
Vic's first managerial success was his 3rd appointment, Ron's his 4th.
Vic has appointed 11 different managers, Ron 10.

So what's next?

 

[Jasrod]

Copied a post from another thread as I feel it gives my opinion.

Watching the reappointment of PB and him being afforded the signings and pre season that other managers have not been afforded makes me feel that what we our seeing is PB’s lack of ability to keep on the cutting edge of football.

Almost every recruit that has been made has played for PB in the past and this for me over time his network has grown smaller and smaller by the day because as a leader you have to have players that believe in whatever it is you are trying to achieve. Those that have joined probably do have that believe but the pool of players gets smaller by the day and so we end up with a team that will end up in the bottom half.

To turn this around we need to recruit a manager that has a much larger network of players that believe the manager is the best leader.

We also need a club strategy that determines what we are trying to achieve over time.

I do feel that a recruitment policy should be based upon this strategy. ie looking at lower non league clubs for their POTY that would come to us on a relatively lower premium. And yes we may have to pay a 10/15k signing on fee but would also get some resale value.

So I guess what manager or ex professional in the football world has all of the above and would come to our club??

 

[Mad Cyril]

How many were Freemasons?

 

[Blue Yonder]

With hindsight I would say about 25% of those in my era of supporting did an okay or better job. Unrealistic expectations on my part I guess although we have dropped through a couple of divisions and been passed in the other direction by 'tinpot' clubs or seen peers of the time reach the premier league. A 50/50 success rate in appointments probably allows you to maintain some kind of status quo.

 

[Barling Magna]

How many were Freemasons?

How many went to Eton.....?

 

[Thunderbolt & Lightfoot]

How many were secretly working for the KGB?

 

[flangejackrabbit]

How many were secretly working for the KGB?

Six by my count.

 

[Thunderbolt & Lightfoot]

Six by my count.

Bob Jacksi, Dave Smithski, Paul Clarksi, Steve Tilski, Phil Brownski and Paul Sturrockovich?

 

[overseas shrimper]

How many were Freemasons?

If you show me the handshake I will PM you.

 

[stewart]

If you show me the handshake I will PM you.

Eddie Perrymason was

 

[KiwiRob]

This is how we've recruited managers over the years:

1. Bob Jack - recruited from Plymouth as a player-manager, a position he held at Plymouth so was already well-regarded (5th in the Southern League).
2. George Molyneux - already playing for Southend, promoted to player-manager, only lasted one season
3. Joe Bradshaw - already playing for Southend, promoted to player-manager, 1911-1919
4. Ned Liddel - former Southend player, recruited as manager after WW1, only lasted one season
5. Tom Mather - first manager with no real connection to Southend, former manager of Bolton before WW1. Gave Stanley Matthews his Stoke debut in 1932. (1920-1922)
6. Ted Birnie - first real long-serving manager (1922-1934). No real Southend connection, played for Chelsea 1906-9, coached at Mulheim, Sunderland and Rochdale. Retired after Southend and died in Westcliff.
7. David Jack- first real celebrity manager, (first footballer to be transferred for a fee in excess of £10,000, first to score at Wembley – in the 1923 FA Cup Final – and was capped nine times for England, scored a lot for Arsenal). Son of Bob, so Southend connection. (1934-40)
8. Harry Warren - 1946-56 - during World War II, Southend moved into Chelmsford's New Writtle Street Stadium. Warren, who was Chelsmfod's manager, became manager of both teams, remaining at Southend until 1956.
9. Eddie Perry - 1956-60 - former Fulham coach and Wales international, credited with spotting Johnny Haynes. No real connection
10. Frank Broome, 1960 - former Exeter manager and England international. (Played in the game v Germany where the players gave the Nazi salute). Had done well at Exeter, so we offered him more money.
11. Ted Fenton 1961-5 - first West Ham and/or Col U link, he played and managed both before coming here. Well regarded at West Ham still.
12. Alvan Williams 1965-7 - no real connection, managed Hartlepools before Brian Clough, took players from Southend to Wrexham.
13. Ernie Shepherd - 1967-9 - no real connection, coached Hastings and others before joining
14. Geoff Hudson - 1970 - no real connection, journeyman player. lasted 13 games
15. Arthur Rowley - 1970-76 a well-known striker at both Leicester and Shrewsbury, he managed Shrewsbury and Sheffield Utd before coming here. Got us promoted. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/dec/21/guardianobituaries.football
16. Dave Smith - 1976-83 - coached at Newcastle and Arsenal and managed Mansfield before us. Highly regarded at Plymouth as well
17. Peter Morris - 1983-4 - played over 600 games at Mansfield and Ipswich. Managed Mansfield, Peterborough and Crewe before us. Got Mansfield promoted in 76/7 as player/manager. Vic's first appointment.
18. Bobby Moore - 1984-6 - World Cup winner. West Ham connection. Stayed with the club after his sacking.
19. David Webb - 1986-7 and others - well-known defender, London roots. former player/manager with Bournemouth and Torquay (He was also MD at Torquay)
20. Dick Bate - 1987 - recommended by Howard Wilkinson to Vic. Lasted 10 games. Experienced coach but not as manager.
21. Paul Clark - 1987-8 - first person since Joe Bradshaw to be promoted to player-manager, reverted to player when Webby came back
22. Colin Murphy -1992-3 - former coach and manager for Derby, Lincoln and Stockport before us. Lincoln came 2nd to Southend in 80/1 under Murphy. He also signed players such as Harford, Peake and Cockerill for Lincoln. Left Lincoln 10 days before the Bradford fire (Lincoln played Bradford)
23. Barry Fry -1993 - well known as a manager at Barnet. Also managed other clubs before Barnet.
24. Peter Taylor - 1993-5 Not much experience as a manager/coach (short spells at Dartford and Enfield). But after Fry, Vic wanted someone local and a former player, the first since Paul Clark and the first non-player-manager since Ned Liddell
25. Steve Thompson - 1995 - former Lincoln manager, played under Murphy, was actually DoF at Southend when Taylor went, so took over as manager before joining Murphy at Notts County
26. Ronnie Whelan - 1995-7 - promoted to player-manager, well-known international, played for a season before taking reins
27. Alvin Martin - 1997-9 - first West Ham connection since Bobby Moore, no managerial experience
28. Alan Little - 1999-2001 - former Southend player (first since Peter Taylor not to be player-manager), managed York before us to some success - first appointment by Ron Martin
29. Rob Newman - 2001-3 - helped out as coach under Little/Gooding, promoted to player/manager like Whelan. Had Crown as assistant.
30. Steve Wignall - 2003 - first Col U connection since Fenton - experienced manager at Col U and others. First ever manager of Aldershot Town
31. Steve Tilson - 2003-10 - former Southend player, came through academy coach - wasnt wanted originally, no real managerial experience.
32. Paul Sturrock - 2010-3 - no real Southend connection but excellent managerial and playing experience
33. Phil Brown - 2013 and others - no real Southend connection but managerial experience at Hull and others
34. Chris Powell - 2018-9 - former Southend player, managerial experience.
35. Kevin Bond - 2019 - no real Southend connection, no managerial experience
36. Sol Campbell - 2019-20 - no real Southend connection, one season of managerial experience at Macclesfield, well-known/good experience as player
37. Mark Molseley - 2020-1 - no real Southend connection, some managerial experience at Weymouth

So, 37 managers:

10 had some Southend connection before joining as manager (27%)
5 were promoted from player to player-manager
A mixture of well-known and lesser-known players
Only a handful of managers had a West Ham or Col U connection
Vic's first managerial success was his 3rd appointment, Ron's his 4th.
Vic has appointed 11 different managers, Ron 10.

So what's next?

Great work Napster. I think Ernie Shepherd had been a coach at Southend for a number of years before stepping up as manager after the departure of Alvan Williams in 1967.

 

[Fairport]

Great work Napster. I think Ernie Shepherd had been a coach at Southend for a number of years before stepping up as manager after the departure of Alvan Williams in 1967.

I think he was previously the clubs physio.