Published: Tuesday, 13th November, 2007 10:30
SONS SACK MANAGER
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DUMBARTON parted company with manager Gerry McCabe on Sunday.
In a curt and precise to the point statement from Dumbarton FC vice-chairman and PRO Colin Hosie, the club directors announced the sacking.
The statement began: “After a poor start to the current league season the Board of Directors decided that the time is now right to make changes.
“Jim Clark will look after first team affairs until a new manager is appointed.”
The vice-chairman added: “The directors felt that the time for change had come and on Sunday, Gerry was given the news. We now invite applications for the position of manager.”
There was a chill about that official announcement. No mention of thanks for services rendered. No best wishes for the future.
I suppose that is the way they do things at football clubs nowadays.
I asked Colin, a Dumbarton fan to the core, if it had been the fans who had had McCabe axed.
“I suppose you could say that the Dumbarton FC board, for the first time in many years, are 99.9% life-long Dumbarton supporters,” he replied.
“We felt,” added Colin, “that being third bottom of the third division at this point was not acceptable to a club whose ambition was to get out of the division, either by winning the title or through a play-off success.
“We felt that even the play-off route into the second division was being blocked by our poor recent results.
“We, as a board, have always been supportive of managers. They are given a good budget, but we felt the money given to Gerry could have been spent better.
“Gerry has had a season and a half to meet our ambitions and at this point the progress towards the targets has not been acceptable”
Dumbarton are now seeking their eighth manager in less than a decade.
I put it to Colin that this might be a disincentive for people to apply for the job.
“We have advertised the vacancy to measure the response we will receive,” he replied.
“Obviously myself and other members of the board have our own ideas of whom we would like to come in. So will the supporters, and speculation will be rife. You will have your own views on it too.”
Colin put me on the spot by asking me if I did not agree that a change of manager was necessary.
“No,” I replied honestly. “I feel that Gerry McCabe, Jim Clark and coach Chris Hillcoat were an experienced team and should have been given time. But I cannot argue with results. They name and shame soccer bosses if they do not get them right.”
Colin emphasised his point by asking: “Do you accept the club being in the third bottom place in the third division?”
“No,” I replied, “but if you do not mind I am asking the questions.”
The board have made their decision on results over the last 18 months, and this season has been very disappointing for the manager as well as the fans.
To be fair to Gerry McCabe he was blighted in both his close seasons with players leaving the club when out of contract.
The case against Gerry, in this respect, is that he did not do enough to try to hold on to these players and opted for bringing in his own. But all that is now in the past and the Sons are seeking a new man with the quality to achieve their targets.
The onus is on the directors to attract the right man and I sincerely hope that they are successful.
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