As a ‘Well fan you become used to different management styles. After all we are but a stepping stone for those on the road to managerial glory. A club like ours is a testing ground where reputations are made or careers ended.
To that end we have experienced the enthusiasm of Terry Butcher, the ineptitude of Maurice Malpas and Mark McGhee’s love affair with himself and the media. Through these different managers Motherwell fans have been riding on the football rollercoaster more than most.
We’ve seen the lows of finishing bottom of league, throwing away wins, being embarrassed by the pitch and most of all losing our captain. But there were good times too: reaching a cup final, finishing third, the UEFA cup and seeing boys become men on the hallowed Fir Park pitch.
It doesn’t matter what these managers achieve, it’s how they achieve it. Terry Butcher is held in high regard all over Motherwell. He was no football genius as his managerial CV shows but he loved and respected the club and always gave everything.
In contrast Mark McGhee’s team played some magnificent football taking us to third in the league but most well fans couldn’t look him in the eye. His public treatment of the club as a job application for greater things was unforgivable. He gave the impression that he was doing the club a favour by being our manager and left us with a squad not fit for purpose.
Jim Gannon is something different to all these men. It may be early days but the impression he gives is that he’s honest, knowledgeable and not afraid to admit to mistakes.
The way he talks about the club means that it matters to him. His preparation is meticulous and each player goes into a game knowing exactly what they are supposed to do.
He is building an empire for the future. He has already signed up many of our young players on long term contracts. It is as if he sees himself in the job for the long term, that this is a job worth doing and a team that matters. He might be building something special and it’s going to be a pleasure to watch.
Last updated: 20 November 2009, 09:07
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