The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog, comes after Nigel Pearson is relieved of his duties at Southampton.
Football: Nigel Pearson - Sacked!
So, Southampton FC, in a cost-cutting exercise, have sacked Nigel Pearson. And replaced him with little known Dutch coach, Jan Poortvliet. It maybe that the Dutchman adapts quickly to the Championship, and takes the Saints up the table.
But, it's hard not to feel sympathy for Nigel Pearson. He did an excellent job, in steadying the ship at St. Mary's. But in the current football climate, we shouldn't be surprised at any new managerial developments.
Earlier this week, after being linked with the Leicester City job, Peterborough United's Darren Ferguson, said he would need to have his head examined, should he leave London Rd., for the Walkers Stadium. He cited the numerous managers, that have recently exited, through the revolving door at Leicester.
Then we have Avram Grant and Henk Ten Cate being sacked at Chelsea, before they had even completed a full season in charge. All of which throws up the question, about the ability of chairman and owners, to select the right manager for their football club.
All too often, the decision-makers are driven by the need for quick success for their financial return. This desire for instant success, can limit their ability to see the bigger picture. Managers are hired and fired reactively, with little or no improvement in performance. Both Derby County and Leicester City are perfect examples of an ineffective, hiring and firing policy.
Perhaps, eventually, this new breed of owners will take a step back. And realise that an investment in a football club, must be viewed over the long-term, not the short-term. And that any desire to run a football club, to meet the needs of their ego, can only lead to failure. Wrong motives lead to poor outcomes.
Football clubs who succeed over a sustained period of time, are football clubs who have stood by their managers, in time of strife. Knowing that more change, only leads to more disruption and less stability. It takes an owner with patience, to stand by their manager, in challenging times.
You may have the money to buy anything that you want. But success is not something that is easily bought. It is far too elusive and mysterious a commodity, for such a crude exchange.
