So Roy Keane and Sunderland have parted company. The Black Cats home defeat to Bolton Wanderers, being the final straw for the manager.
Many pundits will say that, I told you so. That a character as volatile as Keane, was always liable to quit unexpectedly. Once Keane started to publicly question his own ability to manage, then his departure, perhaps seemed inevitable.
But Keane was voicing in public, the thoughts and concerns, that should really have been kept private. Private, as part of an on-going process with himself, and a mentor or personal coach.
Because of the demands of modern day management, it is critical that young managers have someone outside of the football club, that they can talk to, in confidence. Talk to about the many concerns that invade their private time. Concerns that can impact upon focus and decision-making. Drain away energy. Build stress and anxiety.
Concerns about players; the board; transfers; strategy; themselves. Having a personal coach, allows the manager to voice frustrations, without being judged, or seen to be weak. Thus tensions and pressures, are not allowed to build up, into hasty decisions.
Keane may well have been able to turn around Sunderland’s fortunes. But in the frame of mind that he appeared to be in, perhaps he couldn’t see that possibility.
A modern manager, must have a strong support team around them. And that includes a personal coach, to help them gain clarity and focus. Without that clarity, an under-pressure manager, can make decisions in haste, that they later regret.