All change at Ashton Gate
Following from Bristol City's terrible start to the 2011/12 Championship campaign, it was no surprise to see Keith Millen depart the club as manager. I do feel that his appointment to the role was a risk, but one that was worth taking. I feel that he did a good job of steadying the ship and consolidating in the wake of Steve Coppell's jumping from the ship.
In recent times, City's rock Steve Lansdown decided it was time for him to step down as the club's Chairman and hand over the reigns to the then Chief Executive, Colin Sexstone. I feel that was a good decision all round. Although Steve Lansdown has been magnificent for Bristol City Football Club and I have little doubt that we could have gone out of business without his vast input, both financially and in his role as Chairman. However, I feel that Steve could be a bit soft and sentimental when it came to key decisions. This is an admirable quality as a human being, but unfortunately it doesn't serve well in the football business. I feel that we needed to toughen up and become far more ruthless, essentially operate as a fiercely competitive business.
I am hoping that Colin Sexstone will provide that style of leadership and operate the club in that vein. With the departure of Keith Millen and the announcement that Alan Walsh is to leave the club, I think we are seeing glimpses of that ruthlessness replacing sentimentality. While they have both been fine servants of the club, I do feel that they have been retained for sentimental reasons, at least to some extent.
Players wise, I can see Louis Carey leaving before very much longer. A fine defender in his pomp and another great servant to the club he has served all his career, with the exception of a short-lived spell at Coventry. However, I feel his best days are way behind him and that he shouldn't be retained on past glories and service. If he can do a good job in a coaching role for the club, then by all means retain him, but not at the expense of other, better qualified, candidates.
We have a mountain to climb from here onwards. Points wise we aren't out of touch, but in terms of performances, confidence and possibly morale, we have quite some catching up to do. I cannot see that changing overnight. I feel that Derek McInnes has a real job of work ahead of him and I'm hopeful that he has what it takes to turn this football club around. Let us hope that Scotland's growing reputation of producing football managers of high standard is justified in this case. We are certainly in dire need of it.
Things are changing at the gate. They have needed to. I just hope that the changes are the right ones.
Come on you REDS!
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