Paul Hart - steps down as assistant manager 29/8/2024 (p4)

Hart and Fleming is a good combo as backroom staff. These owners, at last, seem to be putting money and success at the forefront of their thinking! Good news!

Feels like we're building at last. This season's outcome is iffy, but if we can stay patient, I do think we're on the right track now. I certainly won't criticize anyone for making this appointment. Welcome back Paul.

https://youtu.be/6bRWTXnd8jU?si=wUVsZ_pdXC2G2dBt

Hart feels like someone who, 2-3 years ago would have been linked with us as a potential head coach (in fact I feel like he was at one point) despite not having success as a manager at senior level.

He now comes in as someone with experience in coaching and, maybe most importantly, in youth development. 

If he can provide insights into transitioning players from the youth teams to the senior teams, and then work with them on growing and maturing from ages ~18-21, then he'll be worth his weight in gold. 

In the last few years we've obviously brought through a lot of youth team players. And while the best excel, and others fall away due to ability, it does feel like there are some in the "inbetween" who we might be able to get more out of. The three who spring to mind are Deji, Morgan, and Henry. All three were highly regarded as teenagers, but didn't go on to excel with the first team (I know Henry is only out on loan). Obviously there are loads of reasons for this, but looking at Anderson, Kanu, and Asiimwe now. it'd be good to make sure we get as much out of them as possible.

FishCostaFortune said:

Well it would be Nathan Jones as well I would guess.

Assume Fleming will support him with the ‘coaching’ side on the grass, and Hart might be involved more in the ‘managing’ side of stuff off it.

Though of course there will be a lot of fluidity and cross over in what they all do as well. 

They probably just haven't updated Fleming's job title yet. 

valleynick66 said:

It’s all positive. 

Just makes you wonder why they went with MA and whoever his forgettable assistant was in the first place. 

Maybe they have got some more cash from
the owners?

can’t see a negative yet in these recent events. 

Seems to me that the main investors left it to Methven & the boys until they could see their investment going down the tubes into League 2. Then they stepped up & took control. Wouldn't surprise me if Andy Scott is on his way in the summer....along with a few others too. 

charltonbob said:

valleynick66 said:

It’s all positive. 

Just makes you wonder why they went with MA and whoever his forgettable assistant was in the first place. 

Maybe they have got some more cash from
the owners?

can’t see a negative yet in these recent events. 

MA was scotts mate (& appreciate we tried for NJ in September).

After the appalling mess methven etc have made of things maybe the owners have decided to take a more hands on approach hence why they were interviewing NJ rather than the smt

I suspect it's interviewing him in addition to Scott/Methven/Rodwell/whomever. But yes perhaps it's a sign of a more hands on approach/more oversight.

Also, as you say, Jones himself mentioned we approached him in September. Which means one of the biggest differences between the MA appointment and the NJ appointment is NJ himself being willing to come here.

Another appointment with good and sensible intent.
Can you imagine….Duchatalet, Sandgaard or Southall even thinking about putting such a good managearing/coaching team together.
Whoever is pulling the strings re these appointments is getting a pat on the back from me.🤓

"Cultural change" eh? 

Hart and Jones seem to offer almost exactly what we're looking for.  

lancashire lad said:

just what we need an septuagenarian !

I think Paul Hart has a direct lineage to Brian Clough and Nottingham Forest in its European Cup and Championship heyday so if he can bring any of that to the party that must be better than what we have seen at our club for a long time.  I think I remember that we turned Forest over home and away the year they got promotion from Div 2 and the next year they won the old first division and the rest is history. I also remember not as fondly a 0-4 home drubbing to Mr Cloughs Brighton. It could have been any score that day

Bailey said:

golfaddick said:

valleynick66 said:

It’s all positive. 

Just makes you wonder why they went with MA and whoever his forgettable assistant was in the first place. 

Maybe they have got some more cash from
the owners?

can’t see a negative yet in these recent events. 

Seems to me that the main investors left it to Methven & the boys until they could see their investment going down the tubes into League 2. Then they stepped up & took control. Wouldn't surprise me if Andy Scott is on his way in the summer....along with a few others too. 

I think you are right Golfie and I don't think Jones would have dropped to this level, unless certain conditions were met. I think there was a question put to Jones in the press conference about who has the final say on transfers and it was made clear that he, as the Manager, will be in on the process. Without a doubt, the mess we are in is down to decisions made in the summer and the managerial change and appointment of Appleton. As we are now finding out, Jones was approached before Appleton in August, did Nathan Jones turn it down because of the set up ? We know that Chris Powell did, and its interesting that Chris Powell has given his seal of approval to Nathan Jones appointment. As you say, certain individuals may be looking over their shoulders after this appointment. 

And the previous January. And the previous summer. And appointing Holden, who started with 4/5 losses. 

The problems we're seeing now didn't start by hiring Appleton or getting in Tedic and Abankwah on loan, they go back much further than that. 

Southbank said:

FishCostaFortune said:

Well it would be Nathan Jones as well I would guess.

Assume Fleming will support him with the ‘coaching’ side on the grass, and Hart might be involved more in the ‘managing’ side of stuff off it.

Though of course there will be a lot of fluidity and cross over in what they all do as well. 

Hart will be the 'curly finger' guy

Hope he’s not doing the prostate examinations on the 24th