Chris Hargreaves

I have heard that Former Town player Chris Hargreaves is having a second interview with Town today.
I listened to the radio commentary last night as I couldn’t access it live on TV .
He spoke well and  I liked his comments on formations and what the players should be doing when they are playing certain formations etc etc . He also mentioned his love for the club him being a local lad.
I know he would be the cheap option but we could do worse in my opinion  

Quoted from always grimsby

I have heard that Former Town player Chris Hargreaves is having a second interview with Town today.
I listened to the radio commentary last night as I couldn’t access it live on TV .
He spoke well and  I liked his comments on formations and what the players should be doing when they are playing certain formations etc etc . He also mentioned his love for the club him being a local lad.
I know he would be the cheap option but we could do worse in my opinion  

2 interviews within four working days since Jolley was fired? Seems a tad unlikely surely?

Did he confirm whether he’s interested or not?

Don’t know why, but I’ve got a good feeling about him….being a local lad is a bonus and he seems like a good bloke, but above all he’s very well respected in the game and had a great career in the lower leagues where we now find ourselves.

Seems to now be doing well as a coach and has a little bit of managerial experience. Ultimately I’d prefer an experienced league two manager at this stage, but of all the coaches who want to make the step up linked, I’d prefer him I think.

Cue plenty of posters frothing at the mouth at the thought of an ex player being mentioned, hah.

ffs

The one local lad that was doing a good job, and was offered the job, was John Cockerill.

He had the guts to turn down the job, because the board refused to release sufficient funds.

Where have I heard that before?

Chris hargreaves until end of the season is not a bad shout imo.

Local understands the club and very knowledgeable, i really think we need a fresh input and he could come in and have a go.

I really like the way he talks about football but he could also be a risk to the board, lets see.

I and many others talk well about football, doesn't turn us into the next mcmenamy or Buckley does it.

It's being able to get it through to the players what you expect and how you choreograph everything g on a Saturday afternoon.

Look, he went to Lindsey School, alright? GIVE IT HARGREAVES.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

I and many others talk well about football, doesn't turn us into the next mcmenamy or Buckley does it.

It's being able to get it through to the players what you expect and how you choreograph everything g on a Saturday afternoon.

do you...?

That's not the first time I've heard his name mentioned wonder if there is something in it

Anyone listened to Undr The Cosh with Jon Parkin?

Great podcast and they had Holloway on last week who is inspirational. His take on the Oyston's at Blackpool was very interesting.

Listening this morning to Aaron Wilbraham who is still playing for Rochdale at 40. He was raving about Martin Allen, Ian Holloway, Steve Cotterill and Tony Pulis. Appreciate most of them are out of our league but he said their man management was brilliant, Cotterill especially.

Each of them were scary figures who players were scared of upsetting.

Quoted from speedy

do you...?

I think it takes a bottle or two

Does he have a UEFA Licence to teach tip tap bash?

Chris was a good lad as a player and he’d the nerve and the nous to leave the club when he thought there was more chance of a career elsewhere. He doesn’t have much managerial experience though, less than Limbrick probably but he is a strong character.

Would he tempted by a portakabin when he's known more for being a caravan enthusiast?  

Let’s be honest at least this bloke knows the club and the area

Gracious me, his record at Torquay makes our last 3 managers seem a great success

Wilkie was a local lad who knew the club, etc, but was awful for us in caretaker charge after Slade left.

I'm remaining open-minded about all managerial candidates because, when all's said and done (to use a JSF phrase) I have no influence over who the board appoints.

Why wouldn't you interview Chris Hargreaves? He's a candidate worth looking into, for sure.

Of all the *realistic* potential appointments we could make, I'd like to think that we've interviewed Harry Kewell too. When you're in a rut like we are right now, all you want is for someone to come in, steady the ship, get us playing better football and aim to finish in the top half.

Something he did with Crawley on a limited budget. I don't think we'll all agree on who will be appointed in the end, but Kewell would be my choice right now.

Quoted from RichMariner

Wilkie was a local lad who knew the club, etc, but was awful for us in caretaker charge after Slade left.

I'm remaining open-minded about all managerial candidates because, when all's said and done (to use a JSF phrase) I have no influence over who the board appoints.

Why wouldn't you interview Chris Hargreaves? He's a candidate worth looking into, for sure.

Of all the *realistic* potential appointments we could make, I'd like to think that we've interviewed Harry Kewell too. When you're in a rut like we are right now, all you want is for someone to come in, steady the ship, get us playing better football and aim to finish in the top half.

Something he did with Crawley on a limited budget. I don't think we'll all agree on who will be appointed in the end, but Kewell would be my choice right now.

because he hasn't been a manger for 4+ years and doesn't seem to have had a job in football for the last couple of years

Quoted from forza ivano

because he hasn't been a manger for 4+ years and doesn't seem to have had a job in football for the last couple of years

apart from his job at Bristol Rovers?????

Quoted from cannylad68

The one local lad that was doing a good job, and was offered the job, was John Cockerill.

He had the guts to turn down the job, because the board refused to release sufficient funds.

Where have I heard that before?

It's probably my memory but I always thought that Cockerill wasn't offered the job as they wanted someone with a higher profile.

Agree that it was likely a big missed opportunity however it played out. Hoped for a similar bounce yesterday.  

I see Craig Shakespeare's name has edged into the new manager odds on Sky Bet.

Not a chance, as far as I'm concerned.

Quoted from OllieGTFC

Let’s be honest at least this bloke knows the club and the area

i know the club and the area but does that make me a successful manager. in any case i couldn't live on the wages. £150k is crap nowadays for somebody with my experience

Quoted from marinerdazza

It's probably my memory but I always thought that Cockerill wasn't offered the job as they wanted someone with a higher profile.

Agree that it was likely a big missed opportunity however it played out. Hoped for a similar bounce yesterday.  

You are right Dazza, John was never offered the permanent job and it caused a lot of bitterness for a while. He was no mug and I am sure he could have done the job well.

Quoted from forza ivano

because he hasn't been a manger for 4+ years and doesn't seem to have had a job in football for the last couple of years

Apart from the one he has now?

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

You are right Dazza, John was never offered the permanent job and it caused a lot of bitterness for a while. He was no mug and I am sure he could have done the job well.

I am pretty sure it was Cockers who did the turning away. All history now, one of many sliding doors moments in our history.

I have often been critical of some posters obsession with ex players and managers but I think Hargreaves is a different situation. He is neither an ex player who is returning to play or an ex manager who is returning to manage. Without checking his record he  does seem to have spent a lot of time in coaching/managing and has obviously developed his own ethos in his playing ideas. All managerial appointments are a calculated risk and nothing is guaranteed in how successful they will be. We have had relatively experienced managers who have been a disaster ( Newell) and gambled on relative newcomers to management who have been successful (Lawrie Mac and Sir Alan)-and before these latter two are highlighted I did say "relative newcomers".

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

Does he have a UEFA Licence to teach tip tap bash?

Chris was a good lad as a player and he’d the nerve and the nous to leave the club when he thought there was more chance of a career elsewhere. He doesn’t have much managerial experience though, less than Limbrick probably but he is a strong character.

Played against him in Sunday League before Town took him on, he was that quick with the ball it was a struggle to even foul him.

Hargreaves not for me if we’re going down that road I’d prefer  woodhouse at least he would scare the excrement out of them

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Hargreaves not for me if we’re going down that road I’d prefer  woodhouse at least he would scare the excrement out of them

Woodhouse needs to adapt massively if he is to make it in the pro game.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Woodhouse needs to adapt massively if he is to make it in the pro game.

I was joking tbf ... however I do know someone who has played for woodhouse and he assured me he knows the game

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

You are right Dazza, John was never offered the permanent job and it caused a lot of bitterness for a while. He was no mug and I am sure he could have done the job well.

Is this when he was assistant after Buckley left? I heard a story that he was in a panic after Buckley left and didn't know how to manage the team. The story goes that he rang Buckley who told him something along the lines of "pick the players, they know what to do".

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

I was joking tbf ... however I do know someone who has played for woodhouse and he assured me he knows the game

He talks the talk and probably does know the game but in non-league you have the luxury of replacing anyone who doesn't meet your standards at the drop of a hat. Once he reaches the National League he will have transfer windows and watertight contracts to deal with. Totally different animal. Fan bases increase significantly also so his Twitter presence will probably need scaling back.

For a period of time when he was at Torquay his side played some decent football coming to BP in 2014 and passing us off the park the we went down there a couple of months later when he was under pressure and they rolled over and we beat them.

His time at the helm of a club seems to have been pretty limited but he's been around non league and L2 etc.. for a good while and when he's done the TV stuff he appears knowledgeable.

Personally I'd like to see someone with a bit more experience as a Manager, reality I think we're not going to get that.    

I think cockers wanted the job and was doing quite well but the club gave job to Law?? (Cant remember his first name) Not Brian, the other Law who managed Town, he got us relegated.

He”ll be cheap

Ah yes the "lives and breaths success" Nicky Law. Yeah Cockers was doing well.

As for Hargreaves, last I remember he was doing brill at Torquay, wheels must have come off.

Not dead against, but I'd like someone with a bit more experience and proven track record of success, even if in the upper echelons of non-league.

It was Rodger (who'd won 3 lost 3 after we'd let in about 351 goals in the last few weeks of Groves' reign) who Law replaced.

Right yep, Cockers did okay though, I was a bit upset he didn't get a chance or a role of some sort and was ditched entirely.

Quoted from moosey_club

Played against him in Sunday League before Town took him on, he was that quick with the ball it was a struggle to even foul him.

Me too, best player I ever played against.

Quoted from Roast Em Bobby

Me too, best player I ever played against.

Thanks....





oh..you meant Hargreaves

We were 2nd or 3rd in the league and he was playing for Freetime Sports, think they won 10-0 and he scored 8 or 9 of them. I remember being convinced he would be ace for town.

I remember a stand out game he had for town, think it was v Swansea and we won 3-0 around Christmas (maybe 90-91ish). Think he scored 1 and made the other 2

Quoted from Roast Em Bobby

We were 2nd or 3rd in the league and he was playing for Freetime Sports, think they won 10-0 and he scored 8 or 9 of them. I remember being convinced he would be ace for town.

Yeah he was playing for Freetime, we were Schuberts FC at the time, he did similar against us at the College pitches.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

I remember a stand out game he had for town, think it was v Swansea and we won 3-0 around Christmas (maybe 90-91ish). Think he scored 2 and made the other 2

Pretty special performance when the score was only 3  -  0

Quoted from smokey111

Pretty special performance when the score was only 3  -  0

Quoted from moosey_club

Yeah he was playing for Freetime, we were Schuberts FC at the time, he did similar against us at the College pitches.

I must know you then, because I played for Schuberts. I’m SH (mercurial central midfielder who gave up football for raving 😀)

Quoted from Roast Em Bobby

I must know you then, because I played for Schuberts. I’m SH (mercurial central midfielder who gave up football for raving 😀)

Hi Scott.  

Penshurst Rd forever !!

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

Would he tempted by a portakabin when he's known more for being a caravan enthusiast?  

It's not just any old portakabin. It's a state of the art portakabin. With a white board, flattop bin, first aid cabinet.

This isn't just any porta cabin, this is an M&S portacabin.

I often wonder why they couldn't just get a complex built, at mates rates from a firm with a Town fan in charge, or Fenty's old TopCon links.

Dont think we will get anyone special, but could do with a special one right now.. No budget left. players dropping like stones,  and no confidence in the rest, Crowds are going down . it would not look a good job from outside.

Quoted from smokey111

Pretty special performance when the score was only 3  -  0

Lol edited mate 😆

Quoted from Rik e B

Right yep, Cockers did okay though, I was a bit upset he didn't get a chance or a role of some sort and was ditched entirely.

John was offered the job but wanted two players bringing into the club for around 130k but the board had non of it.
Sorry cant remember the players names.

Quoted from TAGG

John was offered the job but wanted two players bringing into the club for around 130k but the board had non of it.
Sorry cant remember the players names.

Think it was Ronaldo and Messi. But the board said too expensive.

Quoted from Rik e B

This isn't just any porta cabin, this is an M&S portacabin.

I often wonder why they couldn't just get a complex built, at mates rates from a firm with a Town fan in charge, or Fenty's old TopCon links.

No need. There's one in charge already.

Everyone’s right about Cockers. He wasn’t offered the job after his brilliant caretaker spell and it was given to Laws. He was then caretaker again I think after Laws was sacked and asked for money to be invested so the board gave Kenny Swain the job.

Quoted from Vance Warner

Everyone’s right about Cockers. He wasn’t offered the job after his brilliant caretaker spell and it was given to Laws. He was then caretaker again I think after Laws was sacked and asked for money to be invested so the board gave Kenny Swain the job.

I think it was that second time that he turned it down.

At łeast the current board are consisten, don't spend always go for the cheap option

Quoted from Gaffer58

At łeast the current board are consisten, don't spend always go for the cheap option

Everything is just a cost to Fenty. Keep costs down as low as possible. Investment of any sort is a dirty word.

Won't pay for better players and an experienced manager to get the best out of them? Then spend your entire tenure in a relegation fight in the 4th tier, or worse.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Everything is just a cost to Fenty. Keep costs down as low as possible. Investment of any sort is a dirty word.

Won't pay for better players and an experienced manager to get the best out of them? Then spend your entire tenure in a relegation fight in the 4th tier, or worse.

I don't think all that is necessarily the case but I think he does need to pay a decent amount for a good manager. Balancing the books, at this level of football, is always going to be difficult but I think that money spent on a decent manager is the way forward. A good manager can get the best out of of his squad, even if some of them are mediocre. A good, expensive player is ok but the expression "how can I soar like an Eagle when I'm surrounded by Turkeys" springs to mind. Hopefully, if the takeover goes through, we will have a new owner who can have a totally different approach to the way forward.

At the moment the club is worth minus £2million. If a new buyer comes in he will have to pay £2million for aclub worth minus £2million. When the club get the money they will pay off the debt to JSF so the club is worth nothing with no debt. So the new buyer ends up paying £2million for nothing. The club needs new players etc so the new owner lends the club  £2million as a benign loan. The club is now £2million in debt and the new owner has laid out £4million for the privilege . There must be a lot of prospective owners out there-surely we can get one

Quoted from rancido

I don't think all that is necessarily the case but I think he does need to pay a decent amount for a good manager. Balancing the books, at this level of football, is always going to be difficult but I think that money spent on a decent manager is the way forward. A good manager can get the best out of of his squad, even if some of them are mediocre. A good, expensive player is ok but the expression "how can I soar like an Eagle when I'm surrounded by Turkeys" springs to mind. Hopefully, if the takeover goes through, we will have a new owner who can have a totally different approach to the way forward.

Don't think many will disagree that a good manager is worth what he costs - the rewards for success in football are large. But can JF recognize one?

Quoted from golfer

At the moment the club is worth minus £2million. If a new buyer comes in he will have to pay £2million for aclub worth minus £2million. When the club get the money they will pay off the debt to JSF so the club is worth nothing with no debt. So the new buyer ends up paying £2million for nothing. The club needs new players etc so the new owner lends the club  £2million as a benign loan. The club is now £2million in debt and the new owner has laid out £4million for the privilege . There must be a lot of prospective owners out there-surely we can get one

On paper the club is minus c £1m. £1.6m owed to JSF and the ground is worth an estimated £700k if I remember correctly, though that valuation was a few years ago. Don’t think there is much significant debt other than Fenty’s loan. We might even have more cash than other debts.

So maybe £3m to buyout.

Currently trading profitably, so not such a grim prospect. C£2-300k each of the last 3 years. Be a decade before you could recoup the £3m in its entirety, but as long as you can service the debt that’s not a tall order.