Simon's statement that the man we got was not the man we interviewed shows that probably the most difficult thing to spot at interview is someone's man-management skills. That difficulty was exacerbated with our outgoing Head Coach because there were not many credible places to go to do some due diligence on his 'modus operandi'. Perhaps Ian Foster's tenure at Portsmouth as first team coach was the closest we could have got. I would think that one or two of our players may have known someone who was at Pompey back then, though the first team coach role (as Schuey said when he made the leap to 'gaffer') is one that can allow some familiarity. He can go to the players' party, he can play golf with them. He is the one that can absorb some of the discontent without ultimate responsibility. He is the one who can say to a disgruntled player "Well, if I was the gaffer I would be picking you", content in the knowledge that he doesn't have that final responsibility.
In maintaining their progress over the past four or five years Argyle has done some things in a way that may be considered 'off the wall' by some yet they have worked well for us. So, when we come to interview the next set of candidates is it too bizarre to consider having one of Joe Edwards or Nance as part of the process? Certainly the squad trust both implicitly and both men know better than anyone else what makes this dressing room tick and, importantly, they recognise that any Head Coach/Manager we employ simply has to embrace and support the family ethos that is the bedrock of the club. He needs to be a natural 'people-person' and be able to acknowledge that every single permanent employee (and casual worker) is an integral part of the pyramid that supports the first team.
Of course, someone in such a crucial and busy role cannot stop and talk to everyone he meets but the very least that should be expected is an acknowledging nod, wave or 'hi there'. It is no coincidence that the best we have ever had - Tony Waiters, Dave Smith, Paul Sturrock and even the three that left under a cloud - Holloway, Lowe and Schumacher - had that kind of behaviour about them.
