The Devious Director Of Football

It's been a stressful season for the title of Director of Football, with various undermining believed to have taken place in the Premier League, resulting in two resignations. Yesterday, the vacancy was thrown into disrepute again, as Sven-Goran Eriksson, the former England manager, was appointed in the role at League Two side Notts County. Perhaps it shows just how the mighty can fall although, the Swede, clearly saw enough ambition at the club that could re-propel his reputation as one of the best 'managers' in the world, because if you get a minnow to the top division it certainly deserves some praise.

Of course, he's not a 'manager' any more though. Or that's what his new title suggests. He is a director of football. A cunning term which throws the currently employed 'manager' off guard and can disrupt a football club.

There's no doubt you will recognise the term 'director of football' before for that reason. If it wasn't for Dennis Wise giving that position at Newcastle United, the club would probably still be flying high in the Premier League. But then-manager, Kevin Keegan believed he wasn't signing the players or selecting the team, which is what as 'manager' his contract states he was brought in to do, 'King Kev' resigned, and Newcastle, quite clearly, never fully recovered. Wise did insist that "I'm here to help Kevin, bringing young players through and also recommend certain players to him,", in an interview with BBC Sport, shortly after his appointment. "He'll say yes and no, he has the final word, no-one else. Everything that happens will be run past him." This was clearly not for-filled, and both had left the Magpies prior to their relegation. Wise, who's actual title was 'executive director', had previous managerial experience, at Millwall, Swindon and Leeds United, and was evens to be handed the Newcastle hotseat for the week after Keegan's departure. The date, 4th September 2008.

September 2008 was the month that the discussion really began to hit the headlines. Just a day before Keegan was 'pushed', Alan Curbishley left West Ham United. His statement read: "However, the club continued to make significant player decisions without involving me. In the end such a breach of trust and confidence meant that I had no option but to leave. Nevertheless, I wish the club and the players every success in the future.". Gianluca Nani appears to be the culprit in this case. His title was technical director. Despite these alternative terms, they all mean roughly the same thing. They try to control where someone else is in charge. Curbishley was linked with the England managerial position on both occasions it has become available in recent years, which suggests he is the best manager in the country. He did a magnificent job at Charlton Atheletic, where he built his reputation, and was deservingly offered the Hammers position.

No manager should be undermined. They do what's asked of them. They train the players and select the XI mostly likely to win the match based on the past week's work. Someone without any daily experience should take charge of the situation. If they do they will make a selection based on reputation, and funnily enough, during his time as England manager, that is what Sven did. Based on these facts is it a problem waiting to explode?

I don't know what to think about County. On the one hand they show plenty of ambition capable of something big, but on the other hand it's a recipe for disaster. Which way will it go? Something's going to happen that will grip the football world but will it be a good thing or something that the public will view as negative?