Opinion: What's the idea?

Last updated : 12 February 2015 By Paul Farrington

If anything matters are going from bad to worse as we bounce from defeat to defeat with seemingly ever worsening performances to boot. 

The display at Nottingham Forest was symptomatic of our current issues and those involved should be embarrassed with the level of professional conduct on display when representing our football club. 

Professionals are paid to do a job and if those who took to the field on Wednesday evening were doctors, lawyers, or accountants they would be sued for professional negligence.  

There is a distinct difference from suffering a bad day at the office to failing to perform to a level reasonably expected from someone of your cost and experience level. The latter is what Wigan Athletic supporters are enduring at present. 

Then there is the marmite issue of the manager. Since his arrival in November Malky Mackay has had no positive impact on our football club with just one win, and one draw, to show from fourteen games the Scot has overseen an acceleration in the rate of decline. 

Whilst there must be questions pointed at all those involved in the club at the moment, the manager is central in issues. 

Rumours are abound of players being not performing, showing poor attitudes, and generally just picking up their wages, but it is the manager who picks the likes of Don Cowie and Andrew Taylor each week.

These two former Cardiff City players are known to Mackay but both are devoid of any quality or desire to play for our football club and are central to those turning in negligent performances week in week out.
 

They aren’t alone in this with the two James’, Perch and McClean, the only two players of our current crop worth their salt this season.

Earlier this season he also stuck by Scott Carson for an insurmountable length of time whilst the former England goalkeeper turned in performances not fit to grace Shevington Rec on a Sunday morning.
 

Furthermore Mackay has taken us through a transfer window. There can be no arguments against the players that have left the club with each and every one living on past glories and offering nothing but a big wage bill to the first team squad this season.

It is also too early to mark against the players that have come in, but none have had a strong immediate impact on the first team squad, and none of the names are eye catching or suggesting they have what it takes to lift us out our current predicament. Of all the additions only Sheyi Ojo, a 17 year old experiencing his first professional action, has looked capable of turning a game in our favour.
 

Whether this is the manager’s eye for talent, or a lack of financial support from the hierarchy of the club, it is at this point unclear, but questions need to be asked.

It is clear that our players, and our manager are not performing the job they should be given their level of experience, pay, and talent but our chief executive cannot escape without comment.
 

Jonathan Jackson has a currently unfathomable obsession with turning an accounting profit, a mythical concept in the world of football, where one of transfers and television money can hugely distort figures.

At a time where we needed to commit to the current season and deploy funds in such a way as to give us a hope of securing our Championship status, one step away from the £5.14 billion Premier League, we have retracted into our financial shells, counted our pennies, and put on the League One tin hat.
 

Instead of speculating to accumulate on the field matters we have continued to plough funds into the promised land of the academy, a completely fruitless concept for a club in League One or below. At a time where decisive leadership would have moth-balled the project until on the field matters were settled, we have continued to buy new sails for our sinking ship.

With Mr Whelan banned and in Barbados our football club is without a leader, we’re floating down the river without direction and course.
 

The appointment of Mr Sharpe as a director is not a forward direction in the short term. A mid-twenties millionaire’s grandson, who took the local chippy to a £1.3 million loss is not the man for our club right now. Nor is it fair on him to be placed in that role. He should be learning from those around him what running a football club is about. Messrs Jackson, Mackay, and the current playing staff are not the best to get your baptism from.

At the moment this season is a write off. Barring a miracle we’re going to be facing League One next season and we need to be ready for that. We need a leader to stand up, someone ready to be counted and who is capable of leading our club as well as picking up their inflated wages each week.
 

Of all those in situ at the moment only our embattled Chairman is capable of steering us forward and his return from Barbados cannot come too soon, even if it is only to help prepare us for League One next season.

 

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