News and Views
Bowen Leaves Club
31 August 2020
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Former manager Mark Bowen has made a clean break of it and left Reading Football Club. And who can blame him? After being unfairly dumped as first team manager just as the new season was about to get underway, he was offered to move back to his old position as director of football but has chosen to depart. Bowen may not have been a popular choice when he was installed as manager last October, but he leaves with much respect for his time at the club and his conduct as manager. He also was successful in guiding the club to a mid-table finish from a relegation position on arrival and did let to justify being relieved of his position.
In our forum polls, over 80% of Reading fans think that getting a new manager in is the wrong decision, and over 60% are underwhelmed or worse that the new manager is Veljko Paunovic. It is clear that fans are not happy with the club's decision to remove the manager, the chief executive, and be left without a director of football with just days to the new season. It is unnecessary chaos at a time when stability is needed.
Discussion On This Story:
Millsy
Noone was expecting this. I suggested possibly Xmas time if we're not doing well but now!???
Anyway, it could be a blessing in disguise for Bowen. The safest thing for his longevity at RFC is to move up to DOF rather than chance another few more months as manager then get sacked and there be no role for him to go back to.
We also don't know what was said when he was appointed. It took us (and him) by surprise when he was appointed didn't it? I wouldn't be surprised if it was a case of not wanting to rock the boat too much with financial constraints etc so jsut gettign Bowen in to steady things while they look for the man they want, with th offchance that he may turn into a star manager. And now that he hasn't (not bad but not brilliant) they're thinking they gave it a go and now will get someone else in. i.e. Bowen may well have been aware all along.
Sutekh
IMO stay with Mark Bowen though as, based on his results last season, at least the club looks capable of a top 10 challenge/finish. Plus that means you don’t have to use what meagre funds FFP still allows to pay up the contracts of Eddie Niedzwiecki and other coaches that may no longer be wanted under a new regime.
From Despair To Where?
We just seem to be doing absolutely everything that a club in our position shouldn't be doing.
To be fair to Stanojovic though, he does have an OK managerial record and bags of experience working for nutters.
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