lady-isobel-barnett

Thought Fitzpatrick was the only one to get pass marks.

Highly likely Neilson would have been Jags manager after Archibald had the Dundee Utd job not become available or we had sacked Archie a few weeks earlier. Instead we ended up with Caldwell.

No idea. I'd just like to step off the train in Inverness not having to head off to the wilderness in a howling gale dressed like Captain Oates.

Mind we're talking Head Coaches and not managers. There's likely to be a plethora of ex managers out there who were good coaches but failed in the managerial aspects of the job. Conversely we all know the characters who were no doubt fine behind the scene but were not the greatest when it came to tactics, coaching etc.

For my money Cammy Bell is the most prolific user of the "listen" word. Once even managed to use it twice in the one sentence. Rebel that he is, Michael Stewart himself no past stranger to starting a sentence with a "listen", appears lately to have broken the mould. He now prefers to kick off his sentences with the word "look".

I never wished ill on them but was hoping they'd have to move ground. Share with Clachnacuddin preferably.

Sense the overriding factor, above even defined roles and responsibility, will be the standard of compatibility between SD and Head Coach. A really good working relationship and the whole could be greater than the sum of the parts. The opposite can of course also apply. You get two well qualified for their respective jobs but somehow don't gel. You then run the risk of underperformance. I've seen examples of both in my past employment. I suspect many others on here can identify with this.

Aye, somehow "You'd do it for Stuart Kettlewell" doesn't carry the same gravitas as Randolph S.

Can understand that but can you suggest a prospective Head Coach who'd be worthy of such adulation. I'd really struggle on that one. With Barraclough arriving you can exclude all the "McCall style" wheeler and dealers. Just concentrate on a Head Coach who's impressed re training, fitness, style of play and ability to change the course of a game in play from the sidelines. Someone who can get the most out of the players without asking them to do or play in a style with which they'd struggle. In my mind McCabe looks like he could fill the bill. At the same time I realise I'm hardly thinking outside the box and there's bound to be better candidates when you spread the net wider. Warning a big "if" coming up. If Barroclough has a comprehensive knowledge of Scottish football then that net could be spread very wide indeed. And if needs be Stevie Lawless could always act as an interpreter.

I'm sure you'll be right. McCabe has been a player all during his spell coaching his team. I think it would be very difficult to combine other managerial duties for such a long period. Has he even had time to complete his badges?

Good points but it could still be construed as another string to his bow. Identifying prospective signings from Scotland has to be a priority. A quality that say McCall and Barrowman possess. I'm just hoping that we'll have a wider net with this fella than McCall with his Scottish knowledge and Kenny Moyes aided assistance elsewhere. I'm a convinced believer in the need/benefit of splitting managerial roles between SD & Head Coach. I understand others think differently so I'm really hoping we've got this appointment spot on.

His experience with Northern Ireland teams, especially their U21s, should be of benefit. Of all the home nations NI have had to scour the leagues more than others to find players. That process alone should be of value.

High priority in the summer will be to replace Martin. Problematic getting a quality player on a one year contract, so likely a loan deal. One for Ian Baraclough to get started with.

Gotta admit I was ill informed myself https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/20/590x/1986062_1.jpg

I think McCabe ticks a few boxes. If we weren't bringing in a Sporting Director I wouldn't be very keen on him. But as a Head Coach he turns out a fit well drilled team that play as a unit.

Grudgingly have to admire the way Airdrie played yesterday. They slowed the game down when a goal up. Immediately we equalised, no doubt having conserved a bit of energy, upped the tempo considerably. A draw was little good to them and they came out on top in the end to end stuff that followed. Both teams gambled late on trying to get the winner. That makes me less despondent about the actual result. More concerned with the way we played prior to Stanway scoring when a team bottom of the division can outplay us tactically.

Is that not a task for the Number Two?

Feel Queens Pk lost their soul when they went professional. Even when they were riding high and coming close to winning the League I couldn't see where the sustainability was going to come from. They're one of the few clubs whose home support is regularly less than the visiting support. Given the capacity of Lesser Hampden away fans would be locked out in their hundreds on a regular basis. I just don't get it. I'm only half joking when I say I can foresee them amalgamating with Clyde in the not too distant future.

I'd rather groundshare at Cappielow.

Button up you lot. We don't need another shiitake.

and against the Clyde first team goalie.

I think that'll be a real hit financially. I've no idea how the BBC compo works but if it's a flat rate say moving a QP v Accies game will be a lot less painful than a game between us and Falkirk

Think this makes sense on a couple of levels. Firstly they deserve to be kept on. Also it helps the incoming SD in so much he won't have to make a difficult decision straight off.

Not trying to be pedantic but will the title not be Head Coach? By employing Sporting Director we're kinda splitting managerial duties. So in a very loose way we will have co-managers.