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TARINGA ROVERS F.C. It is my most humble opinion that continuity is one of, if not the most important factor in achieving successful outcomes in managing, and coaching a football club. I was aware of the fact that many of the very best players in Brisbane past, and present had graced Jack Speare Park and I was in awe of the tradition at the club. I was proud to have been given the opportunity to become part of such a great club, but I was also very much aware of the responsibilities that come with taking on such a job. The one area that I felt required immediate attention was the lack of continuity at the club in terms of player movement each and every season. My first meeting with the players was in October 2007 when a meet and greet function was arranged. I made it clear that I was not about to charge into the job like a bull in a china shop and turn everything upside down. My predecessor, Alan Waller had done a brilliant job before me and had built a side that was capable of a top four finish in the Premier League. I had fully expected that the same group of players would stay together and it was my intention to establish a shadow squad of youngsters that would make up the squad as I plotted a three season plan which would be capable of challenging for silverware by season 2010. All too often coaches are heard talking in terms of “Re-building” and “Re-organising”. To me that always sounded like a method of creating an illusion of progress when in fact they were only producing confusion, and inefficiency. Certainly I accept that in terms of winning and losing there is a “Circle of Life”, but I would rather that my teams have a balance between experienced players and talented youth in an effort to provide that “Continuity” that I am on about. “Re-building” each and every season is just a cop out and an excuse contingent on failure in my view. Our 2008 season started with a mass exodus leaving us with just one regular first team player from the previous season. Naturally, one starts to ask why these players are moving on without giving us an opportunity. Where is the club loyalty? I could understand their departure if they had attended training sessions, and came to the conclusion that my style did not suit them, or that perhaps they felt that they may not get the opportunities that they had hoped for, but to leave before a ball had been kicked was stunning to me. Players nowadays often demand financial benefits which clubs simply cannot afford and to promise players anything that one cannot deliver would simply be irresponsible and in any case money does not always guarantee success. In addition to the exodus of players seeking fame, and some seeking fortunes, we experienced a spate of season ending injuries just a week prior to our first league fixture. All in all we found ourselves with 13 injuries out of a squad of 30 players and but not for the fact that Taringa Rovers have traditionally been very strong in Metro league football we would have been facing a crisis of sorts. Still we soldiered on and having provided opportunities for some 45 players to play Premier League throughout the season, I feel that the injuries and lengthy absences of key players may have been a blessing in disguise because now as a club we have much experience going into season 2009. The “Rich” clubs in Brisbane Football will tell us that, “Money is the root of all envy”. I am not about to name names, but I will say that it takes much more than money to be successful at club football in Brisbane. Sure the richest clubs attract the players that they want with the lure of $$$, and whilst I do not begrudge players taking the money I just wonder if these same players realise what is expected in return, and how that money places extra pressure on them to perform, and how that may affect their game. At Taringa Rovers we have a great bunch of lads and a few very talented youngsters who will attract plenty of attention in the years to come. Without exception all of these youngsters are smart enough to realise that success breed’s success and their aim is to win a championship with Taringa Rovers which in turn will place them on much more solid foundations in terms of achieving their full potential. Season 2008 did not see us make the top four and in terms of league ladder standings history will judge the “Class of 2008” accordingly. I much prefer to review the season in terms of the main objective and that is the development of youngsters; the establishment of sound foundations administratively (Off the park); and the return for the financial investment put into the first team squad. On those issues we most certainly have had a very successful season in 2008. In 2009, I am very confident that the “Continuity” that we are seeking will make us even more competitive and based on our performances this season we only have to improve marginally to meet even our harshest critics’ understanding of success. I am hell bent on making football in Brisbane the best that it can be. I would like to think that belonging to a club and leading by example in terms of establishing a club culture that may perhaps be emulated at other clubs is but a start to this vision of mine. In conclusion I leave you with something to ponder upon. “It’s not the inequality of disposable finance at football clubs that is the problem in the game in Brisbane, It’s the sole dependence on sponsors by clubs who dare not review their business plans and work within their budgets”.
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