How long will Hinshelwood Last?

By Cian 'MYOB' Duffy
July 16 2002

Well, how long do you think new boss Martin Hinshelwood is going to last in the job? We haven't had a good record in hanging onto managers...

Well, how long do you think new boss Martin Hinshelwood is going to last in the job? We haven't had a good record in hanging onto managers, even when the results have been very good. Micky Adams left for a club destined to be in the same division this season, just to have the apparent security of a bigger club. Peter Taylor left just after leading the team to a Championship victory.

If it seems we cannot hang on to a manager in good times, how can we keep one if the times get harder. The current lack of a good stadium, plus the relative lack of players means that a good league position is unlikely to be easy to come by. I'm sure many supporters would be happy with 5th or 6th last in the division, even on goal difference. In harder times, Liam Brady lasted close on 3 years, Jimmy Case lasted barely a year. Steve Gritt hung on for slightly longer. But if we cannot keep a manager for even a season while winning the 2nd Division, what will be the chances of keeping Hinshelwood in slightly harder times.

Taylor left the club for a large number of reasons. He was not happy with the stadium and training facilities. Falmer may have been green-lighted, but it is still some way off. He was dis-satisfied by the lack of proper office facilities for himself. This may or may not have been sorted out by now, as I do not know what offices the club has in its new premises. He was worried over the low budget for players. This also may be better now, due to the slightly higher television revenues available to clubs in Division One under the new SKY deal. But the budget will still not be great.

Hinshelwood was obviously not the highest choice on the list for Knight. If he had been top of the list, he would have been appointed almost immediately, not almost 11 weeks after Taylors resignation. He has a 2-year contract, and his loyalty to the club may make him feel obliged to see that out. He has been at the club in some form or another since 1987. But will the club still want him in the 2004/5 season? Can Hinshelwood deliver the kind of results that both Knight and the fans want from the team? Will he still be in charge when the team first runs out onto the turf at Falmer? We shall have to see. His first challenge is to find some goods cheap or free players for the next season, and to hold onto Bobby Zamora for dear life.

We shall have the first inklings on the 10th August, the first match day of the season. Lets hope Division One is kind to us.