Brian Laws - Director of Football ????

**A face** · 20/09/2012, 10:42 AM

What exactly is his role? Is he the manager or is he not?

**Dodge** · 20/09/2012, 10:46 AM

He's essentially manager, but they're paying Stephen Kenny for that role, and don't want to give him amunition for any claim he may have

**A face** · 20/09/2012, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

He's essentially manager, but they're paying Stephen Kenny for that role, and don't want to give him amunition for any claim he may have

Being honest, i haven't read in depth about it .... are they keeping Kenny on the books or something?

**adamd164** · 20/09/2012, 11:05 AM

He was at Drogs' match the other night and mentioned watching DVDs on MNS, how often does a director of football go scouting opposition? Sounds pretty much like the manager to me.

But if they can't use the title 'manager' while paying Kenny, does that mean they'll have a 'director of football' on the touchline for the next two years!?

**Dodge** · 20/09/2012, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by A face

Being honest, i haven't read in depth about it .... are they keeping Kenny on the books or something?

Well they signed a contract so he has to be paid, or agree to a settlement

Originally Posted by adamd164

does that mean they'll have a 'director of football' on the touchline for the next two years!?

I'd imagine it'll be sorted soon enough

**El-Pietro** · 20/09/2012, 11:34 AM

if anything I think they don't want to call Laws a caretaker manager despite the fact that its clearly a short term appointment - if hes the DoF then its clear that they plan to replace him - though they could decide to keep Laws on as DoF as unlikely as that is

**nigel-harps1954** · 20/09/2012, 5:51 PM

Felix Healy was director of football at Harps. Essentially manager, but for him it was a case of not having the coaching badges.

**Olé Olé** · 21/09/2012, 8:03 PM

Contractual ranglings aside, if he brings success then Laws, in his capacity as Director of Football, has masterminded it and he brings an enhanced reputation back to England with him.

Should he fail, well then Laws goes back to England telling chairmen of various league clubs that he was merely Director of Football at Shamrock Rovers and is fully confident of bringing success to X club as manager.

**bullit** · 22/09/2012, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Olé Olé

Contractual ranglings aside, if he brings success then Laws, in his capacity as Director of Football, has masterminded it and he brings an enhanced reputation back to England with him.

Should he fail, well then Laws goes back to England telling chairmen of various league clubs that he was merely Director of Football at Shamrock Rovers and is fully confident of bringing success to X club as manager.

How do you judge succsess or failure in this case? Silly appointment,crazy waste of supporters money.

**A N Mouse** · 22/09/2012, 4:34 PM

Originally Posted by bullit

How do you judge succsess or failure in this case? Silly appointment,crazy waste of supporters money.

Well, him sticking around, presumably, would be contingent on them qualifying for europe.

Him in charge you'd imagine they'd be able to attract a slightly higher calibre of player.

Sounds like a different means to the same ends were being chased by other teams not so long ago. If they can do it on a budget all well and good. And if they can't, then sure having him about can't do any harm. Can it?

**SkStu** · 22/09/2012, 4:48 PM

In fairness, you're struggling for a valid point there! The appointment makes no sense to me. If ambitions have been set aside for this season then Kenny should have been retained until the end of this season. From an economics perspective if nothing else. Bohs result apart, Kenny's Rovers had been on a bit of a run that would probably have seen them to Europe. I don't see how the appointment of a guy from England for 6 weeks who doesn't even know the name of the team he is joining makes Euro qualification any more likely.

**Martinho II** · 22/09/2012, 8:19 PM

it said it all when laws was interviewed after the game tonight referred to his players as they! typical politician distancin himself in case he gets a better job!

**Hibs4Ever** · 22/09/2012, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by Martinho II

it said it all when laws was interviewed after the game tonight referred to his players as they! typical politician distancin himself in case he gets a better job!

He is favourite for the Wycombe job

**Mr A** · 23/09/2012, 9:39 AM

He was probably wondering why they hell they asked him about Shamrock Rovers especially considering what a great start his side made in Dundalk on Friday.

**A face** · 24/09/2012, 1:06 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

In fairness, you're struggling for a valid point there! The appointment makes no sense to me. If ambitions have been set aside for this season then Kenny should have been retained until the end of this season. From an economics perspective if nothing else. Bohs result apart, Kenny's Rovers had been on a bit of a run that would probably have seen them to Europe. I don't see how the appointment of a guy from England for 6 weeks who doesn't even know the name of the team he is joining makes Euro qualification any more likely.

Thats it in a nutshell really .... i was a knee jerk reaction after Bohs game and it probably wont end very well for them.

**Charlie Darwin** · 24/09/2012, 5:58 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

He's essentially manager, but they're paying Stephen Kenny for that role, and don't want to give him amunition for any claim he may have

It's this. Kenny hasn't been paid off yet and hiring a new "manager" would trigger the automatic forfeit on his contract. This way the club can presumably negotiate a smaller settlement during the off-season.

Sacking Kenny with a few weeks to go was a calculated gamble that hasn't paid off but I think it was worth the risk.

**A face** · 24/09/2012, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Sacking Kenny with a few weeks to go was a calculated gamble that hasn't paid off but I think it was worth the risk.

But what were the possible outcomes/scenarios of the gamble that were contemplated though? I don't think it was worth it at all, given Laws hasn't a clue about the game over here. He has a tough job right now to try and reclaim some lost ground and the players don't seem like reacting any time soon.

**Dodge** · 25/09/2012, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by A face

But what were the possible outcomes/scenarios of the gamble that were contemplated though? I don't think it was worth it at all, given Laws hasn't a clue about the game over here. He has a tough job right now to try and reclaim some lost ground and the players don't seem like reacting any time soon.

The Laws thing is a bit of a red herring. He was appointed ont eh advice of the Sponsor, as a short term thing. My guess is that at most he might have a say in who takes the job full time (ie some consultancy on the recruitment side).

The key for Rovers was getting rid of the chancers they have in the club so why waste time with Kenny at the helm. They were losing games regardless of the manager but this way there's no excuses for the players.

**A face** · 25/09/2012, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

The key for Rovers was getting rid of the chancers they have in the club so why waste time with Kenny at the helm. They were losing games regardless of the manager but this way there's no excuses for the players.

Thats one thing for sure, theres no where to hide for them now. Its put up or shut up for them now.

**Dodge** · 25/09/2012, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by A face

Its put up or shut up for them now.

That moment has long past. Wouldn't be surprised to see the whole team gutted now. If the likes of Sives and Twigg are off, who of those left would a club fight to keep? Finn and who else? After this year who knows