Staying up the priority for new head coach Sean O'Driscoll
New Bristol City head coach Sean O'Driscoll insists his priority it to try and keep the club in the npower Championship this season.
Appointed to succeed the sacked Derek McInnes with the Robins bottom of the table and six points adrift of safety, the former Doncaster and Nottingham Forest boss has 20 games in which to save City from the drop.
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Sean O'Driscoll the new Bristol City Head Coach 02
Although he boasts an excellent track record in terms of developing players and building structures for the future, he recognises the importance of results in the short-term.
O'Driscoll, 55, will take charge of his first game against Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday and he admitted: "I don't have time to assess the squad – we need to hit the ground running.
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"I know about the players here and their ability, but I don't know their characters.
"The most important thing is to talk to them, see how they feel and set about getting the best out of them.
"Is 20 games enough? We have to hope and we have to believe it is.
"I would prefer the club to be sitting top of the league and looking at the Premier Division. BHut they are bottom of the league and changing that is the challenge.
"Of course, there are things you want to put in place for the future, but given the situation the club is in, staying up is all that matters right now.
"The supporters don't want to know how the under-11s are doing. They want to know if we are going to beat Leeds United on Saturday."
Previous assistant boss Tony Docherty followed Mcinnes out of the door at the weekend and O'Driscoll is keen to appoint a lieutenant as quickly as possible.
He said: "I've been given the head coach's title and that is the way the club wants to go. That means I have the opportunity to bring my own staff in.
"As far as I'm concerned, that needs to happen sooner rather than later. Ideally, I would like someone in now but, because things have happened so quickly, that has not been possible.
"The board have some ideas about who they would like and have made recommendations and I have some people in mind who I think would be a good fit as well.
"I need someone in to work with me as soon as possible and will be trying to make that happen."
O'Driscoll agreed a 12-month rolling contract just hours after being linked with the managerial vacancy at Blackpool.
He said: "I was at a game on Saturday, got home late, did not have the TV on and did not realise the situation at Bristol City.
"I've talked to various clubs because I was out of work, but I've only said 'yes' to one club and that is Bristol City. This is a good fit for me and, hopefully, it will be a good fit for the club."
O'Driscoll met with City directors Jon Lansdown and Keith Dawe on Sunday and was immediately impressed by what they had to say.
He confided: "With the way football is going with Financial Fair Play, everyone is looking at processes rather than outcome.
"I'm impressed with the structure Bristol City are putting in place with the under-21s. If you get development right, then good players will come through.
"I'm not here telling Bristol City the way to go, because they are halfway there already. That ticked a really big box for me."
City's players were given the day off today and will meet the new head coach for the first time tomorrow before training.
Comments
by redferryman1
Monday, January 14 2013, 9:15PM
“Already, I like this man's open-minded approach!
He already knows the player's ability, and, astutely, he will leave it to the players themselves to prove whether, like O'Driscoll himself, they are up-for-the-fight.
Clever, very clever. Sorting the wheat from the chaff, already! Interesting man-management!”
by piledriver
Monday, January 14 2013, 8:58PM
“So the priority is to stay up?
Real change of focus there then!
@forandaft:
As far as I'm concerned they can call him The Ayattolah of Ashton Gate if he keeps us up!
All joking apart, the idea is to ensure that the backroom staff stay in place even if the manager and his assistant leave.Del brought an entourage and if they all want to join him wherever he is next, that'll be a real headache as far as continuity in our Physio, Academy & U21 set up.
Hopefully, if he's in Scotland, they won't be able to match the package they're on here but I wouldn't bank on us not having to replace the lot by the time next season comes around.”
by forandaft
Monday, January 14 2013, 5:50PM
“Why did we adopt this continental view of someone that is in charge of a football team as a "head coach" in England they will always be known a a "Manager" so lets rid ourselves of his "head coach" nonsense.
Anyone agree?”