I don't have experience running a football club, but I would have thought what you'd want is a open and cohesive collaboration between management, the coaching group and the players where feedback, either as constructive criticism or positive reinforcement is welcomed and taken on board. When decisions are made, they need to be clearly explained to the tier below, both the how and why the decision was made, from management to coaches/fitness staff and coaches to players and back and forth the opposite way and feedback sought on how/if it can be improved, or if better alternatives are available. For example if a player is dropped then it needs to be clearly defined to them why that is, what they have to improve (if anything) and what they did well that would see them keep their spot in the side. You don't need to necessarily always side with the players, or do what they want, but at least allow them to give feedback and explain to them the hows and whys of your decision.
Instead what it feels like is we have management who is closed minded, not willing to hear outside opinions and is almost hostile to any form of feedback that doesn't result in immediate praise and decisions are simply explained as "because I said so". There's no willingness to collaborate and while the feedback down the chain is conducted, they seem to absolutely refuse to have the same process come back up and see that as a challenge of authority, rather than as a chance to work together and improve.
Fagan can rap all he wants about improving the processes, or reviewing "where we went wrong", but as long a combative attitude from management remains then the situation is unlikely to improve. All the reasons we hear for fitness staff leaving is "disagreements with Burton on the direction of the program" or whatever. Disagreements on the surface are not a bad thing, as I said before, it's a chance to collaborate and improve what you're doing. At the end once the decision is made those fitness staff need to do as instructed, but if you're removing them from the club for the simple reason that they disagreed with you, then that's awful decision making and reeks of insecurity and authority issues. If i'm a player and feel I can't go to my coach or head of fitness or football department with an issue because that person will instantly dismiss me because they see that as an attack, why would a player want to remain in that environment?
We've seen from Fagan now, he seems utterly incapable of accepting criticisms, he's told the fans feel like they aren't being given answers, he responds with "We engage with the supporters, you just don't like the answers", which is a hostile answer. There's no explanation on how/why he feels that way, just a completed dismissal of the query. Burton responds with questions about his fitness program with "I'm offended", how could anyone dare question him? This situation isn't unique at all, I've worked at places before where management were completely unwilling to listen to any feedback decisions made, and any concerns raised were instantly dismissed and when things went wrong and management came out breathing fire and refused to accept a "We told you of the risks involved and this was a likely outcome" response. It just absolutely tanks morale when you're not being listened to and then blamed for failures you warned people about. This is all a bit of a speculative ramble, but I don't expect anything will change much in 2019 considering we have the same people leading the club again.
Instead what it feels like is we have management who is closed minded, not willing to hear outside opinions and is almost hostile to any form of feedback that doesn't result in immediate praise and decisions are simply explained as "because I said so". There's no willingness to collaborate and while the feedback down the chain is conducted, they seem to absolutely refuse to have the same process come back up and see that as a challenge of authority, rather than as a chance to work together and improve.
Fagan can rap all he wants about improving the processes, or reviewing "where we went wrong", but as long a combative attitude from management remains then the situation is unlikely to improve. All the reasons we hear for fitness staff leaving is "disagreements with Burton on the direction of the program" or whatever. Disagreements on the surface are not a bad thing, as I said before, it's a chance to collaborate and improve what you're doing. At the end once the decision is made those fitness staff need to do as instructed, but if you're removing them from the club for the simple reason that they disagreed with you, then that's awful decision making and reeks of insecurity and authority issues. If i'm a player and feel I can't go to my coach or head of fitness or football department with an issue because that person will instantly dismiss me because they see that as an attack, why would a player want to remain in that environment?
We've seen from Fagan now, he seems utterly incapable of accepting criticisms, he's told the fans feel like they aren't being given answers, he responds with "We engage with the supporters, you just don't like the answers", which is a hostile answer. There's no explanation on how/why he feels that way, just a completed dismissal of the query. Burton responds with questions about his fitness program with "I'm offended", how could anyone dare question him? This situation isn't unique at all, I've worked at places before where management were completely unwilling to listen to any feedback decisions made, and any concerns raised were instantly dismissed and when things went wrong and management came out breathing fire and refused to accept a "We told you of the risks involved and this was a likely outcome" response. It just absolutely tanks morale when you're not being listened to and then blamed for failures you warned people about. This is all a bit of a speculative ramble, but I don't expect anything will change much in 2019 considering we have the same people leading the club again.
