Since his appointment as assistant manager/first team coach in May 2009, the club has suffered more than at any other time in its long history. In the 2 and a half seasons that Harrison has been first team coach, 2 managers have been sacked and the club have been involved in 3 relegation battles The common link with the underachievement and poor form in the last 3 seasons is Steve Harrison.
For instance, In 2009/10, the team finished 18th having only won 14 times and scoring only 53 goals and were the 5th lowest scoring team in the division. In 20010/11, the team finished 18th having won only 14 times and scoring only 53 goals and were the 4th lowest scoring team in the division.
So far this season the team are bottom, 7 points from safety, have won only 2 games from 20, scored only 17 goals and are the 2nd lowest scorers in the division. Harrisons record as first team coach: Played 112 Won 30 Scored 123 Win ratio 26% This is unacceptable. Harrison does the majority of the coaching and has done for the last 3 seasons. This has resulted in relegation battles and 2 managers being sacked. I feel for Andy Thorn as I admire his footballing philosophy, his success in the transfer market and the relationship he has built with the fans. I have every confidence in Andy Thorn as a tactician and motivator. However, I lack faith in Steve Harrison as a coach.
My reasons for this are that the common thing in the last 3 seasons in that the team can never sustain a good performance for 90 minutes, the team do not score enough goals, and too many players are not playing to their potential. This responsibility lies with the first team coach.
Thorn does the team selection, tactics and transfers, but Harrison is responsible for technical and tactical coaching, and for the last 3 seasons the team are way below standards and expectations. Look how highly paid players like Eastwood, Bell, McSheffrey, and O'Donovan are failing to perform season after season. Harrison was also previously sacked by the likes of Watford, Millwall, Palace, Villa, Middlesbrough, Wolves and Preston. In my opinion, something has to change soon to stop this losing mentality. Lee Carsley would be the ideal person to take over as assistant manager/first team coach.
He has done an excellent job with the youth team who are top of the league, he has the respect of all the players, and he is highly qualified coach.
Time for a Harrison to be relieved of his duties and for Lee Carsley to assist Andy Thorn PUSB
Source: FOOTYMAD
