Gemmill 46086 Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has hit out at Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein over his alleged role in Steve McClaren getting the England job. Dein sits on the Football Association board and Gibson thinks he shielded his club manager Arsene Wenger from being approached for the England vacancy. "How someone like David Dein can be kingmaker, I don't know," Gibson said. "The FA is there for the good of English football, but was Arsene Wenger interviewed? Why was he protected?" FA chief executive Brian Barwick claimed Wenger had been spoken to but had expressed a desire to remain at Arsenal. Portugal's Brazilian manager Luiz Felipe Scolari - reportedly Dein's first choice - was then spoken to but rejected the opportunity before eventually McClaren was appointed on Thursday. "How many England internationals are there from Arsenal? And yet he presents us with a Brazilian living and working in Portugal," Gibson added. The Middlesbrough chairman is also furious at the drawn-out nature of McClaren's appointment. Sven Goran Eriksson announced in January he would be leaving after the World Cup and months of speculation followed about McClaren, as well as other candidates like Sam Allardyce and Alan Curbishley. Gibson said: "It has taken so long. Has it damaged our football club? Definitely. "If he hadn't got the job, I couldn't actually replace him. So how do I recruit? "The process was far too long and I don't quite understand whether the process is right. "I think the structure of the FA makes their life difficult. I think there are some great individuals - and I would not want to be critical of them - but I would be critical of the structure. "Whether they change it is for them to decide. They have a good man in Brian Barwick and good men at the top, but they have to be more professional. "The Premier League is a great model. It is efficient, well run by individuals such as the chief executive, and the FA has to become that and they have to be ruthless in their pursuit of it. "But will it happen? I don't know." But despite his misgivings about the way McClaren was given the job, Gibson believes his manager will be a success with the national team. The Boro coach, 45, led the club to their first ever trophy when they lifted the Carling Cup in 2004 and he could yet lift the Uefa Cup in his final game in charge, against Sevilla in Eindhoven on Wednesday. Gibson said: "I am disappointed to be losing him, but this was his first job in management so this club has contributed to the England cause and I am very happy for Steve and for us. "He has a lot of talent in given areas and is a very intelligent guy, he will learn very quickly and I believe he was the outstanding candidate. "It is a huge compliment to the club because it shows in the last five years we have moved forward. "One individual cannot move a club as far as we have moved, and Steve would admit that he has a great team around him." McClaren has agreed a four-year deal with the FA, starting on 1 August. He's spot on like and I can totally understand his annoyance with the situation. Proper chairman tbh. He also says they're starting their manager search on May 16th. What's the betting it will be handled with professionalism Freddy Shepherd can only dream of, and they'll end up with a manager that will take the club forward. I would have so much more confidence in the club if we had someone like Gibson in charge. Gareth Southgate has gone public saying he wants the job. Obviously I don't know for definite but I would be very surprised if Gibson would entrust the club to a player that's never managed before. Contrast that with the situation at Newcastle - we all know if Shearer said he wanted the job, Shepherd would give it to him without a second thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish Mag 3 Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 He's spot on like and I can totally understand his annoyance with the situation. Proper chairman tbh. Proper chairman, whats he ever achieved ?? A league cup, possibly on the verge of winning a European trophy?? We are the 5th best club in the country etc etc etc Fat Fred = GREAT Chairman... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 Surprised Dein didn't recommend Wenger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 He's spot on like and I can totally understand his annoyance with the situation. Proper chairman tbh. Proper chairman, whats he ever achieved ?? A league cup, possibly on the verge of winning a European trophy?? We are the 5th best club in the country etc etc etc Fat Fred = GREAT Chairman... 131939[/snapback] And their gates are crap compared to ours. I rest my case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 46086 Posted May 5, 2006 Author Share Posted May 5, 2006 He's spot on like and I can totally understand his annoyance with the situation. Proper chairman tbh. Proper chairman, whats he ever achieved ?? A league cup, possibly on the verge of winning a European trophy?? We are the 5th best club in the country etc etc etc Fat Fred = GREAT Chairman... 131939[/snapback] There's a thread over on N-O where Wullie asks Leazes if he can defend Shepherd over this farcical situation and he responds with his stock "5th best club in the country, always backs his managers..." etc. response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31221 Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 Gareth Southgate has gone public saying he wants the job. Obviously I don't know for definite but I would be very surprised if Gibson would entrust the club to a player that's never managed before. 131933[/snapback] You mean someone like Robson? Or McClaren who had never managed before? I don't think Gibson would be adverse to taking a calculated gamble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 5, 2006 Share Posted May 5, 2006 Gareth Southgate has gone public saying he wants the job. Obviously I don't know for definite but I would be very surprised if Gibson would entrust the club to a player that's never managed before. 131933[/snapback] You mean someone like Robson? Or McClaren who had never managed before? I don't think Gibson would be adverse to taking a calculated gamble. 132022[/snapback] He got his fingers burnt with Robson though and McClaren had a lot of excellent coaching experience under Ferguson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 46086 Posted May 5, 2006 Author Share Posted May 5, 2006 Gareth Southgate has gone public saying he wants the job. Obviously I don't know for definite but I would be very surprised if Gibson would entrust the club to a player that's never managed before. 131933[/snapback] You mean someone like Robson? Or McClaren who had never managed before? I don't think Gibson would be adverse to taking a calculated gamble. 132022[/snapback] Fair point about Robson, but as alex says, McClaren had been a coach working closely with Ferguson and was very highly rated which is why he got the job in the first place. We'll see like, but I don't see Gibson looking to Southgate to move a club that has just made a European final forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted May 6, 2006 Share Posted May 6, 2006 Don't see what Gibson is complaining about, no chance Wenger would have took the job anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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