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New broom? – Preview
at 10:30 15 Jan 2024

Great piece, thanks.

I'm interested in the motivation of the new CEO. He's living a good life and a good career, well paid, well respected, quoted in conferences and by sports business media. How has his career now turned so that he leaves conference halls in Geneva, Barcelona etc - for people calling him out at 10.30pm as he boards a coach in Preston?

He's either run this audit, and been such a good client handler of our owners that they've turned around and said, 'fancy it?'' Given he's ushered Cifuentes forward, written (I hope) a plan, perhaps he felt he couldn't say no even if he had no intention.

The alternative is he actually fancies it. Maybe he's one of those that doesn't want to be a consultant all his life, and instead wants to get some skin in the game. To do that, he needs to lead the club, and lead (not serve) the owners.

I do think - much like everyone at the club - he'll need help. It was "the data and the algorivvims" that helped us find Beale. The algorithms aren't so great at judging character, and we have a few to manage. On the plus side, Christian and his data team has led us to Cifuentes. Given that Martî wasn't competing with Eustace, Rowett and Nathan Jones for Sky punditry slots - it's a bold appointment whichever way you look at it.

Patience is key. Warburton aside, we could have been relegated several times in the past ten years - and if it happens, it'll be no surprise to anyone. That surely includes Cifuentes before he took the job. I'd be surprised if he walks, and I'd be amazed if someone poached him. He's bright and smart but who would hire a coach who arrives in England and makes minimal impact on a team that still ends up getting relegated?

A strong Nourry-Cifuentes relationship is going to be crucial whichever league we're in in August.

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jimdowling

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