Copps confirmed as Head of Football Operations

[Canadian Rover]

I thought this person with this experience would have been more suitable.

CertificationsUEFA A Coaching Licence - The Football Association

FA Advanced Youth Award U17’s-U21’s Age Groups - The Football Association

Elite Academy Managers Programme - The Premier League

Elite Head of Coaching Programme - The Premier League

Coach Mentoring Qualification Award -
The Premier League

Experience
Doncaster Rovers FC
4 yrs 8 mos

Academy ManagerJan 2019 - Present 3 yrs 4 mosDoncaster, England

Head of CoachDevelopment
Sep 2017 - 2019  1 yr 5 mos

Head of Coach Development Coventry City Football Club
Jun 2016 - Aug 2017  1 yr 3

Nottingham Forest FC
16 yrs 1 mo
Assistant Academy/Operations ManagerMar 2013 - Apr 2016  3 yrs 2 mos

Lead Youth Development Phase Coach
Aug 2006 - Mar 2013  6 yrs 8 mos

Lead Foundation Phase Coach & Development Centre ManagerApr 2000 - Aug 2006  6 yrs 5 mos

Already at the Club Tony Cook.

[scunny rover]

No its copps

[mushRTID]

Copps seems a very intelligent bloke, huge experience in the game and clearly has a business mindset in his non footballing life.

If for example he left his current role at DRFC to take this new role on at another club, I would not at all have been surprised to read it.

For that reason, despite my original doubts I think im ok with this.

I still have arguments that a fresh pair of eyes was needed, but he deserves our backing.

[BradwellRover]

I really hope he succeeds and my gut instincts are wrong.

But I really fear we are about to destroy another career by promoting too soon (see Butler and McSheffrey).

And as an aside, I have no idea why they bother with Job Descriptions and Person Specifications.

Think 2022/23 is going to be interesting, and one thing is for sure, no matter how frustrated we feel, we all need to get behind them now. 

[MachoMadness]

Let's hope there is more to Copps than meets the eye. The guy is obviously knowledgeable about football, but does he have the specific skills for this job? Knowing the club is absolutely immaterial. In fact it's one thing that we arguably didn't really want if we're on about changing things.

I am hugely sceptical but if anyone deserves to be given a chance, it's Copps.

[Lifelong supporter]

No surprise, obviously, but I hope he has someone assisting in the background who he can turn to if necessary for advice.
And I don't mean another Lee Carsley situation but someone like SO'D etc, with lots of experience and knowledge of how similar roles operate at other clubs.
What's important now is that he is given a chance to look at all aspects of the club with a 'hire and fire' responsibility, and is backed by the chairman who needs to leave him to get on with it.
The roles of manager and HOF also need to be clearly defined.
Copps should be involved in whether the manager goes or stays (hopefully the former), establishing a playing and coaching identity across all teams etc, reporting only to the board while the manager, who would be below him in the hierarchy, needs to have sole responsibility for picking the team, tactics etc, and have a major say on which players come in and go out.
Both should then stand or fall by the decisions they make.

[steve@dcfd]

Canadian Rover if any was to get it at the club I thought  like you Tony Cook. Don’t know whether he applied though The Chairman believes we’ve got the right person.

Quote
Rovers chairman David Blunt said: “We are delighted to appoint James in this newly-created position.

“From our recruitment process it was clear that there are few individuals in the game that know and understand this football club in as much depth, or hold as much passion for it as James does.

“That passion extended to the role itself, and it was clear he has envisioned himself in such a position for the last several years.

“He demonstrated clear ideas by which he will mould our football operation to ensure success in the long-term as well as imprinting a lasting identity.

“It is a priority to create cohesion and ensure the culture within our football operation is right, and we are confident James can deliver that."
“After a disappointing year there is plenty of work ahead but we feel that, by creating this role and filling it with the man we have selected, strong foundations will be laid.

“We look forward to a bright future with James leading the way.”

[Bezza]

One hell of a job to sort the mess we have become, good luck Cops.

[Lifelong supporter]

Let's hope JC is leading the way then and not the otherwise anonymous chairman.

[Sammy Chung was King]

I think they are wanting a young appointment to the job in giving Coppinger the job.
He might not meet everything on the job description but we all know he loves the club, he’s been here long enough.
He wouldn’t have been my pick for that particular role but he’s been appointed.

I know he will do everything with the clubs best interest’s at heart. Good luck to him. Make sure the manager gets every bit of help needed to be a success.

[GazLaz]

They missed a trick not giving him the job on Easter Monday and selling it as the resurrection of JC. 

[Sammy Chung was King]

They didn’t want to buy him an Easter egg, cheap skates I tell you!. Like a boyfriend finishing with the girlfriend and getting back with her after Christmas!

[Nudga]

Hopefully his first job in the role will be looking for a decent 1st team coach.

[Sammy Chung was King]

I don’t think they are going to change McSheffrey. Should do but won’t.

[EasyforDennis]

Im not knocking Copps at all but what has he done at the club this season?
Excellent on ifollow I am told but wasn't his strength supposed to be that he would bring to the team his motivational skills?
If that is one of his stand out qualities then it plainly hasn't worked.
I like JC he's a nice guy but I fear it will all end in tears.

[WarwickRover]

It's a joke, jobs for mates, cheap option IMO ........ i would be interested to hear the recruiting panel explain how Copps satisfied the job spec ...... perhaps he knows more than I give hime credit for ...... e.g knowledge and experience of data led analysis, sports science, record of developing coaching, track record of HOF .... this ain't no revolution


I hope I am wrong but ........ terrible appointment

[1-0 to the Doncaster]

As said on here get rid of Jeffery mcsheffery and we’re happy.

[Pliskin]

I'm sure it's purely a coincidence that the best people for both the Manager and HoFO roles just so happen to be ex-players already employed at the club, no previous experience of the role and no  indication of them even wanting to do it beforehand.

[normal rules]

I was laughed at for merely suggesting this some time ago when a HoF was hinted at.
And I suggested  it tongue in cheek. Not believing for one minute  that Rovers would allow this . To a club Legend. And not believing he would take on what could be seen by many as a poisoned chalice.
Then Part of me realised that with recent events at the club,  it just wouldn’t surprise me at all.
I’m completely underwhelmed by this.
I hope it works out for him and the club. I really do.
However.
We turned Richie Wellens from a hero to a zero.
I hope we don’t do the same to JC.
I wish him luck. He is going to need it.

[Silkscarf]

Is this appointment separate from the mentor that GM said he wanted when he first got the job?

It’s been mentioned that Lee Carsley was someone GM could talk to and maybe that’s been happening, maybe not. Did it prove to be not much use hence this more formal appointment?

[anton123]

If copps sacks GM today then he may be on the right path but if he’s happy to keep him after what he’s witnessed then it proves copps is the wrong appointment

[Copps is Magic]

Love Copps, I would have him at the club, perhaps not in this capacity.

I am willing to give him time in this job, don't understand how you would otherwise judge success in such a role without time.

How decision-making works at the club now is going to be quite interesting. We have a CEO, Chairman, DOF, head of recruitment, and head coach. Either they stick to their roles and responsibilities or it becomes a camel being designed by a committee kind of situation.

[Sammy Chung was King]

It is a popularity appointment that was always going to happen, but shows they don’t know the fans. Coppinger deserves a good job at the club, he has worked hard for many years. But it should always be the best man for the job. The advertisement of the post meant nothing.

[PDX_Rover]

Let's see eh? FWIW, I don't think it's a cheap option by the club. I don't think Copps will hesitate to make changes and be absolutely clinical. He's an absolute baller.

[Campsall rover]

Well I am shocked. Thought they would be looking for an outsider.

In my opinion this is not a good move.
I really hope I am proved wrong.

Good luck Copps I hope this really works for you. The last thing I want to see is Copps taking the flack if things don’t go well.

[Dare to dream!]

Completely understand why people are upset at this appointment.

However I think it is good. Someone has already mentioned that the Dutch/Spanish seem to go down this route too and would appear to be successful.

Let’s go Copps!

[Upton Rover]

Complete joke, I think if you have had a season ticket you can go in a prize draw for the next manager , utter shameful of the board

[Copps is Magic]

It is a popularity appointment that was always going to happen,

Popularity appointment! You've not read this thread have you Sammy?

[KingKendrick]

No surprise, obviously, but I hope he has someone assisting in the background who he can turn to if necessary for advice.
And I don't mean another Lee Carsley situation but someone like SO'D etc, with lots of experience and knowledge of how similar roles operate at other clubs.
What's important now is that he is given a chance to look at all aspects of the club with a 'hire and fire' responsibility, and is backed by the chairman who needs to leave him to get on with it.
The roles of manager and HOF also need to be clearly defined.
Copps should be involved in whether the manager goes or stays (hopefully the former), establishing a playing and coaching identity across all teams etc, reporting only to the board while the manager, who would be below him in the hierarchy, needs to have sole responsibility for picking the team, tactics etc, and have a major say on which players come in and go out.
Both should then stand or fall by the decisions they make.

How many people can we keep employing who have to look to others for the answers. Why not actually go get the people who have them instead of shuffling the current staff into different roles expecting different results 

[PDX_Rover]

Some folks need to get a grip. Remember who we're talking about here. I have absolute faith in Copps.