Copps

[roversdude]

New job head of recruitment

[SOD]

New job head of recruitment

On DRFC twitter feed.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Glad he's kept his 'Head' while others seem to have lost theirs in a web of conspiracy theories.

[keyser_soze]

Interesting. Certainly sounds like a demotion to me. Also in the article states that he will take on a first team coaching role. That’s a real change of direction as it was always states that he wasn’t interested in coaching.

[MachoMadness]

Guess the head of football experiment is proper dead and buried. A shame. Executed properly it is probably the right structure for us, but it does feel like we never really got behind the idea. My concern is, when McCann leaves, we're back on the managerial merry go round and facing a big rebuild again.

[roversdude]

I think it was always he didn’t want to manage, Copps has been involved in coaching for a good while I believe with kids

[roversdude]

Guess the head of football experiment is proper dead and buried. A shame. Executed properly it is probably the right structure for us, but it does feel like we never really got behind the idea. My concern is, when McCann leaves, we're back on the managerial merry go round and facing a big rebuild again.

Not really if Copps stays in this role there is continuity

[Drover]

I think it was always he didn’t want to manage, Copps has been involved in coaching for a good while I believe with kids

This

[Donnybax]

I think it’s a good move

[Upton Rover]

Not the news I would’ve wished for, it’s a step backwards after all the promising things that have happened since the appointment of GM, surly it’s up to Grant to recruit his players, poor decision by the board

[SOD]

Not the news I would’ve wished for, it’s a step backwards after all the promising things that have happened since the appointment of GM, surly it’s up to Grant to recruit his players, poor decision by the board

How do you know that Copps wasn't behind some of the signatures? In fact listening to his interview  he says that some of the signings were lined through the recuitment system Copps has been setting up  before McCann arrived.

[Reg of the Rovers]

I think it's a pragmatic move, Copps wasn't perceived as a success as HoF, or there were no visible evidence of his success. Either way it keeps a club legend connected here, saves face for Copps, Baldwin etc in terms of not needing to admit failure, and gives Grant the space he needs to properly lead on the footballing side of things.

I get the consistency point, but unfortunately we've been consistently crap - my view is that sometimes a change is needed so investing in experienced and competent managers is a much better model than HoF plus inexperience, even if that means we have to go through periods of change every so often.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Not the news I would’ve wished for, it’s a step backwards after all the promising things that have happened since the appointment of GM, surly it’s up to Grant to recruit his players, poor decision by the board

Forget the job title, they all work together for the same purpose.

There's pros and cons with any structure. Personally, I could see the merit in the 'Head of Football/Head coach structure, the theory being the Head of Football looks at the bigger picture, continuity, as well as the hear and now.

In a traditional Manager/Assistant Manager/Head of Recruitment structure the bigger picture may not be so obvious as it maybe more emphasis on Grant McCann, the hear and now and less on continuity.

But when it comes down to it, in any structure it's about forming working relationships and trust, which can go either way.

I would like to think with Copps being involved, he will have the clubs interests at the forefront rather than himself. With McCann, I can't be that confident yet. That will take time if he's here long enough.

[DonnyOsmond]

Not the news I would’ve wished for, it’s a step backwards after all the promising things that have happened since the appointment of GM, surly it’s up to Grant to recruit his players, poor decision by the board

It'll be the same as in the rest of this summer window and recent previous windows. Coppinger will put together a list, working with people below him like scouts and recruitment analysts. That list is then put to the manager for final say on who he wants.

[Northants Nomad]

Not the news I would’ve wished for, it’s a step backwards after all the promising things that have happened since the appointment of GM, surly it’s up to Grant to recruit his players, poor decision by the board

Crikey. That glass is half empty and there seems to be a hole in the top. Doomed, I tell ya, we’re doomed.

[mushRTID]

Im pleased with this, he is still involved and in his interview he seems much happier and at ease than that last extremely awkward one.

I think this will be a good thing for all.

[steve@dcfd]

https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2023/june/coppinger-role/

Coppinger - the club’s all-time record appearance maker - will also take on a coaching role at first team level.

He said: “It’s something I’m excited about. The recruitment side is something that I’ve been doing probably more than anything else over the last 12 months - in terms of going to games, and working with the recruitment staff on bringing players in.

As well as that, I’ll be out on the grass a couple of days a week supporting the coaching staff. I’ve done my UEFA B licence over the summer and I’ve really got a taste for coaching. I’ve really enjoyed it and I’ve obviously worked with a lot of the players so I’m really excited in getting back on the grass.”

Manager Grant McCann said: “We want to make sure Copps is around the training ground with us and on the pitch with the players but also working on the recruitment side of things, preparing dossiers and databases on players.

“He mentioned that he wanted to do a bit more on the grass and we’ll be helping and supporting him to go as far as he wants with that.

“He’ll be taking a lot of burden off me in talking to agents and representatives as well as compiling the lists of potential targets for us.”

Looking at these statements Copps wanted more time on the grass with players and the recruitment process was a large part of the previous role.

It seems to me this as worked out for everybody

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Great stuff. A bit of an about turn for Copps with doing his badges but there's nothing wrong with changing your aspirations as you get older.

Also good to hear GMs comment about the burden on managers shoulders which shows the need for recruitment specialists who can represent the club in identification and negotiation. Sometimes no doubt Grant will be required to speak to players directly but the major background leg work will be done by Copps. Whatever it takes to get players over the line.

[Donnywolf]

Interesting. Certainly sounds like a demotion to me. Also in the article states that he will take on a first team coaching role. That’s a real change of direction as it was always states that he wasn’t interested in coaching.

I hope he can coach that "change of direction" he always produced each game

[roversdude]

DW and there was me thinking you were a lover of One Direction

[Peebles Rover]

Not the news I would’ve wished for, it’s a step backwards after all the promising things that have happened since the appointment of GM, surly it’s up to Grant to recruit his players, poor decision by the board

Jeez, some of you guys are so judgemental and negative. Although I love this forum, it can be a real energy drainer

[McCammon egg n chips]

Given the quality of signings seen over the summer, it's obvious that Copps has played a massive role in recruitment so far and doing a great job. Hope this role will be a better fit for him 

[GazLaz]

McCann demoted his boss and Copps all of a sudden wants to be a coach, which he’s never wanted to be before. This time last year he was saying he’d spent years studying to be a head of football. The year before that he said he just wanted to be a mindset player mentor.

All feels a little bit odd.

[danumdon]

I think the main thing is that we have a consensus that allows us as a club to benefit from a manager like GM an an individual like JC who will help to take some of the burden off the manager, call it a demotion if you like but if we get a benefit from them all working together then the club will profit from their differing strengths and experiences.

[Drover]

I wonder if this is just affirmation that Copps will no longer have any input on first team management and match day tactics etc,I believe with Schofield he actively tried to support him and talked about the system and trusting the system etc , but now,I would think he will carry on being involved with recruitment and more involved with coaching,because I'm sure GM will make his own decisions for first team style, tactics etc and will get input from CB and LG when he wants it.

[Upton Rover]

Not the news I would’ve wished for, it’s a step backwards after all the promising things that have happened since the appointment of GM, surly it’s up to Grant to recruit his players, poor decision by the board

How do you know that Copps wasn't behind some of the signatures? In fact listening to his interview  he says that some of the signings were lined through the recuitment system Copps has been setting up  before McCann arrived.

How do you know he was part of some of the signings? His recruiting CV of late is not the best

[Branton Red]

Fantastic players do not necessarily make fantastic managers, coaches or Directors of Football.

Coppinger was given a non-job 2 years ago because of who he is not his experience or his qualifications.

Even worse last year he was given the Director of Football role because of who he is not his experience or his qualifications.

It should be no surprise that he was an abject failure in this role both in his appointment of Schofield and his thoroughly misguided loyalty towards him towards the end of last season.

As soon as the Board, quite correctly, made the decision over his head to remove Schofield and appoint an experienced, quality manager he was undermined in his role as DoF.

It was inevitable that he would then have to be removed from the role especially given McCann's understandable insistence that the final decision on transfers must rest with him.

I don't know how much Coppinger is being paid but whatever it is the money could be better spent elsewhere either in the coaching department or on the playing staff.

He was a great player for us and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him play but there is no room for sentiment in football and neither is nepotism a route to success.

[StocksArmy]

It takes a man to swallow his pride when he is demoted. That is effectively what this is right? While the club is left with no scars after offering a monumental job to yet another inexperienced person to take the downfall.

[Chris Black come back]

Is it demotion? His role basically became redundant as the club changed the structure away from DoF / head coach to no DoF / manager. We’ve then moulded another role for him that is different, arguably less senior yes, but given we had abolished his former job there wasn’t anything else he could have done within the club other than something left field like asking him to return to playing - where last season he would have been the best player in the side.

[belton rover]

Great words from Grant.
It seems to me that this is Grant taking control of the football side of things whilst understanding that the legend that is Copps needs to be a part of this new regime for the club and the fans.
Copps is now an asset to Grant and his mission rather than potentially being a burden.

Canny job, Grant.