Slaven Bilic is likely to find himself involved in sensitive talks over his backroom staff when the review of the season gets underway in the summer.
Tensions have been growing throughout the current campaign over the personnel involved in the boot room with the board believing some changes are necessary.
And even should the manager head into the summer with safe passage into the third year of his current deal the simmering anxieties brewing over the backroom staff could become a big problem.
The team of coaches comprises assistant manager Nikola Jurcevic, 50, a former Croatia international who was part of Bilic’s team in his previous posts at both Lokomotiv Moscow and Besiktas, and first-team coach Edin Terzic, the 34-year-old former coach at Borussia Dortmund and also Besiktas.
Bilic’s fitness coach is 69-year-old Miljenko Rak, who was part of the manager’s staff during his time coaching Croatia. and in addition he has Julian Dicks and Chris Wood involved.
The board feel he needs to freshen up his coaching staff and that at nearly 70, Rak’s position is likely the one to come under the closest examination although they will want to fully understand legend Dicks’ role.
The issue could become difficult because the three ‘main men’ have been with Bilic for several years and as a fiercely loyal individual, compromises will be difficult for him!
Although this will be difficult to do (particularly as Slav has been with his coaching team for much of his managerial career), it would appear that there is something wrong within the coaching set-up, particularly with regards our continued defensive lapses (remember, we are the Premier Leagues leading contenders for throwing away points, once in a leading position). As they say, there is no smoke without fire, and whatever you may believe the truth is, there have been tabloid stories about the lack of ‘intensity’ in our training techniques?? Sort it out, and lets hit the ground running in 2017 – 2017. COYI!!!
2017-2018, EVEN !
I agree, however, my worry is that this issue will occupy valuable summer planning time and instead of a focus on getting some talent in we will be embroiled in a backroom power struggle.
You may be right Pop but I would imagine the key targets have already been identified, so I doubt it so much, there are a few weeks between the end of the season and pre-season and also once we are safe there is no harm in having those conversations before the end of the season, if the board feels that change is needed and Slav disagrees they are better knowing that sooner rather than later in case all parties need to go their seperate ways.
Agreed Pop, and I think that this should be tackled as soon as we’re certain of another season in the Premiership. Not gonna be easy, and as you say, we don’t want this rolling on into pre-season