Pressley’s appointment shows it isn’t a case of now or never for City

Steven Pressley is our new messiah then.

Lee Carsley’s stint as caretaker ended frustratingly last Saturday in the defeat to Swindon, but now it’s another of those chapters to turn and Pressley has 10 games to cement a rapid legacy not seen since Mark Robins.

Pressley, with no disrespect, barely has a baptism of fire with 3 relegation threatened side’s to come up against in his first eight days in the job and if unscathed, we will be sitting pretty as the team’s above likely continue to trip each other up.

But what on Pressley then; for me, there is not a lot to go off. He seems to be someone who commands respect from his peers with glowing recommendations coming from Sir Alex Ferguson and people who follow the goings on north of the border more than me.

Furthering Cyrus Christie’s development could be key for City next season. Photo owned by Coventry Telegraph

Reading just a few articles on the new man and it gives reason for optimism, as well as the previously mentioned respect and fire he played with, there’s the style he has adapted.

This article he wrote in November is the clearest sign of his beliefs of how the game should be played and how club’s should, in some form, go about their business.

He says he is of the belief of getting young players to learn the basics of the game while keeping the passing aspect relevant is refreshing and with a core of young players at the club, who at times have seemed prone to an attack of nerves, his presence and past of working with youngsters could well stand us in good stead down the road.

In recent weeks the future of the club has again come into serious question with ACL/Council fighting against SISU with both seeming to position themselves as the victim when that is the fans and staff at the club and not people who are running the two businesses.

We have also had Tim Fisher get on the FFP implementation from next season and what that will do to the playing staff at the club. Wages need trimming yet again and what that will leave us with is unclear, with it seeming, to me at least, to indicate a reliance on youth yet again with ‘affordable experience’ coming in to guide them.

Pressley, on first glance, seems the perfect advocate to implement the new blood from the academy next season and onwards as it is his way of working at Falkirk for the past two years.

All the early signs suggest that despite the complaints of the time taken for an appointment, as is SISU and Steve Waggott’s way, that it is a process which benefits the club.

Waggott’s way seems to have a way of working.

Waggott has been charged with two managerial appointments, Mark Robins and Steven Pressley. Neither were ‘tipped’ and neither come with a hefty price tag but both seem to be unearthed against the grain and Waggott, unlike most at the club in the past (cc: Peter Reid and Mike McGinnity) doesn’t chase the headlines or listen to those who, without a sense of irony, become Eric Black’s agent (cc: Richard Keys) but makes a decision thoroughly and with the good of the club ahead of cheap press coverage.

The contract Pressley has signed also goes against recent talk of a Coventry City apocalypse but also falls in line with this vision of implementing the blooding of youngsters and making a ‘City way’ that hasn’t been seen since George and John or Jimmy and Mr Robbins.

It isn’t the ‘splash’ some would of liked, but from Keith Curle, Paul Dickov and the ‘next manager odds constant’ Phil Brown being mentioned it comes across early doors as a measured decision which could prove to be a wind change for City and the Sky Blue Army.

As for myself, he wasn’t someone I even knew was in the game still and wouldn’t of been someone I’d of even thought of but in the last few days when the appointment grew more clear and closer to being sealed some research has got the optimism creeping back, slightly.

If in ten games into his reign and we are sitting at home watching the playoffs from the comfort of our own homes, people will point the finger at this appointment, but that would be unfair.

This isn’t a 10-game appointment. This is an appointment for the next season and onwards. Any success in the coming six or seven weeks is a bonus at this point.

So now, we’ll back the new man and hope that this appointment sticks.

PUSB