After arriving just over two months ago in a desperate, and evidently failed, attempt to recuse Neil Adams’ Norwich, Mike Phelan has left the club by mutual consent. His CV matched any in the world in terms of achievements as an assistant manager, having been the understudy to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. His experience was no doubt a beneficial addition to the backroom staff at Colney, but there comes a time when there can be too many voices. After one Neil left, the managerial position was up for grabs – many thought the board would go with the ‘cheap option’ of appointing Phelan – perhaps he thought the same. Instead, David McNally, amongst others, decided on Hamilton manager Alex Neil, who Phelan would have to work as an assistant manager for, if he were to remain part of the team.
But, and as today’s news has proven, that wasn’t going to work. Phelan wants bigger things, and the board probably didn’t want the authoritative coach obstructing or overwhelming Alex Neil either. The Hamilton manager has appeared very confident, assured, and comfortable in his own job – disturbing that could cause all sorts of problems. And while I still feel Phelan would have been useful, his role and importance may have lessened, especially with Frankie McAvoy (Alex Neil’s previous assistant) supposedly joining at the end of the month.
Perhaps Phelan didn’t want to work under someone as inexperienced as Alex Neil? Or perhaps he just wanted to pursue other ambitions – after all, I think his main aim is to become a first team manager himself.
And so that sweet 1-2 away win against Bournemouth will remain the most memorable moment of his short stay here (as a coach – of course his playing career surpasses this by some way), having organised the team before Alex Neil’s arrival, and subsequently leading them to an unlikely victory.
