The long-term effect on this club
could be disastrous, which is what I fear the most.
We’ve had the pleasure of watching some great
entertaining football over the last ten years, and
this is mainly down to the fact that the manager
has been able to attract the players to do just
this. Jamie Forrester, Lee Hodges, Paul Hayes, Andy
Dawson, Peter Beagrie, Andy Keogh and Billy Sharp,
just to mention a few. We’ve been blessed
with a comprehensive list of attractive cup games
over the years, whoever would forget Chelsea in
2005. This club being part of the 3rd round draw
in the FA cup has been a foregone conclusion for
virtually every season during Laws tenure, perhaps
we may have to get used to living without. Whoever
will forget Wembley, the play offs against Swansea
and most recently Shrewsbury away. Anyone who doubts
Laws remarkable success at this club is either biast
or a fool.
Whoever steps in has a tough act
to follow, there is no doubt about that. Taking
the cheap and easy option will most certainly be
the wrong route to take, if this club wants to continue
our promotion push.
As Laws has said many times, ‘we
are victims of our own success’, and he isn’t
wrong. I personally feel this may be just the start.
January is just around the corner and I certainly
don’t feel there is a quick short-term fix
to replace the likes of Billy Sharp, Andy Keogh,
Marcus Williams, Matty Sparrow, Joe Murphy, Andy
Butler etc.
Anyone who has the clubs best intentions
at heart will agree that today’s announcement
was the absolute worse case scenario that this club
could have faces. Sadly that’s the nature
of modern day football. I for one am gearing up
for a hard cold winter. I suggest everyone else
should wrap up warm also.
First
of all, it goes without saying that I express a
great degree of sadness to see Brian Laws leave
Scunthorpe United after almost ten years at this
club. He’s been a mainstay in the town of
Scunthorpe for so long, it’s going to take
a lot of people to come to terms with the loss.
No one can doubt his dedication and enthusiasm;
these will be some of many great characteristics
that Brain will be taking with him to Sheffield
Wednesday. I for one wish him all the luck in the
world and I have faith in his ability to be a big
hit for many years to come in a managerial capacity
anywhere he may be.