Brooking is not the solution

Trevor Brooking: No the man to take West Ham on long term

14 April 2012

Trevor Brooking had no wish to be a football manager but, like many of us, often wondered what it would be like to select a team and pit his tactical wits against the best in the Premiership.

He found out just how tough it is at the end of last season, when he took charge of West Ham for the final three games. It was an experience he enjoyed and, just as importantly, those listening to him in the dressing room enjoyed it.

He reminded those players of how close they came to salvaging their top-flight status when he addressed them yesterday. He also told them what it means to play for West Ham - he played for them for 17 seasons.

Brooking remains a reluctant manager yet has once again stepped into the breach following the sudden dismissal of Glenn Roeder. He supported Roeder during the most difficult moments of his two years at Upton Park but, as the club's part-time director of football, he has also had to consider the long-term future of a troubled club forced to sell £20million worth of players following relegation.

As Roeder recovered from brain surgery, Brooking's stewardship at the end of last season produced wins against Manchester City and Chelsea and a final-day draw at Birmingham. Sadly, the damage had been done in the first half of the season when West Ham failed to win a home match until January 29.

A growing number of West Ham fans believe that the elegant midfielder who became an Upton Park legend could now guide West Ham's fortunes from the dug-out and steer them back to the Premiership. Could he do the job? Would he do it?

The answer to the first question is yes, and to the second no.

Brooking is devoted to West Ham but, even if he had management ambitions, the make-up of the man would not allow him to simply slip into Roeder's chair. He will not feel comfortable taking temporary charge this time. He will do it reluctantly. I suspect the sacking was as big a surprise to him as it was to Roeder.

The circumstances of this latest call-up are very different to last spring when he felt it was his duty to accept the challenge.

For three weeks Brooking cancelled all other engagements and focused solely on West Ham's plight. Not so this time. He intends, for instance, to continue his media work.

Tonight, though, he takes charge of the team for the home game against Bradford. He will also go to Ipswich on Saturday, and then hope that Roeder's successor is installed by the next time they play, against Reading, on September 13.

However you package it, the sacking of a decent, hard-working, talented coach like Roeder is an unedifying chapter in the history of a club that once enjoyed a unique reputation for loyalty to staff. They had, for instance, just five managers in the 87 years between 1902-1989. But Roeder's successor will be the fifth appointment in the last 14 years.

What is sad is that Roeder did his best but discovered it wasn't quite good enough. Seventh place in his first season flattered a team that was to be denied the services of Frederic Kanoute and Paolo di Canio for long periods last season.

The indifferent attitude of some of his other players compounded Roeder's problems. He'd inherited at least 10 men on lucrative contracts who weren't up to the job. He couldn't even give them away as no clubs would pay their wages.

You have to blame that kind of budgeting on the chairman Terry Brown and his board of directors at Upton Park.

Roeder, too, has to take his share of the blame for relegation.

In fact, the only winners in this whole sorry scenario are the players who, having failed to keep the club in the Premiership, have left and signed millionaire contracts elsewhere.

My sincere hope is that Roeder gets a similar chance to bounce back.

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