"Walk into most grounds today, as a supporter, manager or player, and you can't help but be impressed. Our stadiums and facilities are the equal or even the envy of any country in world football. Exactly the same could be said about our training grounds, with state-of-the-art fitness and medical centres of the highest calibre, and the pitches are like bowling greens - absolute perfect surfaces, to play and train on. But has everything changed for the better?"
"My relationship with some of them was very strong and I still have great respect for those individuals. For me, understanding the identities of the clubs and towns where I worked without doubt gave me more of a connection with the supporters. Working closely together with my chairman, building a bond between us and having a mutual understanding with them, was always vital for me, especially in diffic"
Debate persists over whether current Premier League football is better than a decade or two ago, with opinions split on quality and excitement. On-pitch styles vary between cultured, possession-based approaches and teams that seem to lack past drive and commitment. Stadiums, training facilities, fitness and medical centres and pitch quality have advanced to world-class standards. Those off-pitch improvements contrast with changes in club ownership and local ties. Managerial experience includes ten clubs managed and working with eight locally owned chairmen who were closely aligned with supporters, fostering strong relationships and community identity. Mutual understanding between managers and chairmen proved vital, especially in difficult times.
Read at www.bbc.com
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