O'Driscoll is getting his big shot.
Well, there it is ladies and gentlemen, Burnley FC are replacing Owen Coyle with Doncaster Rover’s Sean O’Driscoll. No, you haven’t? But Doncaster Rovers are 15th in the Coca-Cola Championship!
O’Driscoll (52) managed Brighton from 2000-2006 after a lengthy playing career on the south coast. He joined Doncaster in 2006 and had Rovers promoted in his first season–via the play-off final with a 1-0 Wembley win over Leeds.
Last season Donny finished in the rather mediocre, mid-table placement of 14th. His win percentage at Brighton was 36% and at Doncaster he has won 40% of his games.
Well it’s certainly a curious decision, O’Driscoll has absolutely no experience in the top-flight as a player or as a manager. Maybe Burnley are preparing for life back in the Colaship? Whatever the motivation, this really is an odd move for a Premier League club. I think Chairman, Barry Kilby, wanted to avoid a ‘big time Charley’ manager from coming in and changing the face of the club and maybe its wage structure.
O’Driscoll is unlikely to pursue big name signings or shake things up too much. He will probably just focus on the work ethic that has seen Burnley a tough team to beat at home this term. Is that enough to keep them up? Maybe not, but if they do drop they’ll have a manager with Colaship experience, even if it is only a few years.
Welcome to the big time, Sean. Here’s a map.
I feel much better about the Hammers’ chances of staying up now.
I like this move for Burnley. Donny Rovers have been slowly climbing the leagues for teh past few years, and even nicked an FA cup replay off of Villa last season. I think O’Driscoll might surprise.
Right, because drawing with the mighty Aston Villa is a real feather in the cap