Howe shocked by O'Driscoll sacking

8:00pm Thursday 27th December 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Ian Wadley

EDDIE Howe has expressed his surprise and disappointment at Sean O’Driscoll’s shock sacking as manager of Nottingham Forest.

Former Cherries boss O’Driscoll was axed by the Championship outfit just hours after masterminding a 4-2 win over Leeds United on Boxing Day.

The news was widely met with dismay – not least because the ex-Cherries midfielder had guided the club to within one point of the play-off zone.

Cherries manager Howe, who played for O’Driscoll at Dean Court, described him as a “very good person and a very good football manager”.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “I was as surprised as anybody when hearing the news.

“Anyone who has worked with Sean will tell you he is a very good manager, very detailed in his work.

“Having worked with Sean for as long as I have and as closely as I have, I am very surprised and very disappointed for him because I know that whatever job he does, he puts in his heart and soul, so I know he will be very disappointed.”

Ex-Doncaster boss O’Driscoll, 55, had only been in charge at the City Ground since July.

Forest chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi said: “He can count himself unlucky to have lost his job with the team just one point away from the top six.”

Al Hasawi added: “We feel we have developed a really strong squad of players but are still searching for consistency in terms of team performance, underlined by the fact that we have not won more than two games in succession in the Championship this season.”

Comments(14)

YafcbY says...
8:08pm Thu 27 Dec 12

Forest had the perfect manager at Championship level. Shocking decision. However this begins to beg the question, due to the frequency of managers being hired and fired, is the position of any importance anymore? Chelsea always seem to get by, more so due to the quality coaching staff they have in place.

SOD will get another chance and will be successful. As for Forest I do fear for them, last time they hired a Premier League manager was Steve McClaren, hardly worked out.

Report this post »

r&bman says...
8:30pm Thu 27 Dec 12

Bournemouth legend 4-2 win over the hated LEEDS what on earth are they thinking.

Report this post »

ifordcherry says...
8:38pm Thu 27 Dec 12

I`m afraid this is real life...When people are being paid the vast sums that they are getting nowadays and that includes both players and managers,then they are nothing more than tools to the people behind the money..If the "sugardaddies" decide they want a change then that is what happens....Also i think that the sympathy vote should look at the way he jumped ship to actually get the job!!
Seems what goes round comes round !!

Report this post »

ifordcherry says...
8:42pm Thu 27 Dec 12

I actually think that the bloke is a decent manager but apart from the very rare case (Steve Fletcher for example) loyalty is not a word to throw around lightly in modern day football..

Report this post »

paulhanlon says...
9:26pm Thu 27 Dec 12

ifordcherry wrote:
I actually think that the bloke is a decent manager but apart from the very rare case (Steve Fletcher for example) loyalty is not a word to throw around lightly in modern day football..
And how long was SoD at dean court? Think he does understand loyalty. Though maybe Crawley may disagree!

Report this post »

ifordcherry says...
10:49pm Thu 27 Dec 12

I also disagree...Soon as a offer of more money came in he was off like a shot at Bournemouth(and another of these "take half the team with me" ex managers)...Give it a rest mate its money and its as simple as that !!...

Report this post »

cherrypicker says...
11:15pm Thu 27 Dec 12

Disappointed and dismayed by the decision from the forest bord they get themselves a great manager in July and then by the end of December they sack him. It would be entirely understandable if he had performed poorly, which his has not. And then to say that consistency is the issue after three months in charge, during which you get within 1 point of the playoffs, is ludicrous. What he has achieved within the time he has achieved great things, especially given the number of players brought in. Off the top of my head, other than west ham, I can't think of a team that have been promoted with new manager from the beginning of the season let alone half way through. And to hire Alex Mcliesh shows that the core

Report this post »

cherrypicker says...
11:19pm Thu 27 Dec 12

Grr echo website is bad enough on a computer let alone a mobile... Anyway I was saying that the owners are clearly disconnected enough from football to believe that they're new manager can get them promoted and then keep them up, just ask anyone in the midlands how Alex McLiesh worked out for them.

Report this post »

eaststandman says...
8:59am Fri 28 Dec 12

Quick, quick....we're 1 point from the play offs.....

Sack Eddie before its too late and we're in the top 6.

What are Forest on ? They'll end up mid-table now, at the very best.

Report this post »

Luffbracherry says...
10:01am Fri 28 Dec 12

McLeish has 22 games to win promotion - there is no alternative for the new Kuwaiti owners
SOD had a more realistic plan which was slowly coming together - but obviously not fast enough

If struggling Wolves sack their manager I could see SOD going home to Wolverhampton

Report this post »

Local fan says...
10:13am Fri 28 Dec 12

An excess of money is ruining the game, there is less loyalty from owners and it permeates through to the players. Clubs will do anything to get into the Premier League. Its not "sport" - its "greed".

Report this post »

Square Old Codger says...
10:14am Fri 28 Dec 12

An appalling decision, to change entirely the business plan Shaun was given, ie to develop the Club over a three year period to enable it to then seek promotion to the Premier League and he was certainly ahead of the game on that, just a point off a play off position. To sack him to bring in a failed ex Premiership Manager in McLeish - just how long will he last. Chelsea get by by the money they spend on quality players, but they don't have the consistancy of Man United - who support their Manager on a long term basis.

Report this post »

Luffbracherry says...
12:35pm Fri 28 Dec 12

Square Old Codger wrote:
An appalling decision, to change entirely the business plan Shaun was given, ie to develop the Club over a three year period to enable it to then seek promotion to the Premier League and he was certainly ahead of the game on that, just a point off a play off position. To sack him to bring in a failed ex Premiership Manager in McLeish - just how long will he last. Chelsea get by by the money they spend on quality players, but they don't have the consistancy of Man United - who support their Manager on a long term basis.
McLeish has to achieve promotion..there is no plan B so assume he would be sacked if this is does not happen

Report this post »

O'Reilly says...
4:51pm Fri 28 Dec 12

cherrypicker wrote:
Grr echo website is bad enough on a computer let alone a mobile... Anyway I was saying that the owners are clearly disconnected enough from football to believe that they're new manager can get them promoted and then keep them up, just ask anyone in the midlands how Alex McLiesh worked out for them.
Won the Blues a trophy and nearly wrecked Villa. A god to one set of supporters in Brum.....

Report this post »

click2find

Get Adobe Flash player
About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree