‘Sometimes frustrating’: Bristol City chief’s insight into managerial hunt as Portsmouth boss stays put amid Lincoln man Michael Skubala’s capture
John Mousinho was considered to become Bristol City boss, before they turned to Lincoln’s Michael Skubala. The club’s new sporting director give his perspective on the appointment - and what unfolded along the way.
Bristol City sporting director James Ellis has promised to lift the lid on their protracted managerial hunt after appointing Michael Skubala.
And the Robins chief acknowledged their hunt for a permanent successor to Gerhard Struber took time during a ‘very difficult’ period, as they eventually landed Lincoln boss Skubala.
Bristol City chief: Appointing a boss ‘sometimes frustrating’
Pompey head coach John Mousinho was considered for the Ashton Gate hot-seat, with the news dominating the season’s finale and ensuing period.
Tommy Elphick emerged as the club’s chief consideration however, before reportedly turning down the position ahead of joining Liverpool as Andoni Iraola’s assistant.
That led to Pompey fears of losing Mousinho to their Championship rivals before they swooped for Skubala, despite the League One winner being in talks over a new deal at Sincil Bank.
Speaking of the process, Ellis acknowledged his new club didn’t rush their decision in what clearly wasn’t a straightforward process.
And the former Arsenal man indicated the details of what unfolded will come to light.
When asked about the managerial search, Ellis told his club’s YouTube channel: ‘It's really important that we can maybe talk about this down the line with everyone, but the process of appointing a manager is sometimes frustrating.
‘The length of time can be, understandably, short or long, but I think what was great here at the club was from the ownership, through to Charlie (Boss), the new CEO, myself was that we wanted to deliver a process that had attention to detail.
‘I can assure everyone that Michael came through a process that was pretty rigorous. It took time - it needed to.
‘When you appoint a manager coming towards the end of a season it's always very difficult, so I think we need to say thank you to Roy (Hodgson) for giving us that space to do that. He did a tremendous job in the last seven or eight weeks.
‘We felt it was really important that we run a pretty rigorous process through talking to people around the manager who he's worked with, people who understand him not just as a coach but as a person, because we needed to make sure that the fit of the individual and the staff was really important here because it is a special club.
‘It is a different club, for all the great reasons, and it is a club that now has got ambition over the next two or three years to get somewhere close to where I think everybody wants to be.’
Skubala joining Bristol City follows Ellis being officially named sporting director last month, after leaving a role as Arsenal technical director in February.
Ellis added: ‘It's an important appointment because it sets the tone of where we're going over the next three years.
‘The most important thing when you appoint a manager is it's not just about one person's decision.
‘Although Michael and I will work together, the most important thing is that he'll fit into the culture and the ambition of the football club.
‘Michael is a very intelligent human being; he's very balanced, he connects well with people, and I think that's fundamentally the most important thing that we all have to do on the sporting side. But his ability to connect up through and outside the organisation, I think, is exceptional, and I think people will really love him.
‘He gives a lot, he knows his job is to win football matches, because that is ultimately what he and his team and players are here for, but to do that, you need the fundamental support of everyone around you - starting with the fans and the supporters. I know, here in Bristol, in the south west, everyone is passionate about how their football club operates and tries to win and play.
‘I think Michael really, really understands that and that came through the process. Fundamentally, he's a high-quality human being, a high-quality leader, a winner and someone who's going to help us move this football club forward.’