This. We can survive losing any of our players, but losing LW at this stage would be a huge blow. No idea if anything will come of these odds, but if we do well this coming season, he'll be linked with pretty much every free job in L1 and the Championship. I hope he stays and builds something truly special here at Notts, but a club like Wednesday would be difficult to turn down.
Ruben was mocked for going to Oxford people were saying ‘they’re no better than us’ ect. Robinson got Oxford to the play offs twice, so on that basis he did a decent job imo.
Williams was brilliant last season no doubt about it, he took us to a level I’ve not seen before. I’m certainly not hoping he leaves by any means. I just feel if he did, top replacements are available.
Speaking of Karl Robinson, has anyone else listened to the 'Moment of Truth' series? Fly on the wall radio documentary series covering the last three months of the 2021/22 League One season following Rotherham United’s Paul Warne and Oxford United’s Karl Robinson? Even if you're not interested in those managers//those teams it's worth a listen. I probably learnt more about what it's really like being a football manager at that level, what they (and their families) have to deal with and the pressures they're under.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cf9wwp
IMO Williams would be nuts to leave for any level.
Look at his predecessor. Left to go two levels up, barely had a chance to do anything before he was fired again. He doesn't look better off, to me, career wise, for the move.
Getting fired after a couple of games with a team someone else built, a shoestring budget and owners who either don't care, don't understand or can't afford to let you do the job properly? That seems to be the norm in football management, including with our previous owners.
If I worked for the Reedtz Brothers I would think twice, three times, four times before seriously considering leaving under the best of circumstances.
And it wouldn't be the best of circumstances. Luke's CV, prior to Notts, was distinctly unimpressive. He now has one promotion - from the national league - to add. If he's got any sense (and he seems to have plenty) he'll want to add at least a L2 promotion and a season or two in L1/L2 to that before seriously considering going anywhere.
In summary, the rewards for moving, even higher up the pyramid, are dubious, and the risks are enormous. I don't see him leaving any time soon.
If things stagnate and he finds himself with an uncompetitive budget, maybe a different story. But that definitely doesn't seem like the case now!
A really good post. We all know one thing is certain in football that players and managers come and go. With managers they either move on to another club or are sacked. Hopefully with LW it will be the former and he moves on up the pyramid when the time comes.
If I remember rightly when Luke Williams first came to the club or in some interview he talked about the set up at clubs he’s been at and I got the impression that although Notts were in the national league it was doing things that clubs at even L1 level were not doing, or was in a far better place off the field than others.
For a manager it’s all ways been the mantra to find a good chairman or owner. I think Luke Williams appreciates our owners and the set up and how the club operates. Like with players the club has an identity and philosophy now whereby the manager who comes in fits with that style. So many mistakes were made in the past were that we kept changing managers, styles and players. That’s why it’s been a great fit because we have a manager who fits the club and the club fits him.
On this basis I hope LW is not in any rush to jump ship like Ian Burchnall. Obviously like with any player if a big championship club came in or life changing sums of money were offered to the club as he’s under contract then you can’t begrudge anyone such a move.
The project is not done here yet though and like with Langstaff the challenge is to now to prove themselves in the EFL in particularly League two level. No doubt clubs will be watching our manager and players this season to see how they get on. That’s what happens when clubs become successful it comes with the territory. What it does show is that the club is going in the right direction which is upwards. It will take time and some people will get off the bus (Rodrigues) when their job is done, but for me LW like Rodrigues could have another couple of seasons in him here to build on what’s been achieved already. No matter what happens or when he leaves LW will always be cemented in history as one of the undeniable heroes and be the man who took us back to the football league.
Last edited by MAD_MAGPIE; 24-06-2023 at 10:05 AM.
He has good owners, a good team in the making and good facilities at his disposal. LW has created a team with a superb work ethic and team spirit; he now has a golden opportunity to enhance his reputation by establishing us in L2 and I really do think he will see it through.