Hammond must go

[Forest Gump]

Directors of Football are counter productive in most clubs. We never needed one when we were acquiring players and we certainly don't need one now.

If Hammond stays in place it will probably put off a number of decent candidates and it's a waste of money. Itf you can't trust a manager to look after the overall interests of the club don't appoint him.

Hammond was responsible for letting go of several key players before BR had a chance to assess the squad. Added to that he was responsible for the selection of BR. The Tommy Smith saga left us looking like amatuers; a laughing stock. Enough said - he must go now.

As for BR his departure has been on the cards for at least 3 months. Personally I like his style of play but his skill in the transfer market, his motivational skills, selection and tactics were flawed. 1 out of 5 is not good enough.

As for the next manager I hope that Reading get an external consultant to do the selection because there is no one at the Club who is capable of making the right appointment. If we get another Yes-man we are doomed.

[Arch]

The Tommy Smith saga left us looking like amatuers

In the entire time he has been DoF, no transfer negotiation has been conducted like that one. I'm sure Hammond was acutely embarrassed by the whole episode, but the blame lies at Rodgers' door.

[dennis nelson]

Directors of Football are counter productive in most clubs. We never needed one when we were acquiring players and we certainly don't need one now.

If Hammond stays in place it will probably put off a number of decent candidates and it's a waste of money. Itf you can't trust a manager to look after the overall interests of the club don't appoint him.

Hammond was responsible for letting go of several key players before BR had a chance to assess the squad. Added to that he was responsible for the selection of BR. The Tommy Smith saga left us looking like amatuers; a laughing stock. Enough said - he must go now.

As for BR his departure has been on the cards for at least 3 months. Personally I like his style of play but his skill in the transfer market, his motivational skills, selection and tactics were flawed. 1 out of 5 is not good enough.

As for the next manager I hope that Reading get an external consultant to do the selection because there is no one at the Club who is capable of making the right appointment. If we get another Yes-man we are doomed.

what do you mean IF!!!

[Wimb]

It's a difficult one to judge when you don't know exactly what his responsibility is and what decisions he's been involved with....

I believe his remit involves being the bridge between the chairman and manager, and making relevant recomendations to SJM and then communicating decisions from above with the manager.

However, press/fan speculation has him having a key say in appointments/contract negotiations and general PR, and on that basis the last 12 months haven't shown him in the best of lights.

Nobody tells the manager/chairman what to do, BUT Hammond should have been saying to SJM to stop talking about 'Premiership ambition' and to BR to stop fecking talking about Tommy Smith. In this respect he's clearly failing in his role as overseeing general football matters.

Should he go? Meh, again as I said it's impossible to know what he's done right/wrong unless you specifically know what he's been personally involved with. My own personal opinion is that Hammond's been involved with the biggest period of the clubs success and so he must have some ability, but whether a change is needed... I really can't decide.

[The whole year inn]

The Tommy Smith saga left us looking like amatuers

In the entire time he has been DoF, no transfer negotiation has been conducted like that one. I'm sure Hammond was acutely embarrassed by the whole episode, but the blame lies at Rodgers' door.

Exactly

Reading have a pretty impeccable record when it comes transfer negotiations during Hammonds time.

The moment Rodgers arrives coincides with tapping up/inappropiate chatter in the tabloids etc.

[Royalee]

The Tommy Smith saga left us looking like amatuers

In the entire time he has been DoF, no transfer negotiation has been conducted like that one. I'm sure Hammond was acutely embarrassed by the whole episode, but the blame lies at Rodgers' door.

Exactly

Reading have a pretty impeccable record when it comes transfer negotiations during Hammonds time.

The moment Rodgers arrives coincides with tapping up/inappropiate chatter in the tabloids etc.

Yeah, brilliant negotiations paying £25k a week for Stephen Hunt, putting Mooney on big wages, paying £800k for Duberry, £2.5 million on Emeroflse Fae and Halford and ensuring wages are so high with barely signing anyone in the Premiership that we're now screwed financially. Simpleton.

[Ryn]

I think Nicky Hammond did a job for us here whilst Steve Coppell was in charge. he has worked better than most Directors of Football have at other clubs.

Coppell didn't enjoy all of the negotiations/politics at board level, so Hammond handled all of that for him.

He was also useful in terms of identifying new players, so Coppell could concentrate on managing the team on a day to day basis.

I don't see a role for him in the club moving forward, unless we employ another Coppell-esque style manager that isn't interested in club politics. If we employ another young/hungry manager that is more hands-on ,then there will be no need for a DOF, so Hammond should be employed as a scout again, or encouraged to persue his career elsewhere.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

So can we have a break down of what Hammond does and what it is exactly that people don't think is required?

[Ferris]

Wasn't his main role over the summer to find a suitable replacement for Steve Coppell? He obviously failed with that so with Rodgers gone, surely Hammond has to go too.

[Yorkshire Royal]

So can we have a break down of what Hammond does and what it is exactly that people don't think is required?

Keep common sense off the team board.

[Barry the bird boggler]

[(.)Boobies(.)]

Part of Nick Hammond's role as Director of Football is to identify players for purchase. I would assume the final decision lays with the manager, but you have to wonder what players Nick Hammond has been responsible for bringing here. I agreed at the time of his appointment that a Director of Football was a good idea, it maintained some stability at the club and continuity of taking the club forward. However, it's a role I have never fully agreed with, and I don't believe it would be a bad thing if we made that role redundant and the next Reading manager has the traditional full responsibilites.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

BUt that would leave Nigel Howe doing the job Hammond currently does. He's busy enough doing a great job managing JM's other investments....