We Won’t Panic Says Bowler

Chairman John Bowler says that Steve Holland’s job is safe and it’s the club’s job to support the ‘coach’. The long-term chairman spoke following the club’s survival in League One.

In the past four and a half years the club have slid from 8th in the Championship to surviving in League One on the last day of the season. As usual, however, Bowler is taking the relaxed view on things and believes Steve Holland is the perfect man for the manager’s job. Or first team coach job.

Bowler told BBC Radio Stoke: ‘I think Steve’s an excellent coach. He’s a strong character who has learnt a lot and has enormous potential.’

Holland has however been defended more than most by fans, who believe this mess is largely down to those above him – which is seemingly most at the the club.

Bowler says that it is now the board of director’s job to help Holland get the players he needs in. It’s almost an admission that failure next season will be their fault. But what is failure at this club?

‘Now it is our job to make sure he has the tools to work with,’ said Bowler. ‘We won’t panic but we will support the coach so he can get the players he needs.’

I wonder if we’ll see some of that £3.5million made in 2007, or the £3.5million made from Dean Ashton’s sale alone, or however much Nicky Maynard fetches this summer?