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News
The search for a Head Coach
Just after Christmas, the position of Manchester Phoenix Head Coach was advertised online and in the press, and the response was remarkable. Phoenix web writer Richard Allan caught up with the club's Media Director Andy Costigan to find out how the search is going.Richard Allan:
With the deadline having passed for applications for the Head Coach position, can you give us any clues as to who has sent in their CVs?
Andy Costigan:
Well Richard, I'm sure the fans and indeed a lot of people around the Elite League would like to know who has contacted us and who we are considering, but in a situation like this we have to be discreet as some of the applicants are already in head coaching positions and naturally would not want their enquiry to us out in the public domain. What I can tell everyone is the response was as good as we could possibly have hoped and there are some high quality applications in the mix. We advertised our position not only via the Phoenix web site but also in Powerplay, the Hockey News, Let's Play Hockey and via a wide number of agents who represent coaches as well as players. This is arguably our most important signing and we wanted to cast our fishing net as far and wide as we could in order to hopefully find the perfect fit for the Phoenix.
Well Richard, I'm sure the fans and indeed a lot of people around the Elite League would like to know who has contacted us and who we are considering, but in a situation like this we have to be discreet as some of the applicants are already in head coaching positions and naturally would not want their enquiry to us out in the public domain. What I can tell everyone is the response was as good as we could possibly have hoped and there are some high quality applications in the mix. We advertised our position not only via the Phoenix web site but also in Powerplay, the Hockey News, Let's Play Hockey and via a wide number of agents who represent coaches as well as players. This is arguably our most important signing and we wanted to cast our fishing net as far and wide as we could in order to hopefully find the perfect fit for the Phoenix.
RA:
When will the interviewing process begin, and when do you expect the club to make an appointment?
AC:
We are continuing our research into those candidate we feel are destined for the interview short-list and that work will probably take another week to ten days. We have lots of checks and cross-checks (pardon the pun) to do in order to ensure we get the right experience and character for the job. We've had 29 applications in total with CV's from within the UK, Europe, Canada and the United States. We've done some homework on every one of them - they took the time to contact us and we've paid them the respect of looking into them irrespective of their experience. We are whittling the 29 down to a short-list for interview, but still have further work to do and references to take. In terms of the more likely short-list candidates, we have some truly outstanding applicants and in doing our research and checks are talking with people at THE highest level of the game and you'd be surprised at how many people are aware of Manchester and have been extremely supportive and helpful. Only last Sunday afternoon, I took a couple of hours out to go to the cinema and after turning my mobile phone back on there were three voicemail messages - two from head coaches in the NHL and one from the Russian Superleague and all responding to my requests to discuss various applicants. I tell you, this is not going to be an easy decision. Just today, I spoke with another head coach in the NHL and after discussing the one specific candidate, he enquired about who else we are looking at. I gave him who I see as the leading candidates and his final comment was... "You've got a tough call on your hands, those are all quality coaches and I don't think any of them would be wrong for your programme." In terms of a timescale for an appointment, that's probably been pushed back a couple of weeks due to the number and quality of applicants, but we're still looking to agree terms before the end of the season, certainly before the Playoff Finals weekend in April.
RA:
We are continuing our research into those candidate we feel are destined for the interview short-list and that work will probably take another week to ten days. We have lots of checks and cross-checks (pardon the pun) to do in order to ensure we get the right experience and character for the job. We've had 29 applications in total with CV's from within the UK, Europe, Canada and the United States. We've done some homework on every one of them - they took the time to contact us and we've paid them the respect of looking into them irrespective of their experience. We are whittling the 29 down to a short-list for interview, but still have further work to do and references to take. In terms of the more likely short-list candidates, we have some truly outstanding applicants and in doing our research and checks are talking with people at THE highest level of the game and you'd be surprised at how many people are aware of Manchester and have been extremely supportive and helpful. Only last Sunday afternoon, I took a couple of hours out to go to the cinema and after turning my mobile phone back on there were three voicemail messages - two from head coaches in the NHL and one from the Russian Superleague and all responding to my requests to discuss various applicants. I tell you, this is not going to be an easy decision. Just today, I spoke with another head coach in the NHL and after discussing the one specific candidate, he enquired about who else we are looking at. I gave him who I see as the leading candidates and his final comment was... "You've got a tough call on your hands, those are all quality coaches and I don't think any of them would be wrong for your programme." In terms of a timescale for an appointment, that's probably been pushed back a couple of weeks due to the number and quality of applicants, but we're still looking to agree terms before the end of the season, certainly before the Playoff Finals weekend in April.
RA:
Will Neil Morris have any say in which players the new coach will be signing?
AC:
I can't see it. Neil has more than enough on his plate running the business side of the club and continuing the work with the rink... and besides that, he didn't apply for the coaching position! On a serious note, with the Phoenix in effect being a first year team again, we have a clean sheet of paper to work with and no skeletons in any dirty cupboards to clean out. So, the appointment of the new Head Coach will see that person totally responsible for the recruitment of players. Should the new coach be new to this country, we will hand over a file of players details that we already have and given we've been watching players around the country in recent weeks, that file may prove of some use to the coach.
I can't see it. Neil has more than enough on his plate running the business side of the club and continuing the work with the rink... and besides that, he didn't apply for the coaching position! On a serious note, with the Phoenix in effect being a first year team again, we have a clean sheet of paper to work with and no skeletons in any dirty cupboards to clean out. So, the appointment of the new Head Coach will see that person totally responsible for the recruitment of players. Should the new coach be new to this country, we will hand over a file of players details that we already have and given we've been watching players around the country in recent weeks, that file may prove of some use to the coach.
RA:
Will the new Head Coach be involved in setting up the Junior Development system at all?
Will the new Head Coach be involved in setting up the Junior Development system at all?
AC:
Absolutely. In conversations already with the candidates we have outlined very specifically that the position we have on offer includes the design, implementation and continuing evolution of a Junior programme with the ultimate aim being local players being trained and coached to a standard whereby they ultimately progress into the Phoenix squad as a professonal player. The future of this sport in this country lies massively in the development and long-term encouragement of British players beyond their 18th and 19th years. The future Jason Hewitt's and Mark Thomas's of this world have to know that their chance to play at the highest level will come - all things being equal and they attain the level required. The more British players we, and I don't just mean Manchester but every club, can bring on in the next five years and forward will benefit the National Programme and that, I believe, is the key to raising the investment, sponsorship and media interest in ice hockey to levels we all aspire too.
RA:
Absolutely. In conversations already with the candidates we have outlined very specifically that the position we have on offer includes the design, implementation and continuing evolution of a Junior programme with the ultimate aim being local players being trained and coached to a standard whereby they ultimately progress into the Phoenix squad as a professonal player. The future of this sport in this country lies massively in the development and long-term encouragement of British players beyond their 18th and 19th years. The future Jason Hewitt's and Mark Thomas's of this world have to know that their chance to play at the highest level will come - all things being equal and they attain the level required. The more British players we, and I don't just mean Manchester but every club, can bring on in the next five years and forward will benefit the National Programme and that, I believe, is the key to raising the investment, sponsorship and media interest in ice hockey to levels we all aspire too.
RA:
Are there any coaches offering their services specifically to the Junior system at the moment?
AC:
Yes, we have had a couple of separate approaches and they too are being strongly considered. First and foremost they have to be qualified and have to understand certain legal niceties now surrounding the tutorage of youngsters. Secondly, whilst they will be qualified to coach, we will need them to buy into the programme defined by the Head Coach because we're building for the long-term here and it is important that everyone concerned sings off the same hymn sheet and pulls together in the right direction. We can't have a programme plan and then people going off in their own direction - the Head Coach will implement the plan and we're confident that whoever joins us 'down the line' so to speak in terms of different age groups will accept that the big picture of a hockey programme and its success for the long-term future overrides all other considerations.
Yes, we have had a couple of separate approaches and they too are being strongly considered. First and foremost they have to be qualified and have to understand certain legal niceties now surrounding the tutorage of youngsters. Secondly, whilst they will be qualified to coach, we will need them to buy into the programme defined by the Head Coach because we're building for the long-term here and it is important that everyone concerned sings off the same hymn sheet and pulls together in the right direction. We can't have a programme plan and then people going off in their own direction - the Head Coach will implement the plan and we're confident that whoever joins us 'down the line' so to speak in terms of different age groups will accept that the big picture of a hockey programme and its success for the long-term future overrides all other considerations.
RA:
Have there been many more players contacting us looking to play?
Have there been many more players contacting us looking to play?
AC:
We've had a fairly constant trickle of players contacting the Phoenix and that in itself is gratifying. The problem is that a lot of those from overseas possibly won't be eligible to come to the UK. Most of the interest has come from younger players, college players and a good number from Europe which, with the expansion of the EU, opens up a much deeper pool of eligible players. In terms of senior, experienced professionals the answer is again yes, though not in the same kind of numbers as the younger guys. Further to enquiries coming in, we have been very active already in contacting agents. All those we know are aware of our plans and just recently, we were helped out enormously as an agent on the West Coast (no, not Newquay, California!) sent us a whole new bunch of contact details for players agents and we're already on with contacting them about next season.
We've had a fairly constant trickle of players contacting the Phoenix and that in itself is gratifying. The problem is that a lot of those from overseas possibly won't be eligible to come to the UK. Most of the interest has come from younger players, college players and a good number from Europe which, with the expansion of the EU, opens up a much deeper pool of eligible players. In terms of senior, experienced professionals the answer is again yes, though not in the same kind of numbers as the younger guys. Further to enquiries coming in, we have been very active already in contacting agents. All those we know are aware of our plans and just recently, we were helped out enormously as an agent on the West Coast (no, not Newquay, California!) sent us a whole new bunch of contact details for players agents and we're already on with contacting them about next season.
RA:
With regards to the new rink, will Club Phoenix members and exisiting season ticket holders get first pick of the seats? Will there be some pre-opening event?
AC:
That's more a question for Neil once the rink is built and we have an exact seating layout plan and numbers but I'd be surprised if this wasn't the case. Club Phoenix members have paid their dues and my guess is they will get first pick, but don't hold me to it. As for a pre-opening event, again... once the rink is closer to being finished, we'll almost certainly stage something of a dry-run. Whether that's a public event or not remains to be seen - the important thing is that the building is right and the operational procedures are in place and functional for the night when we do open the doors for the public.
RA:
That's more a question for Neil once the rink is built and we have an exact seating layout plan and numbers but I'd be surprised if this wasn't the case. Club Phoenix members have paid their dues and my guess is they will get first pick, but don't hold me to it. As for a pre-opening event, again... once the rink is closer to being finished, we'll almost certainly stage something of a dry-run. Whether that's a public event or not remains to be seen - the important thing is that the building is right and the operational procedures are in place and functional for the night when we do open the doors for the public.
RA:
There are plenty of suggestions from the fans as to which game they would like to see open the new rink. Are there any plans for a special game, or will it be a league fixture?
AC:
Again, the opening or first game is in our thoughts and we'd dearly like to have at least one home 'warm-up' before going straight into league or cup action next season. We've had some suggestions sent to the office and there is one that I particularly favour.
Again, the opening or first game is in our thoughts and we'd dearly like to have at least one home 'warm-up' before going straight into league or cup action next season. We've had some suggestions sent to the office and there is one that I particularly favour.
RA:
And finally, have any past Phoenix players indicated that they'd like to return to Manchester?
AC:
To be honest, no, not as yet. The problem is that with two years out now, old favourites have moved on, maybe become settled elsewhere and might prefer to stay where they are. Obviously, there are one or two former Manchester players I'd quite like to see in a Phoenix uniform and I've no doubt many of the fans have similar ideas too, but recruitment will be the responsibility of the new Head Coach and if that person wants a roster full of fresh faces, then providing he can recruit them within the budget he's given - that's his job and he'll be given free rein to do it.
To be honest, no, not as yet. The problem is that with two years out now, old favourites have moved on, maybe become settled elsewhere and might prefer to stay where they are. Obviously, there are one or two former Manchester players I'd quite like to see in a Phoenix uniform and I've no doubt many of the fans have similar ideas too, but recruitment will be the responsibility of the new Head Coach and if that person wants a roster full of fresh faces, then providing he can recruit them within the budget he's given - that's his job and he'll be given free rein to do it.
Andy Costigan was interviewed on January 24th 2006
