There is a lot that happens behind closed doors - what has he been tasked to do this season in COVID conditions? Survival or mid-table are probably realistic goals considering our start. We need fresh faces and personnel on and off the pitch and an agreed mandate of what we are aiming for as a club and how we are going to do it. All boring back office stuff but if there is a divide between board and manager it plays out on the pitch. If we look back momentarily, I will explain:
We appoint a proven manager who has been promoted after Grayson and tell him to get to work with our squad with a view to push for the top six. First season, does exceptionally well and nearly reaches the playoffs but needs a couple of quality players to get us there. However, for whatever reason he is not given them despite performances on the pitch showing we desperately need them!
Instead, he is given fourth or fifth choice signings to work with, he doesn't use them feel it is right to use them straight away so trains them to get them up to speed, he plays them eventually (some do very well) and others have limitations - he gets slaughtered for it. Subsequently, he asks again for better players and doesn't get them because of the history of past transfer cycles.
If you don't give him his top choice players he asks for or sort out the contracts of the ones he wants to keep - how can you expect him to be happy or for us to compete? We slowly slide down the table as everyone else strengthens. The conclusion is inevitable unless we change our approach - will the board actually back their manager and give him the preferred transfer options he wants? Will the manager look to be flexible in his shape and setup of the team to push for wins and get us up the table rather than look to nick a point?
The players are not daft - I am not surprised they are not renewing their contracts if they see a board that doesn't back their manager and invests in improving the squad or a manager who lacks faith in your ability.
If you can see you can earn more elsewhere or play in a higher division here or abroad you would be daft not to consider it looking at how the board runs a sustainable yet unambitious club.
The fans and manager want the club to be in and around the playoffs, the board want stability in the championship and will see anything more as a welcome bonus. Any threat to our status will see the war-chest being opened for fourth/fifth choice signings