Steve Cotterill

[ArthurShelby]

Never gets enough credit for what he did for us.

Inherited was it 8 first players ? Who were all 30+, brought in some magnificent cheap players like Frank Sinclair, John Mcgreal, Jon Harley , Gary Cahill on loan and Signed Duff for peanuts.

Had some great nights, the one that sticks out is beating Liverpool at home who the same season became European Champions.The Preston home game 3-2 was a great comeback and one of the best atmospheres iv ever heard on the Turf.

Forgetting Luton away.

We played some great football at the start of the 05/06 season, hammering Norwich away live on Sky.

Who knows what he could of achieved with abit more money and resources.

We probably had one of the lowest wage bills in the league and he did really work miracles. He’s up there with Dyche in my eyes for what he did for the club.

If the manager of choice didn’t work at the time we appointed Steve we would be in league 1,2 now and would of never been in the Premierleague.

Cheers Steve !

[andyh]

…and has always spoken well of us.

Top man.

[Hipper]

I think he gets lots of credit on here for what he did.

I don't understand your last sentence.

https://www.uptheclarets.com/steve-cott ... ember-2007

[Enola Gay]

Never gets enough credit for what he did for us.

You’re new here, aren’t you?

He’s up there with Dyche in my eyes for what he did for the club.

Haha. No.

[claptrappers_union]

He came and did a decent job, it wasn’t pretty most of the time, but he took us as far as he could go.

[tiger76]

Did a grand job in the circumstances he inherited, and he steadied the ship at a time of great uncertainty post the ITV Digital collapse.

Certainly deserves credit, however to suggest he's on a par with Dyche, no I don't agree.

[claptrappers_union]

You also ask what could he have done with more money and resources? My opinion is probably not much more.

For as much stick as Owen Coyle gets, he then took Cotterills squad, made a few shrewd signings but more importantly he boosted morale, played attacking football and got us promoted. That was never going to happen under Cotterill.

[SammyBoy]

Did a good job all things considered but it was excruciating towards the end, some of the worst games I've ever watched.

[Herts Clarets]

Did a grand job in the circumstances he inherited, and he steadied the ship at a time of great uncertainty post the ITV Digital collapse.

Certainly deserves credit, however to suggest he's on a par with Dyche, no I don't agree.

Below is a list of Burnley Managers who are on a par with Sean Dyche in my lifetime (54 years)

1.
2.
3.

[spt_claret]

Cotterill inherited as difficult a position as any manager I've ever seen. Kompany took over an aging relegated squad with lots of expired contracts and debt to service, Laws a team with its morale crushed and the entire backroom and transfer targets taken, Stan a struggling League One team, but at least they still all inherited full senior teams and had some semblance of a transfer budget for the level.
Cotterill was rarely pretty, there were some horrendous stretches like the 17 without a win, but he did an incredible job of averting potential calamity and building the nucleus of Coyle's promotion side, as well as making a surprisingly good effort out of a pretty poor youth setup to give us McCann, Lafferty and a very young Jay.

He'll never be anyone's favourite manager but I fully agree that his time with us was incredibly important and underrated.

[Devils_Advocate]

Anyone giving Cotterill credit for the subsequent Coyle promotion should be equably comfortable giving Howe the same credit for the subsequent Dyche promotion.

Both Cotterill and Howe came in at difficult times and did a good rebuild and steadying job and for that I think they were both good appointments. For both situations had we gone with someone else it could have easily ended up very different and not in a good way.

The reality is however that longer term both looked to be heading nowhere and it was only the brilliance of both Coyle and Dyche that got us the promotions out of nowhere and they are the ones who rightly deserve all the credit.

[4midable]

How does steve cotterill come into ones thinking prior to posting the OT

[xxmunkyennuixx]

He's still manager of Shrewsbury Town.

[Swizzlestick]

I was right, you are on a wind up.

[ArthurShelby]

How does steve cotterill come into ones thinking prior to posting the OT

He’s the manager of the team we play tonight.

[Big Vinny K]

Steadied the defence with some quality signings.
Love John McGreal and Sinclair was also a quality defender.
Bought in Duff and Wade Elliott who went on to have very good careers with Burnley.
Gray and Akinbyi too - so some good signings for sure.

Lost his way and the 18 game (I think) winless run was painful at the end.

Decent manager for us.
Dyche he ain’t !

[MACCA]

Always speaks fondly of Burnley and our fans.

When we plsyed there in the friendly Steve Cotterill made a bee line for the Burnley fans after a quick hand shake with Kompany , coming right up to applaud the travelling Burnley fans saying thank you repeatedly then good luck with thumbs up.
He was quite emotional, not sure if he got a lot of support when he was ill, but he certainly wanted to make sure he came over and said thanks, before going to the home stands

I always wish him and his sides the best of luck

[spt_claret]

Anyone giving Cotterill credit for the subsequent Coyle promotion should be equably comfortable giving Howe the same credit for the subsequent Dyche promotion.

Both Cotterill and Howe came in at difficult times and did a good rebuild and steadying job and for that I think they were both good appointments. For both situations had we gone with someone else it could have easily ended up very different and not in a good way.

The reality is however that longer term both looked to be heading nowhere and it was only the brilliance of both Coyle and Dyche that got us the promotions out of nowhere and they are the ones who rightly deserve all the credit.

I agree but I'm not sure people are saying Cotterill deserves promotion credit so much as credit for inheriting nothing and building the nucleus of a potentially very good squad that he,like Howe, wasn't able to take to the next level either through management or the required additions.
He's not a guy to promote you from the Championship, but he's a decent guy to stabilise you if you're worried about dropping from it, and seems to be a good bloke too.

[warksclaret]

Sadly towards the end the football got dire and he had to go. However I am so grateful for what he did for our club. He had a great eye for a player, and had amazing influence on players who he wanted to join us. He did it all when we were skint. The players he got in -Clarke Carlisle, Steve Caldwell, Micah Hyde,Adie Akinbiyi, Andy Gray, Frank Sinclair, John McGreal, Wade Elliott, Robbie Blake (the second time), Djemba Djemba, Dave Unsworth, Jon Harley.The best one was Gary Cahill-his manager Martin O'Neil did not know how good his own player was-in 4 years just 30 games for Villa, put out on loan several times, then sold to Bolton for peanuts. He is also a very decent and honourable man

[dandeclaret]

When I think of Cotterball, I think of Crisp Packets and pigeons.

And bridges

[4midable]

He’s the manager of the team we play tonight.

Excellent response

[spt_claret]

Sadly towards the end the football got dire and he had to go. However I am so grateful for what he did for our club. He had a great eye for a player, and had amazing influence on players who he wanted to join us. He did it all when we were skint. The players he got in -Clarke Carlisle, Steve Caldwell, Micah Hyde,Adie Akinbiyi, Andy Gray, Frank Sinclair, John McGreal, Wade Elliott, Robbie Blake (the second time), Djemba Djemba, Dave Unsworth, Jon Harley.The best one was Gary Cahill-his manager Martin O'Neil did not know how good his own player was-in 4 years just 30 games for Villa, put out on loan several times, then sold to Bolton for peanuts. He is also a very decent and honourable man

He pulled a few blinders in the transfer market. Ones that stick out were resigning Ade and Blake for less than we sold them for, Duffo for peanuts, and somehow getting 1.2m for Wayne Thomas to replace him with Clarke Carlisle for 200k.
If we want to profit and wheeler deal in the market we could probably still get pointers from him.

[Vegas Claret]

I've mentioned this before I think but it's worth repeating. I have a mate who has a severely handicapped son, he took him down to watch the lads train when Cotterill was in charge. After 30 mins Steve walked over to them, said hello etc etc. They went back a week later to watch them train and as soon as Cotterill saw them he was straight over, he'd sorted them some tickets out for a game, a ground tour and a few other bits. He looked after the little lad for the entire time he was here, nothing was ever too much trouble - as my mate said "you will not find a more genuine bloke".

[Culmclaret]

He did a very job in the circs. Ok it went a bit to pot in 2006/7 but when he arrived the club was on its knees. He laid the foundations of a promotion winning side, much as Howe did a few years later.

[warksclaret]

I think since Stan was manager, about 22 years ago,with the exception of Laws, we have been very successful in our manager appointments. Not every club can say the same

[KRBFC]

I think since Stan was manager, about 22 years ago,with the exception of Laws, we have been very successful in our manager appointments. Not every club can say the same

Maybe I'm the only one and I'm rewriting history and making things up. I hated the Laws appointment but I found the timing of his sacking quite bizarre. We were around the playoffs, I thought we were going along ok that season.

[Socrates]

Maybe I'm the only one and I'm rewriting history and making things up. I hated the Laws appointment but I found the timing of his sacking quite bizarre. We were around the playoffs, I thought we were going along ok that season.

Didn’t he get sacked after we were beaten at home by a bloody awful Scunthorpe?

From memory we’d dropped to about 9th.

[KRBFC]

Didn’t he get sacked after we were beaten at home by a bloody awful Scunthorpe?

From memory we’d dropped to about 9th.

We were 9th with a game in hand, 1 of the best home records in the division.

[claptrappers_union]

Laws was never going to win the fans over though.

[Socrates]

We were 9th with a game in hand, 1 of the best home records in the division.

Home game before we’d chucked away a 2 goal lead against Leeds to lose 3-2. We’d also been smashed at home 4-0 by Reading.

We’d also only won one game away from home all season.

[KRBFC]

Home game before we’d chucked away a 2 goal lead against Leeds to lose 3-2. We’d also been smashed at home 4-0 by Reading.

We’d also only won one game away from home all season.

The form was patchy, we had the 3rd best home record though and we were 9th with a game in hand. I dunno just felt like the timing was odd at the time, it worked out in the end I guess.

[Socrates]

The form was patchy, we had the 3rd best home record though and we were 9th with a game in hand. I dunno just felt like the timing was odd at the time, it worked out in the end I guess.

Next you’ll be quoting the Deloitte and Touche points per wage spend stat.

The form wasn’t patchy. It was gash and it was getting worse.

He should never have got the job in a million years and if Spurs hadn’t phoned in the second half of the last game in the Premier League he would have been fired then.

[spt_claret]

Maybe I'm the only one and I'm rewriting history and making things up. I hated the Laws appointment but I found the timing of his sacking quite bizarre. We were around the playoffs, I thought we were going along ok that season.

Sticking my head above the parapet to partially agree with you. We were inconsistent and in the long run the decision worked, but finished 1 place above where he was sacked with a game in hand and from memory one of the two players who'd done half decent Iwelumo completely capitulated after previously being in good form. Jay's proper breakthrough season too, plus he signed Danny Fox who did a solid job and Dean Marney, who was Dean Marney.

Completely vindicated decision in hindsight but I can understand why he might feel hard done by at the time, the guy was the sacrificial lamb for the fans' anger over Coyle's departure. That said, signing Leon Cort for big money really got him off to a bad start.

[KRBFC]

Next you’ll be quoting the Deloitte and Touche points per wage spend stat.

The form wasn’t patchy. It was gash and it was getting worse.

He should never have got the job in a million years and if Spurs hadn’t phoned in the second half of the last game in the Premier League he would have been fired then.

I agree he should never have got the job, that wasn't my argument.

9th in the league with a game in hand, was that gash? I thought it was ok

[quoonbeatz]

Laws was garbage and his sacking was long overdue. Easily the worst managerial appointment in the last 20 odd years. Wasn't wanted by the vast majority in the first place and and had none of the capability required to turn that round.

[Jambo]

Anyone who thinks Cotterill was an under-rated manager for us should be forced to watch matches from the 19-game run without a win on a loop. Yes, he came in and built a decent squad from nothing, but the football was frequently absolutely awful. It's hilarious that Cotterill is touted as a good Burnley manager yet the bloke who followed and took his team to promotion is still a pariah cos of how he left. Burnley fans gonna Burnley fan I guess.

Assume the Laws revisionism above is a troll attempt.

[IanMcL]

He pulled a few blinders in the transfer market. Ones that stick out were resigning Ade and Blake for less than we sold them for, Duffo for peanuts, and somehow getting 1.2m for Wayne Thomas to replace him with Clarke Carlisle for 200k.
If we want to profit and wheeler deal in the market we could probably still get pointers from him.

I will never forget £1.2m for a static tank!
A miracle!

[IanMcL]

Steve Cotterell dis a very good rebuild job, for a club in crisis.

Some of the football was dire.

He left, with no ill feeling from fans, at the right time.

We thank him and he respects his time at Burnley - a proper football town.

[KRBFC]

Assume the Laws revisionism above is a troll attempt.

Not a troll at all, I hated the Laws appointment (like every BFC fan). I just found the whole thing bizarre, dreadful PL appointment then sacked him mid season (when I thought we were going ok, besides the odd awful result). We had a decent side that season too, we chose to just rip it up mid season and start a rebuild whilst in touch with the playoffs. Odd all round really but I guess it worked out in the long run.

[boyyanno]

Anyone who thinks Cotterill was an under-rated manager for us should be forced to watch matches from the 19-game run without a win on a loop. Yes, he came in and built a decent squad from nothing, but the football was frequently absolutely awful. It's hilarious that Cotterill is touted as a good Burnley manager yet the bloke who followed and took his team to promotion is still a pariah cos of how he left. Burnley fans gonna Burnley fan I guess.

Assume the Laws revisionism above is a troll attempt.

In all fairness I don't care how bad the football was under Cotterill. Anyone who remembers the situation at the time will also remember we had next to 0 players when he took over, no money and had to sign some absolute dross from the lower leagues just to make a squad. A couple of those, Duff, Elliott etc turned out to be good servants for the club. Let's be honest though, Cotterill had his best players sold season after season and somehow managed to keep us up. As with Howe and Dyche someone normally lays the foundations and then someone uses it as a platform to move forwards and that's exactly what Cotterill did for Coyle. No doubt in the end it was the right time for him to leave but he left the club in a better position than the one he joined it in, and I'd say that's normally a sign that your manager has done a good job imo.

Apart from Laws i'd say every manager since Stan has contributed to the clubs success in their own ways.

[FeedTheArf]

From Stan onwards we've been fortunate to have a good run with our managers - all for different reasons:

Stan - promotion and kept us up
Cotterill - signed some great players for bobbins and kept us in the league when we didn't have two pennies to rub together
Coyle - promotion
Laws - whoever took over the aftermath of Coyle was going to struggle but he just about did ok
Howe - again, signed some great young players for peanuts but never quite got the consistency
Dyche - promotion and then some

In fact as I write this, I hadn't realised just how cyclical our managers have been. Cotts laid the groundwork, Coyle got promotion, Laws struggled. Then Howe laid the groundwork, Dyche got promotion, Kompany struggles??

[Jambo]

"not a troll at all" - yeah, exactly what a troll would say m8

[aggi]

Cotterill did OK when he came in but it became a real downward spiral with poor football and unsustainable wages (something like 120% of revenue when he left). We would have been in serious trouble if we'd carried on down that route. Fortunately we had an inspired choice of manager next with Coyle who probably saved the club.

[Ric_C]

Paul Weller absolutely hates him doesn't he? In fact it's almost bordering on a weird obsession

[quoonbeatz]

Paul Weller absolutely hates him doesn't he? In fact it's almost bordering on a weird obsession

Cotterill released him the night before his wedding. Effectively the end of his career.

[KRBFC]

"not a troll at all" - yeah, exactly what a troll would say m8

Fair enough whatever

[ClaretTony]

Cotterill released him the night before his wedding. Effectively the end of his career.

And yet, he was out of contract and hadn't been offered a deal by Stan. We'd played our final game of 2003/04 on 9th May and the club announced on 17th May that there were no offers for any of Paul Weller, David May, Mark McGregor and Dean West but that they would be reviewed when a new manager was in place. Cotterill was appointed on 3rd June. So he hardly released these players, but Weller moved to Rochdale and then Carlisle but was by then struggling with injury. He played five times for Rochdale before moving to Carlisle and he played a reserve game for them against us.

[Lancasterclaret]

Cotterill did well for a couple of years, but should have been potted in that terrible 17/18? game run where we didn't win

And a bit like Dyche in the premier league, it did get very, very, very stale indeed to watch

[houseboy]

Below is a list of Burnley Managers who are on a par with Sean Dyche in my lifetime (54 years)

1.
2.
3.

Pity you’re only 54. If you were older you’d recall the manager who really was the best at Burnley.
League Champions.
Runners up.
FA Cup finalists.
European Cup quarter finalists.
A spell as one of the two most feared clubs in the country.
Regular top 6.
Dyche, as good as he was for us (and he was without a doubt), isn’t in the same universe as Harry Potts. We made the so-called big six (with the exception of Spurs of course) look less than ordinary.
I know it’s a long time ago but all parts of a clubs history make it’s whole. Burnley have regularly punched above their weight but never more so than in Potts’ day.

On a slightly different note and asked with genuine interest. Why is Dyche still out of work, it surely can’t be because of his brand of football? Okay he’s never gonna manage a top club but Championship down he would make a great manager for someone. Even a ‘smaller’ PL club could benefit maybe. Or was his football ‘brand’ really so bad? Perhaps we got so used to it we failed to see how terrible it had become. I hope he lands himself another job but maybe he’s just happy with his Burnley pay off. Don't expect he’s struggling with his mortgage.

[aggi]

...

On a slightly different note and asked with genuine interest. Why is Dyche still out of work, it surely can’t be because of his brand of football? Okay he’s never gonna manage a top club but Championship down he would make a great manager for someone. Even a ‘smaller’ PL club could benefit maybe. Or was his football ‘brand’ really so bad? Perhaps we got so used to it we failed to see how terrible it had become. I hope he lands himself another job but maybe he’s just happy with his Burnley pay off. Don't expect he’s struggling with his mortgage.

I suspect he's just having a break. Ten pretty full-on years spending half the time living away from home would have been exhausting. He looks to be starting to appear in the media a bit more recently so maybe he's starting to get back out there.