Bromley Owner and Chairman, Robin Stanton-Gleaves feels that Karl Robinson’s appointment as manager “wasn’t a very difficult decision” for him.
Robinson yesterday (5 November) was appointed as Bromley’s new manager just two weeks after Andy Woodman left the club following a poor start to their maiden season in League One.
In an official statement on the club website, Stanton-Gleaves initially reflected on Woodman’s success as he admitted that the decision to sack him wasn’t an easy choice.
“We go back a couple of weeks ago. I had to make the big decision I did to replace the then current manager, which was an enormous decision. I’d employed Andy five and a half years ago and the success we had in that period was terrific.
“I must say that the cup wins, the FA Cup trip to Newcastle and of course, the two visits to Wembley and promotion as champions last year, to then make the decision I did, I had to think long and hard about it.”
He then admitted that he hadn’t even considered having a list of future managerial candidates in place as he proceeded to explain the reality of how the recruitment process unfolded.
“Of course, I made the decision and after doing that I then started the process to find a new manager. Up until that point, I hadn’t started it. And so, we asked Webby to step in, in a short-term capacity. Then we went to market and we ran a process, I think we spoke to about 25 people.
“And then between myself and Luke Clark, we met with a handful, and we ended up with a shortlist of five individuals and across those five individuals, I then had to take the decision as to who I felt was best equipped.”
Stanton-Gleaves consequently felt that Robinson was ultimately the ideal candidate to replace Woodman given his EFL experience, having thoroughly analysed his EFL achievements which included promotion with MK Dons.
“Now, when I made that decision, obviously in Karl Robinson, it wasn’t a very difficult decision to make from the shortlist, because when you consider what he’s done, it’s 800 league games in the EFL.
“He’s had stints at MK Dons, where he got into the play-offs three times and got promotion from one of those occasions into the championship. He did it again with Oxford and twice he got them into the play-offs in this league.
“So, across that piece of work of 800 games, the ability that I believe he will have already understood the perils of this league, the excitement of this league.
I looked at his average points per game that he’s done over that period of time too. He was the most compelling candidate, and I was really chuffed when he decided to say yes.”
Stanton-Gleaves added that Robinson’s managerial record and personality made him the man who he felt will be able to build on Woodman’s success with his own character.
“The record he has, the people he’s worked with and under such as Sam Allardyce, are testament to him. He talks highly of his times with Sam. He has a character and a personality that I think is infectious. We had an enormous personality in Andy and so, it’s big boots to fill.
“And I believe Karl can do that. The way he talks about the game, the way he wants to go about the game. With Andy, we had a super first chapter of life under my tenure here at Bromley Football Club. This is the start of chapter two, and I believe Karl’s absolutely the right man to take us on the next chapter.”
Stanton-Gleaves also explained that EFL experience was important in Robinson’s appointment as many fans had hoped amidst rumours linking Ashley Cole to the position.
“I comment on what we have done and what we did with Andy because when I reflected that, that decision at the time, I’d never owned a football club in League One and he had never managed in League One. And here we were stepping up and the step up was far greater, I think than many people appreciate.
“So, it was really important that I appointed somebody that had the experience in this league, like I said, knows how to manage through this league, understand the what’s required in order to just to kick off this next chapter of the football club, because this is the start of a new chapter.”
Stanton-Gleaves now wants the club to stamp their existence into the third tier but begin this new chapter with a FA Cup win over Rotherham in the first round on 7 November.
“We must establish our presence here in League One. That’s the first base, no matter what. For all the hard work that’s been achieved in recent years, we must remain in League One this year. No two ways about it.”
“Chapter one was great, it’s now chapter two. Lets turn the page, lets all get together, lets drive Karl, the players, all the fans, everybody together and slowly but surely get ourselves up the league.”
“I think it’s an exciting day to welcome Karl, for the fans to say hello to him. Get behind the team – make Saturday a special day in the FA Cup.”
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