COMMENT: Lee Bradbury Sacked – but is it all it appears?

AFCB

So it’s come to this. 14 months after he took over the managerial role from Burnley bound Eddie Howe last January, AFC Bournemouth have parted ways with manager Lee Bradbury.

The decision comes after just 2 wins in 11 games for the Cherries, which included 5 back-to-back losses. But after a typically withdrawn statement from both club and chairmen Eddie Mitchell, we can’t help but ask the question:- why did he really go?

In an extraordinarily closed off interview with BBC Sport, Mitchell announced cryptically the decision was “best for the club”, but refused to add further comment, instead avoiding all accountability. In a press conference by the club, it was revealed a disagreement between Mitchell and Bradbury occurred when he was offered extra support from now interim manager Paul Groves and head of youth Shaun Brookes, who will take over until the end of the season. According to Mitchell, Bradbury refused and the pair left on ‘amicable terms’, but for a man with a history of controversy, it’s hard to believe the altercation was purely professional.

“It contributes further to the appearance from the outside, the club are unable to control its trigger-happy chairmen, who acts more like an over-zealous fan than a professional owner.” 

Adding more fuel to the controversy fire, just over a week ago Mitchell gave Bradbury his full backing despite the poor run and dwindled promotion challenge. Yet within a fortnight, he has reversed his position, and left the whole of Bournemouth wondering what the final nail in the coffin was. Refusing to say whether the choice was based on pressures from new co – owner, and oil billionaire Maxim Demin, Mitchell continually reiterated it “wasn’t his place” to comment on. A man, who is not finding himself accountable for his position as chairmen has now left the club in turmoil, choosing to jet off to Dubai for 2 weeks to escape the storm.

Clearly Bradbury’s investment in the promotion push in January hasn’t paid off, and he’s paid the ultimate price of modern day football. Matt Tubbs is struggling the settle in after his club record signing, and instead of the desired 6^th place AFCB spent over £1million to achieve, the Cherries find themselves in 13^th after another narrow loss against Oldham at the weekend.

But is there any function in dumping Bradbury now? In a time where AFCB need a period of stability after weeks of media attention, which included banning the Bournemouth Daily Echofrom reporting at Seward Stadium, and Mitchell cut off Radio 5 live after swearing 3 times, the move does nothing to steady the ship. Instead, it contributes further to the appearance from the outside, as a club unable to control its trigger-happy chairmen, who acts more like an over-zealous fan than a professional owner.

“It’s hard to believe the altercation was purely professional.”

Sure, the Cherries have been on a poor run of late, but for those that have followed the team over the past 2 months, the run – in they’ve had has been incredibly tough, and they’ve challenged the likes of Charlton, Carlisle and MK Dons, only to fall victim to late strikes and unlucky results.

With just 8 games to go, bringing in Groves till the end of the season clearly isn’t a long-term solution, and with Bournemouth no longer fighting for a noteworthy position in League One, there is little rational for relieving Bradbury if not for personal reasons.

What those personal reasons are we may never know. Obviously details will arise to the decision by Mitchell and the club, but the truth may never surface. Matters are not made easier by Mitchell’s strenuous relationships with the media, and by not coming out with a clear reason why Bradbury has been relieved of duty leads nothing else for  us, and the fans to go on but suspicion.