Harty on Gus Poyet and who could be the next Albion boss

Currently on suspension, with a full disciplinary hearing allegedly days away and, although it’s never nice when any manager departs a football club, for whatever reason, Poyet’s exit will be all the more significant for a number of reasons.

Debate will rage on long after his departure but, in my opinion, he is one of the best managers the club has ever had, and he will be a hard act to follow.

To re-iterate, as previously stated, the next Albion manager will be the most important appointment in the club’s history.

Even with Poyet still technically in post, speculation has been rife as to who will follow him into the Amex hot-seat. Whether my own personal preference of Dennis Bergkamp is pie in the sky remains to be seen. But, as well as being the Albion’s benefactor, Tony Bloom also has links with Arsenal, so perhaps there is already a connection?

With Harry Redknapp committing himself to QPR this week, perhaps more realistically it’s two very experienced names that have been bandied around this week.

Glenn Hoddle is another of those footballing marmite characters. But, love him or hate him, despite being out of domestic management for over five years, he certainly has the credentials that the Albion might be looking for.

His recent views on the under-development of young English players certainly made interesting reading, along with his ideas to rectify this problem.

While, like everyone, he has his knockers and doubters, I personally wouldn’t be that disappointed to see him get the job, given some of the other names currently being thrown into the mix.

Another name, and perhaps with already an “in” at the club is ex-Charlton and West Ham boss, Alan Curbishley.

Like Hoddle, he’s been out of management for some time.

But, like Hoddle, he knows his stuff, and has a track record of getting into and staying in the Premier League.

His long-time assistant, ex-Hammers and Leeds United keeper, Mervyn Day, has been at the Amex on the staff for some time, so knows how the club works and perhaps, equally as important, the politics of the place.

Again, like Hoddle, I would be pleased to see Curbs return to the Albion, where he played under Barry Lloyd, another current member of staff, in the late 1980’s.

Having said that, it still, in some ways, grinds me how it’s all ended up with Gus. Then again, that’s football and, after the sale of the Goldstone and Hereford, etc; I should know by now that it’s never dull at the Albion.

Events last weekend encapsulated all that is good about the current state of youth football in Worthing.

On Saturday night, Worthing Town FC held their annual presentation night, with Rebels boss Lee Brace as one of the guests. There were nearly 600 players in attendance, including the very successful under-15 girls’ team, of which I have the privilege of being one of their sponsors.

Meanwhile, up at Worthing Rugby Club on both Saturday and Sunday, Worthing Dynamos held their small-sided tournament, and, as always, it was an excellently run event.

This week, it’s the turn of Worthing Minors up at Pond Land. Traditionally, it’s another great and well-run tournament, let’s hope the council cut the pitches properly . . .