Think you can do better than the Manager?

By: Bob | August 8th, 2007

We’ve all watched football matches where we’ve seen managerial decisions that have left us scratching our heads and thinking that we could do a better job than the guys who get paid to run a club. Now you can have a shot at showing just how much smarter you are than a real, breathing manager.

English Football League Two club Lincoln City is running a contest this season that will allow the best virtual manager to consult with the real one. From the Telegraph:

As from today, a new website called apprenticefootballmanager.co.uk will allow Lincoln fans to take part in an online game that will result in the outright winner being involved in the managerial process at the club next season. If you’re a football nut, this beats anything that Alan Sugar can offer.

For a monthly subscription, fans will be able to access all the facts and figures and tactical analysis that Lincoln’s managerial team will be using during the season. How they use that information will then lead to the awarding of monthly prizes that will build to the ultimate bonanza — regular discussions with the coaching staff about how the team is/should be playing. Steff Wright is the club chairman, and it’s his idea. “There are two reasons for this really,” he says. “One, fans demand, and deserve, more access to the clubs they support and this is the ultimate form of that. “Secondly, it’ll make us some money. One thousand fans paying £5 a month is worth £45,000 to us over the season, and for community operations like us, that’s a lot to add to the playing budget.”

This is a pretty cool concept if you ask me, but I have no vested interest in seeing Lincoln City succeed or fail so the thought of a fantasy geek running the show doesn’t make my heart race.

I do find it interesting that there seems to be a movement underway to try to lure fans back to the sport by having them play a more active role in how teams operate. Whether it is consulting with management or being the management itself this is something that an increasing number of lower division football clubs are experimenting with as they try to win back fans who’d rather stay at home on the weekend and watch the Premiership.