September 10, 2004
New Woodlands
He is willing to wipe the slate clean
for the players no matter what they have done in the past.
The Rams have seen dressing room
squabbles spike a promising title challenge & former coach Simon Clark was rumoured to have been ousted by a group of dissident
players.
But Brown says that his appointment
heralds a fresh start & is the first step for the Rams back to the top.
The Englishman said he is new &
fresh so whatever problems the players may have had with the previous coach
have nothing to do with him & every player starts anew with him.
When asked about his relationship with
ex-boss Simon Clark as there was the curious episode of his abrupt resignation
on the eve of the S-League season in February, barely 2 months after his
appointment as Woodlands' under-18 coach & assistant to Clark.
Rumours suggested that Brown had fallen out with
countryman Clark over team affairs
Brown refused to offer a straight answer
for that instead deflecting away by saying he had worked with these players
before & describe their relationship with them as a good one. He also added
quite a few of them had good comments for me when he left earlier this year.
After some 7 months spent working with
English Football League Division One side Brentford's
youth teams, he is back in
The former Liverpool tactics analyst
revealed his delight at landing the Rams job, which saw him edge a string of
other contenders, including former
He describe it as an opportunity that he
had been dying for as the Rams are an ambitious club while he is an ambitious
person so it will be a good match but admitted it is not going to be neither
quick nor easy.
However he believed he will accomplish
that in his time by taking Woodlands to the top.
But critics are already expressing
their disbelief he will accomplish anything pointing out that apart from the young
Simon Clark there is another example of young ex –Home United boss Jason Withe as those who have been unable too young to command
respect especially in a fractious dressing room like the Rams at the moment
Brown was quick to rebut that saying people
do not realise that he is into my tenth year as a
coach as he took up coaching early after breaking his ankle, which ended his
playing career.
The Englishman believed he can bring
to Woodlands
He has signed a two-year deal with the
club, but will only take over in January. German Jorg
Steinbrunner, who will be Brown's assistant coach,
retains control for the Rams' 2 remaining matches.
So for now, Brown job is about
scouting for new players & mulling over which current team members to
retain so he is going to be watching as many games as possible, deciding
together with the club management & Jorg Steinbrunner who to
bring in & who to retain.