Wanderers might be heading into tomorrow’s game at Bournemouth just a point above the Championship drop zone – but Dougie Freedman feels he will be given time to complete his rebuilding job.
There have been signs of restlessness among the Whites supporters after a poor start to the season, and though Freedman’s men head for the south coast unbeaten in five games, the lack of progress in the table is a still bone of contention.
A minority of fans are calling for change but after completing a year in charge at the Reebok last week, Freedman feels confident he has the full backing of club owner Eddie Davies and chairman Phil Gartside.
“I see too many managers bouncing in and out of jobs and there’s no real plan there” he said.
“From the very off I told the club this is my plan. And I know they are good for their word because years ago when they went up to the Premier League they had the same idea.
“It takes time to build that and these guys know it. That is why they are being patient and giving me time.
“I haven’t come across a single manager who can snap his fingers and turn things round.
“I feel this is a wonderful club, with great fans, but it needs to be built in the right way. I know the owners like that and that’s what they want to see.
“They don’t want any more big spending – they can’t afford any more big spending. They want players who want to come here and fight for the cause and then these fans can watch them turn into very good players.
“They are the same ones that turned up and watched the team while it was at the top and they are here right now.”
Freedman insists promotion can still be achieved and that his own target for the season has not changed despite taking just one win from the first 13 games.
“Anything is possible,” he said. “My aim is still to take this club into the top six.
“Of course it is getting harder and we need to string a few results together very soon. We need to be round and about that halfway mark by the turn of the year. We are capable of that.”
Freedman has no new injury problems going into the Bournemouth game and is looking to beef up his squad in the coming weeks with one or two new loan signings.
Regardless of the slow start, the Scot feels his squad will be better equipped this season to cope with the second half of the campaign that it was last year.
“Results at the end of last season were a culmination of training ground coaching and players coming into form,” he said.
“When we were asked a question at Leicester or Blackpool at home we didn’t answer it because the squad wasn’t ready for it. We fell at the last hurdle.
“That is not going to happen this time around.”
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There have been signs of restlessness among the Whites supporters after a poor start to the season, and though Freedman’s men head for the south coast unbeaten in five games, the lack of progress in the table is a still bone of contention.
A minority of fans are calling for change but after completing a year in charge at the Reebok last week, Freedman feels confident he has the full backing of club owner Eddie Davies and chairman Phil Gartside.
“I see too many managers bouncing in and out of jobs and there’s no real plan there” he said.
“From the very off I told the club this is my plan. And I know they are good for their word because years ago when they went up to the Premier League they had the same idea.
“It takes time to build that and these guys know it. That is why they are being patient and giving me time.
“I haven’t come across a single manager who can snap his fingers and turn things round.
“I feel this is a wonderful club, with great fans, but it needs to be built in the right way. I know the owners like that and that’s what they want to see.
“They don’t want any more big spending – they can’t afford any more big spending. They want players who want to come here and fight for the cause and then these fans can watch them turn into very good players.
“They are the same ones that turned up and watched the team while it was at the top and they are here right now.”
Freedman insists promotion can still be achieved and that his own target for the season has not changed despite taking just one win from the first 13 games.
“Anything is possible,” he said. “My aim is still to take this club into the top six.
“Of course it is getting harder and we need to string a few results together very soon. We need to be round and about that halfway mark by the turn of the year. We are capable of that.”
Freedman has no new injury problems going into the Bournemouth game and is looking to beef up his squad in the coming weeks with one or two new loan signings.
Regardless of the slow start, the Scot feels his squad will be better equipped this season to cope with the second half of the campaign that it was last year.
“Results at the end of last season were a culmination of training ground coaching and players coming into form,” he said.
“When we were asked a question at Leicester or Blackpool at home we didn’t answer it because the squad wasn’t ready for it. We fell at the last hurdle.
“That is not going to happen this time around.”
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