BFA’s Broadley To Leave Bermuda Tomorrow
Technical Director Derek Broadley’s contract with the Bermuda Football Association [BFA] officially concludes at the end of this month, and through “mutual agreement,” Mr Broadley will bring his tenure with the Association to a close and depart Bermuda tomorrow [Mar. 17]
On behalf of the Executive Council BFA President Larry Mussenden said, “On behalf of the Executive Council, administrative staff and the entire family of football, we extend our thanks and appreciation to Broadley for his professional contribution to football in Bermuda, in particular, his role in the redevelopment of the various leagues and competitions across the entire spectrum of football, the establishment of the National Academy Program and the launching of the Coach Education Scheme consisting of the delivery of the D, C and B License Courses and the development of the A License scheme.”
“There were other programs and initiatives instituted as a result of the Association’s Strategic Plan that Broadley would have been involved or the implementation of such programs came as a direct result of Broadley’s involvement over the past 3 years. We applaud Broadley for his time and efforts spent in Bermuda making a valuable contribution to the progression of football generally.”
“We wish to extend all the very best to Broadley and family and hope that he will take the opportunity in the future to return and visit our Island home,” concluded Mr Mussenden.
In August 2010 the BFA said that the decision to not renew Mr Broadley’s contract was “partially based on the fact that the Association’s long term vision is to have a Bermudian assume the role of Technical Director and that Derek’s guidance during his three year tenure with the Association was to provide the impetus for this vision to be realized.”
The BFA also said “there was also a cost consideration due in part to the significant decrease in Government funding from the original $3 million per year three years ago to $1 million for the current fiscal year.”
I have read this and several other recent pieces relative to the outgoing Technical Director and will start by saying, thank-you for your time, you where compensated very well and good luck with your future endeavours. Now let’s attempt to provide some degree of accuracy to the many recent articles in the Daily attributed to Broadley:
1. Broadley’s contract was honoured in full, just not extended as he had requested.
2. Contrary to what appears to be standard operating procedure in this island, the previous executive were committed to a succession plan, one that would ensure that a Bermudian ascended to the top position in a reasonable time period. And apparently did not see enough in Broadley to warrant his continuation, even if the heir apparent(s) were not 100% ready to assume full control.It is the most frustrating thing to see locals buy into to foreign is better, time and time again, even when they can see, with their own eyes, that in some cases/this case, it simply was not true. Most people came to that conclusion early!
3. The TD’s compensation package represented a significant percentage of the budget, which became even more apparent as the budget was reduced from $3M a year down to $1M a year.
4.Now let’s deal with inaccuracies:
a. The TD was not responsible for forging the relationship between the Hogges and the BFA. This was one of the key components of the draft strategic plan brought to the BFA by the then, new executive. (read it) Fact!
b.The BFA’s strategic Plan called for a strong relationship between the US and Bermuda because as it states (read it people)one of the key benchmarks for success has to be the number of student/athletes the BFA can assist with obtaining Prep School and then College scholarships. Look at the numbers in both areas over the past couple of years and do the math. The scholarships amount to millions of dollars, MILIONS!!! And yes another benchmark was the number of youth players that secure pro contracts in the US and UK and a few have materialized.Great! But, make no mistake people, we must be realist and the numbers don’t lie, we have a much better chance of getting our student/ athletes into College on scholarships then we do of producing pro football players. And less we forget, playing at the College level in the US is a pretty damn good level, as the Hogge’s / our U-23 National team have found out.
5. The TD in recent article refers to the previous Player development Committee as being to ambitious.If ambitious means expecting a person to do there job, then yes, I guess they where to ambitious. Sigh!
6.The Academy, being a collection of teams playing under one umbrellaa. So how is this different to what was in place before? They had a place to call home, thanks to FIFA. A place that made them appear to be more cohesive because they had a set training place (vs the ad hoc arrangement in place prior to the opening of the BFA training field). Other than that, we had youth teams and a senior team–so how was this different then what was in place before?
7.The TD talks up the number of coaches that went through the coach education program.For those of you that have not viewed the material or watched the sessions than you need too, in order to realize just how basic they are. And make no mistake, it is a step up from what was not in place prior to two years ago but far from being what is needed in this island to improve the level of coaching. Keep in mind that the TD didn’t start the coach education until he was in his 2nd year of his contract! And some of you will say that he needeed some time to acclimate to Bermuda’s football evironment. Wrong–the TD was introduced to Bda years prior to assuming the role of TD and through his Soccer-Expert Course would have been exposed to dozens of local coaches providing him with a very good understanding of the quality and areas of weakness.
I think most people that had a real working relationship with the TD would say that he had some good qualities, but would be hard pressed to provide solid reasons for why his contract should have been extended.There will those that will attempt to make this more than it really is. What it is, is simple, he was hired to do a job over a 3 year period.He did a fair job amd was very, very, well compensated.
I and many others wish him well and the best of luck in his new positon with a club in the start-up, semi-pro league, in the US.
Totally agree with this post.
Broadley’s suggestion that he has produced a Bermudian way of playing is reasonably accurate at the national level, albeit sad to see. Sad because it is a style that is unpleasnt to watch and worse, not very successful.. His running with the ball philosophy has arguably been the worse thing that has happened to our game since the Miami 7 debacle. Gone is any hint of cohesive possession football, gone is anything that is remotely worth watching.
Unfortunately Broadley didn’t have the benefit of watching football in Bermuda when it was played at a high level. This could explain his misguided belief that what he introduced is eye catching and in the best interest of Bermuda.
Broadley’s belief that an Academy is the panacea for all that ails our local game is ludicrous. He has failed to improve club football and without any significant improvement on that front the national program will never be what it once was. FACT!! Further, the islands best coaches have not improved in any significant manner, primarily because his ability to teach beyond the basics is abundnatly obvious. This is the view of many qualified coaches that have observed his coaching methodoly.
As for being frustrated that he couldn’t finish his job, I can only say that he had nothing more to give. He is a teacher of basics and while that has its’ place in our game, there is a need for someone that can deliver on a much higher level.
Broadley and his supporters have openly pondered what might have been if he was retained. Simply put, more of the same, which is just not good enough, particularly given his significant total compensation. An argument can be made that we have done better with less qualified and expensive coaches. FACT!!!
Finally, Broadley’s contract was honoured. He was never promised anything more then 3 years. Why should Bermudians feel sorry or apologise for asking him to go home or to be more succinct, he doesn’t have to go home but he can’t stay here.
Maybe more companies should buy into that concept when it is just and fair to do so. You would have less disgruntled folk on the rock..
An abject lesson in the value of cultivating relationships with (some of) the media and making one’s public image a priority perhaps over and above producing results.
One thought: “the powers that be” are either your employers, colleagues or other stake holders and unfortunately maintaining a positive and constructive working relationships with then is part and parcel of any job.
If you find yourself in “disagreements with the powers that be” you need to look at the man in the mirror.
Just a thought….
Way to complicated. Broadley cultivated and was heavily supported by many in the press for reasons that need not be explored.
In the end he has departed and we have lost very little. The lack of real and tangible improvement justifies the former Execs decision to cut ties. His inability to secure a significant position post Bermuda could explain why he needed to go. The job he held prior to being hired by the BFA should have resulted in him not being offered the role in the first place…