So then, it's official Pearson (Nigel) has gone. He was pictured a little earlier this evening posing with a blue shirt somewhere in the East Midlands, and as such he is no longer the manager of Hull City but instead the new manager of Leicester City (again).
More than anything, it's a disappointing albeit unsurprising conclusion to a week of speculation. Despite the complaints of some naysayers (given a regular platform in the local media), he'd done a pretty fine job here. He inherited a dressing room divided into cliques and filled with deadwood still lurking from our Premier League misadventure, and in its place moulded a team of vibrant, motivated youngsters who have spent much of the season lurking on the cusp of the play-off places. One wonders how far he could have taken his young charges. We'll never know now, and instead there's a very real risk the side will be dismantled in the January transfer window.
Leicester's press release was quickly followed by one of our own, announcing Pearson's replacement speculation over the weekend had suggested our former player-manager (and current Manchester United reserve gaffer) Warren Joyce would be our new boss, but that move looked to have broken down yesterday for reasons unknown. Instead, our new gaffer is none other than Nick 'Nicky' Barmby. Strangely, the club statement refers to Barmby as agreeing to take on '...the role of Caretaker Manager for the foreseeable future', as well as saying that '...there is no present interest in pursuing alternative managerial candidates at this time'. The two statements are at odds with one another, perhaps suggesting a bit of wiggle room allowing Barmby to step aside should things not work out.
Judging by the reaction elsewhere, it would seem that most City fans' views on the situation reflect my own. He's a club hero, and we love our Nick. He's ace, knows the club and players better than any of the other candidates, and he knows what a tenfoot is. However, while he's spent the last couple of seasons with us in a player-coach capacity he has zero managerial experience, and there's the risk that if this all goes pear shaped it'll tarnish his reputation.
Basically, we're taking a hell of a punt here.
