Which is completely nuts. You don’t let someone who has signed only a two and a half year deal, who could in theory be sacked within months if results are not forthcoming, have the major say in recruitment for the long term benefit of the club. People will say Thelwell is out of contract in the summer, but that is completely different. TFG will know whether Thelwell is staying or not beyond this summer. Besides, that’s Thelwell’s remit, a DOF should be left to do the recruiting based on a vision and structure of the club going forward. Not a manager who wants to recruit who he wants to fit his style when he could be replaced at any time with a different manager. If Moyes wasn’t told he would simply be the coach and wouldn’t have a major say in transfers, then he should have been.
Did Thelwell consult Dyche over O’Brien and Lindstrom? You’d have to say that’s very doubtful considering the minutes he gave them. We’re only now beginning to see the fruits of those recruits now the new manager is playing them. I get the argument that there’s no point spending big on a player if the current manager doesn’t fancy them and refuses to play them (see Dyche), so consult him by all means. But Moyes must never be allowed to have the power to make signings that don’t fit in with the director of football’s long term planning for the club.