When Stephen Bradley surveys the managerial landscape here and in the UK he knows it’s not for everyone.
Two of his counterparts - Tim Clancy at St Pat’s, and Colin Healy at Cork City - parted ways with their clubs this week alone.
The Shamrock Rovers boss was surprised by both departures, considering it is still relatively early in the season.
In England, it has been a free for all. Sam Allardyce was parachuted into Leeds United this week, as their third manager this season alone.
Chelsea sacked Graham Potter after only six months and are now drowning in a sea of mediocrity under Frank Lampard.
With wealthy Premier League owners pumping insane amounts of money into clubs, managers are getting less and less time to make any sort of impression.
It’s a precarious way to earn a living and only time will tell if League of Ireland clubs follow the trend and become that trigger-happy.
But Bradley appreciates the patience his own club showed to him, staying loyal in the early stages of his tenure when results were going against him.
“I love it,” said Bradley of high stakes management. “You have to be a certain type to go into it, understand it and thrive in it. You have to want to be in it, because it's hard.
“You find out very quickly when you're in it whether it's for you or not. Personally, I’d recommend it.
“You get some unbelievable highs and some incredible lows that can only be replicated in a stadium with passionate fans.
“When you see the joy that you bring to so many people - families, kids, older generations, it's priceless. But you have to understand it's a cut throat, tough industry.
“Football is a horrible teacher because you have to learn on the job and when the game is happening.
“People lose their jobs so often because nothing prepares you for actually doing it.”
Bradley was surprised by Clancy and Healy’s exits but, speaking generally about management, says all clubs need a fixed vision.
“When people start thinking short-term they can make irrational and emotional decisions. And they are usually the wrong ones,” he said.
“It's hard to tell people who own clubs what to do as they’re the ones putting the money in so they can do as they please.
“But history has shown that having a plan and having patience really works.”
Bradley said: “I don't understand these big clubs that have all this money and hire someone to run the team who says 'I want x, y and z' and you sign them.
“But then you sack him and ask someone else to become the manager, who then signs five or six more.
“Before you know it you’ve had four managers who have different players playing different systems, different styles.
“You’re asking a manager to fix a mismatch of players with different styles and philosophies and they think money solves the problem.
“I can't get my head around that, it's nonsense.”
Bradley continued: “I read a few weeks back that Real Madrid put a ten-year plan in place, to play 4-3-3.
“They won't sign any players who can't play 4-3-3, their midfielders and wingers have to be a certain type, the forwards the same.
“If Real Madrid are doing it, there you go, there's the template. You have a plan and you stick to it. But some of the decisions are laughable.
“Chelsea sack Graham Potter and brought in someone until the end of the season when they weren't fighting for anything.
“It makes no sense at all, if you have a clear plan, identity, philosophy of what you want to do, you have to give it time to implement it.
“If you give it two or three years and it's not working, by all means change it, but you can't change the team every 12 months, or in England six months or less, it's crazy.”
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Richie Towell scored a goal to savour against Derry City and beamed: ‘I love it when a plan comes together’.
The Shamrock Rovers ace rounded off a brilliant team move with an exquisite finish on Monday as the Hoops won 2-0 at the Brandywell.
And the victory allowed the champions to move within four points of leaders Bohemians ahead of tonight’s top two clash in Tallaght.
On his goal, Towell said: “It has to be up there as one of (the best I’ve scored).
“Especially when there are so many players involved and when you work on things like that in training and it comes off in a game.
“It’s something the manager is adamant about working on and when it comes off in a game, it’s great.
“It started with Lee (Grace) through to Alan (Mannus) and when it starts there and ends up in the net, without them getting a touch of the ball, you know it’s a nice one.
“My little girl was slagging me. She said, ‘I didn’t think you could get your leg up that high daddy,’ so that was nice.”
Rovers are coming good after their slow start and Towell believes Tallaght Stadium will be a cauldron with over 7,500 expected for the Bohs game.
He added: “They’re in good form and so are we - it’s going to make for a great game. It’s sold out, it’s live on tele, I don’t think you can get much more anticipation.
“Declan Devine is a good manager, he’s recruited really well and they’ve started really well. We didn’t start as fast as we wanted but we’re gaining momentum now.”
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Declan Devine admits Bohemians are eager to make amends for their last clash with Shamrock Rovers.
The league leaders lost 2-0 at home to their arch rivals last month with Neil Farrugia and Rory Gaffney on the score sheet
But after sluggish displays in their recent draw at UCD and win in Drogheda, the Gypsies bounced back to form by smashing 10-man Cork City 5-0 on Monday.
Heading for Tallaght tonight, Bohs boss Devine has a four point lead and said: “There’s a lot to learn from the last time we played Rovers.
“To give away a goal in the 46th minute of the first-half was a big blow for us having dealt with the opening 25/30 minutes being on top and creating chances.
“That’s something as a new group we have to accept and realise that we’re going to have setbacks.
“But this is another game where we really want to go and perform to our highest levels. We want to win. We’ve played positively away in other games in difficult venues.
“This is another difficult venue, but we go into this game with our eyes wide open and it’s a game that means a lot to us as staff, players and fans.”
Devine vowed to bring the fight to the champions and added: “We certainly won’t be going there to sit back.
“We have to go there and try to attack, and be better defensively than what we were when we played them at home.
“We know the intensity we have to bring to this game and we know what it means to players, players’ families and supporters.
“We have got to bring our A game and we know if we can do that, we’ll do ourselves justice because we have players that can hurt any team.”
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