Does 'backing' mean the need for a new deal?

Liam Lawrence had been a busy man on the media front in the last couple of days.

He has said, talking to The News on Monday, that he believes that given the right level of financial backing Steve Cotterill will prove very successful.

Lawro feels that with the backing from the top, which has not been there for him, he could be as good as anyone that he has worked with - comparing him to former Pompey boss Tony Pulis at Stoke, saying he could do as good as him given the backing Pulis has been given over the years: 'I don't think he has ever had the backing that other managers have had. Tony Pulis had a tremendous chairman behind him and great backing.

'He has ended up doing an unbelievable job. I am sure if the gaffer got the same backing off the owners he could be just as successful.'

Whilst I am not entirely sure what Cotterill will offer us I would agree that it would be interesting to see what he could do given 'some level' of financial backing?

For me lots of money is not needed, a little will help, but there are enough players out there that we could bring in for free, on loan and at reasonable amounts to build a solid squad that can compete.

Cotterill 'should', with the boards backing, be able to bring them in and then we see what he does with 'his' squad, where no excuses can be made because it is his squad...

Lawro also feels that a new 'long-term' contract is what Cotterill deserves: 'I think what needs doing is to tie down the manager to a longer contract and keep him at the club.

'I think he has done a magnificent job. Last year he was given peanuts and he delivered.

'We even had an outside chance of the play-offs at one point. I think the gaffer is as good as anyone I have worked with.'

Now, this is where I totally disagree...

Correct me if I am wrong, Cotterill still has 2-years left on his current contract and this is on a par with his coaching staff - if he has 2-years, and they have 2-years why do we need to be extending things just yet?

We need some continuity, and a real a sustained period of this, so keeping coaching/management structures in place - if in the best interests of PFC - are needed, as is 'trying' to retain a squad, once we have one, for a longer period than just one season but we can have this without the extension of Cotterill's contract for me.

For me backing the manager does not mean that he needs to be given a new long-term contract, lets see how we go in 2011/12 and if things work out well then we discuss a new contract and 'if' he wants to be part of things long-term he would sign this, if not he will not.

What we also have to look at is the 'compensation' side of things.

I am not saying that Cotterill will not prove successful next season, I cannot say he will be either at this point in time, but 'if' for some reason he proved not to be then an extended contract means an increased payoff to the manager!

CSI would surely be foolish to extend his contract too soon?

As I have said, and as the title does, for me 'backing the manager' does not mean that, at this point in time, he needs a new contract...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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