I actually feel that being in charge of the first team at the top of league 1 for the games he’s had (and done really well) will actually enhance his profile in player development.
He has real world ‘head coach / manager’ experience will add more gravitas to who he is as a coach when working with the current young lads / attracting more development players into the club.
I get the impression he's acting as one, yes. Rice's official title is "interim chairman" so I would imagine Lomtadze/Vyshnyakov are looking for someone to bring in above him.
Initial feeling is one of being very underwhelmed.
However am not surprised as fits the personality and style that the club are wanting to move forward with. Dodds will have almost zero control of transfers and matters outside of coaching the actual playing squad and selecting the team.
I will judge based on what I see on the pitch (style of play, tactics, spirit) and results.
38 years old. Never played football professionally. Started coaching at 18.
As a 36 year old who has never played professional football, but does have a sparkling record on Football Manager, I'm seriously questioning my career choices now.
Good luck to him. Great opportunity and I'm sure he'll have the full backing of the supporters.
I'd have preferred to keep SG in place until the season end but hey ho. Hopefully MD takes a pragmatic approach to the remainder of this season and focuses on results in these games, rather than trying to imprint too much of his own tactics and strategy mid season.
Personally think it makes sense to have a specialist player recruitment function and then a separate coaching team. Obviously communication between the two is critical.
Does anybody have any insight as to how the head coach structure works elsewhere? Does he have an assistant for example, or is it just a HC and a group of specialist coaches eg goalkeeping coach etc
I can’t imagine he will bring anybody with him but I do wonder if it means a change in role for anybody currently at the club? Sam Vokes Player / Assistant Coach? Or I wonder if he will join Sam in the academy coaching team.
I suspect he'll bring at least an assistant, possibly the guy who has been in charge with him before, it's fairly important he has someone trusted. I still remember Adams looking entirely lost alone in the dugout one pre-season.
Says something about adding to the staff in the statement and Blooms took a couple with him so there will be space.
Wish him well btw, not really a name on anyone's list but as others have said he seems to fit the profile and the vast majority of linked experienced names weren't much more inspiring.
He certainly gets until the end of the season to prove he's up to it. Oddly these days going up and facing better opposition each week can be more career limiting.
Unless we absolutely tank and fall right out of the play-offs, I think he's absolutely safe. Does sound like an appointment made with the club's longer term vision in mind.
Do those who are saying they wish SG was given the job actually know if he wanted it ..? I am optimistic about this appointment. Get us over the line, Mike!
My great nan was the cleaner at Sheffield Utd who are a bigger club than we are…. If she were still alive would that have qualified her to have your support to coach a team? Based on your comments then yes!
I have said I’ll judge by what we see and you can’t say fairer than that. I think majority of fans will feel a bit like I do.
Don't get the Bellingham reference as with the greatest of respect Bellingham would always have developed the way he has. He's arguably world class. He would have achieved that regardless.
Having said that, let's get behind him and get the job done!
Comments
I actually feel that being in charge of the first team at the top of league 1 for the games he’s had (and done really well) will actually enhance his profile in player development.
He has real world ‘head coach / manager’ experience will add more gravitas to who he is as a coach when working with the current young lads / attracting more development players into the club.
The same for O’Nein who they thought was a mistake and is now there captain in the championship.
I get the impression he's acting as one, yes. Rice's official title is "interim chairman" so I would imagine Lomtadze/Vyshnyakov are looking for someone to bring in above him.
Confirmed
https://www.wwfc.com/news/2025/february/02/mike-dodds-appointed-as-new-head-coach-of-wycombe-wanderers/
Welcome aboard .
Is he bald? All the top coaches these days are slap heads.
He looks a bit like Tom Cruise in that photo
Initial feeling is one of being very underwhelmed.
However am not surprised as fits the personality and style that the club are wanting to move forward with. Dodds will have almost zero control of transfers and matters outside of coaching the actual playing squad and selecting the team.
I will judge based on what I see on the pitch (style of play, tactics, spirit) and results.
Excellent news. We can now move forwards and focus on the promotion push. Welcome aboard Mike
You are underwhelmed by someone who developed one of the world's best players and has had jobs at clubs far larger than Wycombe. Have a day off.
He seems like a decent bloke and is well regarded, good appointment.
Was always going to be someone random we've never thought about.
I'm actually more excited by this. Feels like a strange fresh start
38 years old. Never played football professionally. Started coaching at 18.
As a 36 year old who has never played professional football, but does have a sparkling record on Football Manager, I'm seriously questioning my career choices now.
Good luck to him. Great opportunity and I'm sure he'll have the full backing of the supporters.
I'd have preferred to keep SG in place until the season end but hey ho. Hopefully MD takes a pragmatic approach to the remainder of this season and focuses on results in these games, rather than trying to imprint too much of his own tactics and strategy mid season.
Personally think it makes sense to have a specialist player recruitment function and then a separate coaching team. Obviously communication between the two is critical.
Hopefully he'll be so successful that we'll spend summer 2026 worrying about keeping him.
Does anybody have any insight as to how the head coach structure works elsewhere? Does he have an assistant for example, or is it just a HC and a group of specialist coaches eg goalkeeping coach etc
I can’t imagine he will bring anybody with him but I do wonder if it means a change in role for anybody currently at the club? Sam Vokes Player / Assistant Coach? Or I wonder if he will join Sam in the academy coaching team.
Ah just read the article, they are building his team in due course.
to be fair, he will have had zero media training, and bar his short interim stint, very little experience with press conferences.
as long as he inspires the players then I’m not fussed
Hopefully working with Sam and Sam will be his top priority.
Sam Grace might be relieved to go back to player development.
I suspect he'll bring at least an assistant, possibly the guy who has been in charge with him before, it's fairly important he has someone trusted. I still remember Adams looking entirely lost alone in the dugout one pre-season.
Says something about adding to the staff in the statement and Blooms took a couple with him so there will be space.
Wish him well btw, not really a name on anyone's list but as others have said he seems to fit the profile and the vast majority of linked experienced names weren't much more inspiring.
https://x.com/sunderlandafc/status/1886022013426508137?s=46&t=FdZ_Ff55Qm4Lu125Tm381g this tweet suggests that Sunderland fans are largely sad to see him go. Not too many negative comments. I think this will be a shrewd appointment. The question is, does he get the time he needs if we don’t manage to win promotion this season?
Hopefully this new managerial era means a new era for the Gasroom too...
He certainly gets until the end of the season to prove he's up to it. Oddly these days going up and facing better opposition each week can be more career limiting.
Unless we absolutely tank and fall right out of the play-offs, I think he's absolutely safe. Does sound like an appointment made with the club's longer term vision in mind.
Do those who are saying they wish SG was given the job actually know if he wanted it ..? I am optimistic about this appointment. Get us over the line, Mike!
Welcome to Wycombe Mike! Look forward to seeing what he can do.
My great nan was the cleaner at Sheffield Utd who are a bigger club than we are…. If she were still alive would that have qualified her to have your support to coach a team? Based on your comments then yes!
I have said I’ll judge by what we see and you can’t say fairer than that. I think majority of fans will feel a bit like I do.
Don't get the Bellingham reference as with the greatest of respect Bellingham would always have developed the way he has. He's arguably world class. He would have achieved that regardless.
Having said that, let's get behind him and get the job done!
Nothing arguable about it - he just is! But for all the natural ability, you've got to have the right person to foster that talent.
In what sense?