We have stepped up the contract renewals like never before. This undoubtedly was to show RDZ we are serious about our squad and their retention. Our stance over Caicedo was a massive show, even more so than buying anyone in the last window, apart from signing the next wonder kids that is!He said multiple times during the last weeks before the transfer window and the first couple of weeks in it that he wanted signings. Talk died off at the end, perhaps Paul Barber or someone told him to zip it as the manager screaming for signings is a rather big disadvantage in any negotiation you want to do with other clubs.
His words when departing Foggia like one week before their league start:
"With death in my heart this morning I was exonerated. For some time my relations with Ds Di Bari had been strained. In June, to convince me to stay, he made me a series of promises that were never kept. The figure of Colucci, strongly wanted by me, brought no improvement. I am aware that I have an edgy character, I know I do not have elegant manners at times, but I live for my work. For the past two years I have put Foggia before everything and everyone, family and career included. My fault is being demanding with myself with the players and with everyone who works with me, from the warehouse workers to the gardener. Even with sports directors I have reasoned in this way.
If I make a commitment I take responsibility and put my face to it.
This year was a year for me where nothing could go wrong. The non-renewal of Gigliotti, the failure to replace Iemmello and Di Chiara who have been out for some time, some negotiations broken off for futile reasons, or the lack of attention to the Amendola pitch, which has been abandoned since 11 June and will not be ready until November, are some of the reasons for my impatience. On the market, I asked the club to put together an important team. I opposed financial outlays that were out of all logic, but I always remembered that Foggia wanted to win this year and having declared that we were aiming for first place meant that there were burdens to be maintained towards the people.
Despite feeling all this as a serious problem I would never have allowed myself to ask 'It was either me or Di Bari' because I remember well that I was the one who gave me the opportunity to start coaching and neither did I ever set an out-out to force purchases of players.
I denounced this thought of mine in order to make a clean break with what was being done. For the good of all.
I am writing these lines because I do not want mud to be thrown at my person. I have renounced higher categories because I feel this team is a matter of skin and I am not regretful. I feel I am at peace with my conscience. I am a passionate instinctual so easily prone to making mistakes in manner and timing. But I am true, loyal, sincere and consistent. With everyone. From the strongest to the weakest.
I thank the Sannella brothers for what they have given me in these months. I am sorry that I have not been able to make myself well known.
Maybe I should have cultivated my relationship with them more and maybe they would have appreciated my professionalism and my human side.
I am convinced that I did everything in their interest sometimes forgetting my own interests.
I thank my players whom I will always carry in my heart. I am sorry to leave something I built. Day after day.
I thank the people of the Zaccheria. My stadium."
...also indicates that he wants money to be spent, very good players to be brought in, himself to have a big say in who comes and leaves.
Ultimately, I don't think it will be a problem. But it can't be ruled out. The club won't abandon its model just because a manager wants it to.