Craig Harrison’s departure would have been unwanted but it was ultimately inevitable The New Saints would lose their manager at some point given the club’s continued success.
As the club surpassed their own standards cementing record-breaking wins and chasing ‘treble-trebles’, The New Saints will have had little choice but to accept that their manager’s stock was increasingly rising and his desire to test himself at the highest level possible would jepordise his future with the club.
The New Saints will have now had a few days to digest Craig Harrison’s decision to join Hartlepool United and the club’s hierarchy will have been anticipating this moment for some time – a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.
Harrison’s departure comes at what is quite possibly the worst time for Saints, who enter the most significant period of their season with their first Champions League qualifier four weeks away.
The squad are currently into the second week of their European training preparations after a brief end of season break and assistant manager Scott Ruscoe takes charge of the first team on an interim basis, alongside Steve Evans.
The pair have both made the transition from players to backroom staff at the club and you suspect the ideal scenario would have been for Ruscoe and Evans to take charge during the European campaign whilst the club considers its wider options.
This would have been the likely scenario if it were not for licencing criteria.
The most pressing issue given the timing of Harrison’s departure is that The New Saints are up against a July 25th deadline to appoint a successor.
Neither Scott Ruscoe or Steve Evans hold an UEFA Pro-Licence meaning neither can they can take charge of a team competing in European competition.
My understanding it that they can take charge temporarily but there is a 60-day deadline imposed on the Saints to appoint a permanent successor who satisfies UEFA’s licensing demands.
The Saints board are expected to meet this week to initially to contemplate potential candidates with a full appointment needed to be made by July 25th.
Harrison’s departure will also force decisions over the club’s summer recruitment plans.
Prior to leaving, I was led to believe Harrison had up to four new signings close to being finalised – the club must now decide whether to proceed with these targets and strengthen their squad ahead of their European campaign, or resist contracting any more players until a new long-term manager is sought.
Whether the club look for another up and coming manager (following the footsteps of Craig Harrison), looking to make his mark in management at a professional level, or attempt to attract a more established name to help them push on in Europe remains to be seen.
What is clear is that in the coming weeks, decisions made by the TNS board will be amongst the biggest made in the club’s recent history.
Featured image courtesy of The New Saints FC / Welsh Premier League.
