Just enough is never enough

Last updated : 13 September 2010 By Luke Thornhill

Baraclough spoke to senior and youth players at the Iron before taking first-team training, after being appointed caretaker manager of the side on Sunday night.

"I spoke for a couple of minutes after the chairman had spoken, and outlined what I expect. Nothing great will change, I asked them to keep it going and give me everything," he said.

"The first thing I put on the board is 'just enough is not enough'. If players are just doing enough to get through a training session then I don't want them. I want players who are going to give me 100 per cent, if they give me that then I won't ask for any more.

"I've inherited a group of players that I was part of bringing to the club. I can trust every one of them to go and do a job. "

Steve Wharton, the Iron chairman, said that Baraclough is a player who he had considered a natural successor to Nigel Adkins for at least two years.

"I've had it in the back of my mind for at least two years that if this day arose Ian would agree to takeover. It wasn't a difficult decision for me, once Nigel had made up his mind that he was going to Southampton," he said.

"I was criticised for appointing Nigel, I was probably criticised more for appointing Andy [Crosby] and Ian. but over the past four years Andy and Ian haven't had the recognition they deserve, our strength was having a real united management team."

He also defending his club's approach to the exit of Adkins and Crosby, saying a quick solution was always unlikely. Thursday was a topsy-turvy day for all involved with the Iron, with it looking like Southampton had withdrawn their offer.

"People think that it should have been sorted easier or quicker, but these things aren't easy when you're dealing with people you don't know and other people are involved too," he added.

"I spoke to [BBC Radio Humberside's sports editor] Dave Burns in the morning and it was virtually done and dusted, only for Nigel to call me a few minutes later and say it was all off."