I'd make the point that football IS a special case simply because of the unusual power balance between senior staff and the shop floor. At many clubs, players are the top earners and know that a manager's or coach's position is far more precarious than theirs. Many (not all) are utterly...
I've seen the arrival of technical directors/directors of football unsettle and unseat managers before, but they seldom affect players or their performances.
I don't think Dan Ashworth made the players turn in that shocker against Bournemouth, or inspired them to a magnificent showing at...