I watched a re-run of the infamous documentary "An Impossible Job" the other day. The film went behind the scenes with the England team as then-manager Graham Taylor tried in vain to lead England to World Cup 1994.
One part of that film was particularly relevant to Gills manager Mark Stimson. England had just lost to Norway in Oslo and Taylor decided to bring a fit-again Stuart Pearce back into the squad and make him captain. This meant Taylor had an awkward meeting with the captain at the time, David Platt, as he explained the decision. To his credit, Platty took it rather well.
At the time, Taylor explained that while it was always easy to give someone the captaincy, it's much harder to take it away from someone - and that's exactly the position Mark Stimson found himself in this week when he decided to strip Andrew Crofts of his captaincy and hand the armband, on a permanent basis, to fullback Barry Fuller.
I understand Crofts wasn't too happy about it, but to be brutally honest, he should be far more concerned about his form right now. Once considered the club's most promising player, Crofts has seen his form plateau, then nosedive, in recent seasons. Instead of being a strong player who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and boss it, Crofts all too often lets games pass him by. It hasn't gone unnoticed by the fans who have used the word 'anonymous' to describe Crofts' performances far too often in recent campaigns - and was rather cruelly, but accurately, dubbed Captain Invisible by one Gills fan online recently.
I wouldn't be surprised if Crofts, who has been linked with a move away from Priestfield for a while now, looks for pastures new after being stripped of the armband this week.
Some may view it as a controversial decision, but I actually think it's one of the better decisions made by Mark Stimson this season. Sadly his "big summer signing", Mark McCammon, has been a six-foot-five flop so far, with one goal and one red card the sum total of his contribution so far. I'm sure both manager and player would point out that McCammon is still not quite 100% match fit, which begs the question why is he treading water in the first team, while another player slightly off match fitness, Nicky Southall, was quickly loaned out to Dover Athletic. It smacks of one rule for one, one for another - and that can't be right, surely?
As for the new skipper, Barry Fuller was certainly a surprise choice, but I'm delighted for him. If you looked at our squad and highlighted those players whose effort and commitment to the cause were beyond doubt, Fuller's name would certainly be on that list. He has been criticised, unfairly in my view, by some of our fans, but I think he's been one of our better performers so far this season.
I think he'll make a good captain for us, and he'll certainly be a more vocal leader on the pitch than Crofts. I expect Fuller to shine in his new role.
As for Crofts, losing the armband will prove a real test for him. Will he knuckle down, get on with his game and rediscover his old form now his invincibility in the side has been removed? Or will he throw his toys out of the pram, hand in a transfer request and leave the club under a cloud?
Only time will tell.