Notts County’s Ceaseless Quest

Whilst Nottingham Forest continue their own quest for Premier League survival today away at West Ham (good luck the Reds), Notts County resume their quiet revolution which is happening a short distance across the River Trent. The Meadow Lane club face Dagenham & Redbridge in a televised game in a late afternoon kick-off. Hopefully, it can be a three-point afternoon for both Nottingham clubs.

In the Magpies’ fourth season out of League football, the club is having an immense season. Currently topping the league above a strong and expensively constructed Wrexham side Notts have amassed 83 points with just 1 defeat in fully 34 games. Along the way, they have scored a terrific 88 goals and achieved a towering goal difference of 58 goals.

Many plaudits have naturally gone to top scorer, Macauley Langstaff and his incredible 32 goals at the time of writing. A bargain £50,000 acquisition from Gateshead along with his strike partner on Tyneside, the impressive Cedwyn Scott who has also contributed 14 goals so far, underlines one of the components of Notts’ great progress, the quality of their recruitment.

Controversial in some circles, the club’s significant use of data in choosing new additions to the squad has very much borne fruit in recent times, even down to the two recent acquisitions of Jodi Jones and John Bostock who look like players from at least two levels of football above in my humble opinion.

A comparative rookie manager in the relatively unknown Luke Williams has guided the players at his disposal well, fashioning them into an entertaining, attractive and effective unit, free-scoring and with evident great self-belief.

Notts find themselves in a tense neck and neck battle for the single automatic promotion spot with Wrexham and have done for some time. Each matchday builds more and more tension for the two clubs, neither barely daring to drop a point along the way. Each of those matchdays offers great football theatre and drama, with the two teams’ fans eagerly checking each other’s progress. In fact, it’s a great injustice that both these old clubs cannot achieve automatic promotion as they are so far ahead of their remaining rival clubs. Some have chosen to knock the Welsh side due to the heavy investment and publicity the club has received from its Hollywood star owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElenney but I’d personally like to see them back in the Football League once more and think they’re fully deserving of it, particularly their fans who have followed their team through some barren times in the Football Conference since season 2007-8.

Finally, a word of acknowledgement to Notts County’s excellent young owners, Danish brothers, Christoffer and Alexander Reedtz who have developed a comprehensive and intelligent blueprint in how to run the club. They eschew publicity but rather work hard and diligently on a daily basis in a hands-on style. Such a pleasure to see their modest and effective stewardship after the club was so badly mismanaged in the past. That mismanagement almost led to extinction with a winding-up order due in mere days, a transfer embargo barring them from forming a squad and non-payment of staff for some time. What a breath of fresh air they have been. They deserve much credit and the old club is fortunate in having them.

I’m sure there will be many twists and turns today and for the remainder of the season. Best wishes to the Magpies in their quest to return to the Football League.

Saturday’s The Day We Play The Game 7.12.19

A winter-sun December Saturday it is and it comes as a relief in case the atmosphere inside Meadow Lane this afternoon becomes decidedly frosty. I’ll be meandering through the city for Notts County’s 3pm kick-off versus Sutton United in the Vanerama League. Heady days.

The Magpies have been experiencing a fairly torrid time of late after an excellent run of nineteen games in which they lost only three. Things have slightly nose-dived since however with Notts drifting out into a mid-table berth. It’s all very disappointing for the team’s faithful and appears to be pointing very much towards another season of non-league football for the club unless there is an immediate and dramatic upturn in fortunes.

The city and its roads will no doubt be overcrowded today, exacerbated by Christmas shoppers, thousands of students and the (I have to say) pretty naff Christmas Fair in the Old Market Square, set to fleece visitors or their hard-earned.

Back in the heartland, Hibs take on the tough challenge of the Dandy Dons of Aberdeen. It would be good to think that Aberdeen will turn up with less of a cynical attitude than on various other visits in the past few seasons. Hibs manager, Jack Ross has the task of lifting the team after a disappointing road trip to Dingwall midweek with a 2-1 capitulation. Seeing Hibs yet again give up a lead is not edifying at the moment and questions are being asked.

These questions are invariably concerning the Hibs defence which is achieving sieve-like qualities recently. There is a major problem at Easter Road in this area of the team with several key players aging at the same time. Great and good servants such as David Gray, Lewis Stevenson, Paul Hanlon and a soon-returning Darren McGregor have for some time been needing replacements coming through but Porteous aside, there has been little by way of that. Anyhow, thinking of you, Hibees from my spot at a game here.

Saturday’s The Day We Play The Game 16.11.19

It’s international break weekend (boo) so just the one fixture under scrutiny today, Notts County v Barrow. I’ll meander along to Meadow Lane via a quick watering hole stop to witness any damage or otherwise. Two days ago it was looking like this might be a boat trip with part of Nottingham under water. Today presents two teams in fine form, the Magpies having lost only three in the past nineteen games and Barrow having won a tremendous nine out of ten previous away games It’s fair to say that it’s anyone’s game today and the team that comes out of the traps in the best fettle will prevail. Arguably rare at this level too, both teams are renowned for trying to play good football and a passing game so it should be a reasonable spectacle which always makes the afternoon more agreeable along with the Scotch Pie and Bovril.

(Image: Economist)

North of the border and Hibs, well it’s all been happening, apart from a blank football Saturday. New manager, Jack Ross, safely installed, we can only hope for a little stability returning to Easter Road after a slightly disastrous first part of the season. It’s almost been laughable seeing some of the comment about him before barely setting foot in Leith. I sometimes wonder what drives this kind of attitude of sky-high expectation, albeit the Hibs support certainly deserves a little bit more success over the piece one could argue. Safe to say, apart from Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klop, any candidate is going to get trashed by one section of Hibs fans or another. Good luck Jack Ross, I still believe Hibernian is a fine club, well run and with some potential. You’re going to need some good fortune though.

Saturday’s The Day We Play The Game 12.10.19

Autumn rolls relentlessly on and for me it’s another visit to Meadow Lane Stadium in Nottingham to watch Notts County v Torquay United. How the not-mighty have fallen as the representatives of the English Riviera make the long trip to civilisation, possibly populating a motorised scooter. The Magpies’ boss, Neal Ardley appeared in the local media the previous day answering fan questions and reaffirmed what a genuine, principled and real football man he is. Well done Neal.

Meanwhile, the team in black and white stripes continue their press towards the play-of positions and with a good and sizable squad look well placed to make a charge on promotion as the season wears on.

The cat will no doubt come to the end of the drive to wave me away on this brave quest of bus, tram and terrace warfare.

At the same time, my one true football love, Hibernian, kick-off at New Douglas Park as they take on Hamilton Academical in an unpredictable-looking fixture. There have been some more encouraging signs from the Hibees of late after a fairly terrible time this season so far with at least a little more grit being apparent in their play. However, the jury remains firmly out on manager Heckingbottom at the moment, if only for having a silly Yorkshire name. The grand old team still appear to be labouring under some mediocre close season recruitment Do what you’ve got to do Hibs and put a display on please for my pals in that faithful away support in deepest Lanarkshire.

Edit: Just to make sure you’re paying attention at the back, the Hibs game is next week.

A Notts County ‘Protest’

A Notts County ‘protest’. This is a football club that faces possible extinction in just four days time. A winding up order due to an HMRC debt of approximately £250,000 has been served and postponed twice in hearings. The coming Wednesday hearing could dictate prior administration or even possible liquidation on the day. No more football club.

The club’s Chairman and owner, Alan Hardy, has a litany of arrogant, reckless gambling on Notts’ future in order to feed his narcissism. His building interiors company is in receivership with 100 staff unceremoniously made redundant without payment due to money taken out of it to feed his football vanity project.

Nott’s County’s playing and non-playing staff remain unpaid after reassurances of meeting this commitment by the owner.
He has seemingly, continually lied about the future of the football club by issuing false promises. He has additionally, embarrassed himself, his family and the club by accidentally exposing his genitals on a Twitter post. A short while ago he manifested his lack of humility by complaining endlessly and finally appealing against yet another speeding conviction – driving at fully 77mph in a 40mph zone. Apparently, Mr Hardy is the ‘busiest man in the world’ and the laws of the land do not apply to him.

He has not denied negotiations with a consortium of possible new club owners who have at the helm a convicted fraudster with a changed name who shamefully embezzled money out of pensioners and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Hardy has presided over the Nottingham club’s demise in being relegated from the Football League after a long 157 year history. Currently the team find themselves without enough players to adequately cover requirements and using last year’s kit as Puma state they have not received payment for a new one from the club. Today the team also find themselves in their first friendly fixture of the season away at Nuneaton Borough FC, needing to drive their own transport to the game due to no money being available for a team coach.

The image shows the extent of Notts County’s fans’ action in response to the near-complete demise of their club –just thirty fans protesting outside the Meadow Lane stadium. (Apparently, it was raining). Plenty do care though care and it’s those faithful and persevering souls I feel sorry for.

One For Sorrow….

Notts County 0 – 1 Cambridge United

IN A SOMEWHAT turbulent week for Nottingham football partly due to the departure of Forest manager, Aitor Karanka on the opposite banks of the Trent, I took advantage of a giveaway offer of two pounds admission at Meadow Lane to watch Notts County entertain Cambridge United on this murky January afternoon.

If there is such a thing as a ‘six-pointer’ this game would undoubtedly have qualified as one. The Magpies rock-bottom and propping up the entire league and the Cambridge men only a couple of places above. Notts desperately needed to drag their opposition deeper into the dogfight but proved unable.

(Pic: Nottingham Post)

New signing, Jim O’Brien immediately slotted in well for the home team with the Scot giving an assured display in the middle of the park. At long last someone with the ability to put their foot on the ball and look for a pass. Someone with a little time and organisation to dictate play. A shame to say but few of his teammates took his lead. Allessandra might be excused with his neat touches but there were few other exceptions. The wholehearted Stead, a classy performer at higher levels of the game in previous seasons very much looked his 35 years all afternoon, winning few headers and generally being behind the pace of the game. Notts not only defended poorly but the rearguard continually launched the ball forwards nervously and aimlessly to no one in particular.

In general, Cambridge looked the superior team all over the park, more dangerous in the box and more efficiently guarding their own. A large crowd of over 15,000, apart from the Cambridge contingent who were in fine voice, showed signs of restlessness as Notts’ mistakes piled up Conceding deep into the first half saw the Nottingham men on the back foot for the second period with a mountain to now climb.

It may be recorded that despite throwing everything they could at Cambridge, the Magpies looked ineffective and not seriously looking like scoring through the second half. The crowd grew ugly in mood, especially so as they booed the players off the pitch at the close.

Beleaguered Manager, Neil Ardley

(Pic: Nottingham Post)

Some reflections: I felt for manager, Neil Ardley today who cut a bewildered figure in this technical area. A man of some considerable experience with now just one win in eight games since arriving. He must be seriously wondering how to get a result out of this side.

There is a despondency about the club and around the ground that is palpable. Many look resigned and almost beyond anger. I left the stadium wondering how on earth the club could pull this situation of likely relegation to non-league status around. The fact is I cannot envisage their safety. I feel that despondency for their supporters too. I truly don’t believe that they will avoid their fate. They do not have the talent, heart or ability to survive and they will deserve their fate because of this.

Today, for the first time I felt truly sorry for Notts County. For over 150 years the city of Nottingham has owned two league clubs in Notts and Forest. I largely grew up with that since early days here and it is part of the fabric and culture of this city.

Sadly, I fear for not too much longer.

Notts’ St Patrick’s Day Draw In Blizzard

SATURDAY 17TH MARCH, ST PATRICK’S DAY and a lunchtime visit to Meadow Lane Stadium to take in a local Nottinghamshire derby game between Notts County and their counterparts some fifteen miles north, Mansfield Town. Most definitely a ‘six-pointer’ with the Stags lying just two places behind Notts in third place in League Two.

Notts County V Mansfield 17th March 2018

A less familiar 1pm kick-off meaning a direct journey via bus and bus to the Meadows, just short of Trent Bridge and taking my seat with a friend only just in time two minutes before play proceeded. A strange kaleidoscope of weather on the way there through short, sharp blizzards of fine dry snow which failed to settle at this stage but made it almost impossible to see properly as I strode across Old Market Square with muted St Patrick’s Day celebrations ensuing. I felt a little sorry for the damp squib that this year’s revelling appeared to be. The previous day and with some slightly alarming warnings of poor weather conditions, the organisers had decided to abandon the usual exuberant celebrations with an outdoor stage in Slab Square when representatives from an Irish County are invited to lead the event and receive hospitalities with a background of traditional music and dance. What a great shame and I hope the Irish diaspora of the locality can once again enjoy festivities as usual gain next year. I’m pretty sure they made the best of things though.

St Patrick’s Day parade in a snowy Nottingham Old Market Square. (Image: Nottingham Post)

The game itself set off at furious pace is is the way of these games with a length of the pitch falling in the shade of the Derek Pavis Stand white over with thin powdery snow. Today was not to be a day for silky football skills but rather a war of attrition waged in sub-zero, quite appalling conditions at times. At regular intervals the blizzards re-emerged making it quite difficult to watch the game effectively as snow came breezing through under the high roof of the stand resting on the few thousand people within it. A quite bizarre scene at times and one I scarcely recall witnessing in thousands of games over many years in different stadiums.

With just a short journey for Mansfield’s following, a good 4,500 or so of their supporters inhabited the Jimmy Sirrel Stand and made their presence felt from prior to the whistle. A 12,500 attendance rated as a healthy one for a League Two game in such unpleasant conditions.

With prevailing weather conditions prohibiting more expansive play it was probably not surprising that the first goal was a somewhat scrappy one, Notts’ experienced veteran, Shola Ameobi rattling the crossbar with a header and the ball falling to the Magpies’ Hawkridge’s feet to bundle into the net.Play being fairly even, it was a significant marker for Notts in getting their noses in front.

Notts other experienced striker, John Stead played an influential part in the game in his promptings from up front, attempting to bring his teammates into the play. There were a few angry skirmishes as one might expect from such a tightly fought fixture with much at stake. Notts midfielder, Noble impressed at intervals with his commanding play while Mansfield’s Conrad Logan enjoyed a solid performance, the former Hibs hero solid in the Stags’ goal.

Wintry conditions at Meadow Lane. (Image Nottingham Post)

The game appeared to be blustering towards a merciful finish and a victory to the home side before referee Woolmer signalled for seven minutes of stoppage time. After a full 98 minutes, Alessandra of Notts handled just inside the area to concede a penalty to Mansfield which Kane Kemmings emphatically dispatched into the Notts County net. With little time left, honours ended even at 1-1.

I noticed that post-match, Magpies young Manager, Kevin Nolan was unhappy about the decision and the amount of time being added on, not for the first time recently him complaining about officials in his frustration. I hope he manages to address this as in this case, for me, it was nothing more nor less than a stonewall penalty as playbacks showed.

So thankfully, I filed out of Meadow Lane and towards the Meadows and the city centre beyond. One late piece of drama was on the bus itself with some confusion reigning and passengers trooping off the bus from the upper deck. We were finally told that a man was unwell upstairs and that emergency services had been summoned. I walked off to catch the appropriately named ‘Jimmy Sirrel and Jack Wheeler’ tram further towards the city whilst I read in retrospect that the unfortunate ‘casualty’ had to be ‘extracted’ from the upper deck by the fire services. I hope he’s alright, whoever he is.

The tram drew through a fairly dismal looking Old Market Square, the Irish boys and girls no doubt ensconced in Nottingham’s comfortable bars, and towards home and a warming hot drink and a welcome place by the fireside.

Notts County: ‘Digging tunnels’ again come the Springtime?

I had a seat in the Main Stand at Meadow Lane yesterday, as I’ve got into the habit of late, for the Notts County v Fleetwood game. With yet another fresh season upon us, those with an interest will recognise the sterling efforts of the boys of 2013-14 to keep the old club afloat in League Division One before what seemed like an impossible task at regular intervals came to pass, with the team and manager eventually doing themselves proud – with the club seemingly readying itself for what appeared inevitable relegation.

So it was with some optimism, notwithstanding the huge turnover of players at Meadow, that I alighted the Nottingham tram at Station Street and walked alongside the canal by a busy London Road on a pleasant, part-sunny August afternoon. Meeting my friends at the busy Trent Navigation pub on Meadow Lane, adjacent the ground, it was good to catch up after what seemed a very brief close season.

Pensive – Notts manager, Shaun Derry

It wasn’t an auspicious start for the Magpies however, the first home league game of the season ending in an insipid and dull 0-1 defeat. Notts, in my humble opinion, lost some very decent players over the course of the close season and whilst it was always going to be difficult to adequately replace one or two of them, I expected a little more fight, urgency and determination from a side put out there by Shaun Derry, a man who’s attitude and integrity I’ve come to respect.

For the opening home game and considering Notts’ terrific and successful fight against relegation last term, I was a tad surprised at many supporters’ criticism of Derry at this early point, both in the ground and online afterwards. For me, he’s done a very decent job so far with few resources. Shaun, being a former Notts player and brought up a gritty local lad appears to ‘get’ Notts and the club’s fans better than most I’ve observed. Probably in common with many others, I’d originally viewed him as another, slightly strange, left-field choice – or more likely a cheap option – but I’ve enjoyed the way he talks about Notts and more importantly, what he seems to instil into the players in black and white stripes.

‘The Great Escape’ of 2013-14

For the event itself, there is little I can impart that would make it sound like an exciting affair. Notts, though reasonably secure in defence, manifested a great lack of creativity in the middle of the field in particular and were fairly toothless up front too with Jimmy Spencer-replacement, Jake Cassidy having a somewhat lean afternoon. In truth it was extremely poor fare, particularly in the opening half with Notts seemingly unable to string more than a couple of passes together. The Magpies’ engine room huffed and puffed but showed a lack of energy, drive and in particular, subtlety which does not bode well for the coming winter. Notts missed their wide outlets of last season, appearing for a good deal of the game to play a more compressed style. It must be said that there were few, if any, highlights or eye-catching individual performances.

The typically bold, Derry substitutions of bringing on Balmy and Ismail in the second half brought about a short-lived improvement in the side and a little more life to the proceedings but ultimately, Fleetwood ran out with a deserved single goal victory which could hardly have been denied them. It’s early days with the season but an infant currently, first signs however, appear that the level of player brought in will see the Magpies endure another uncomfortable season. One hopes for better.

Without major improvements, sad to say, Notts County will be ‘digging tunnels’ once more when the season moves towards the sharp end…

 

As a footnote. I’d like to pay tribute to club stalwart of so many years, John Mounteney who passed away last week. His stewardship of the club will be remembered and appreciated by all. John was that most rare of individuals in the modern game, a gentleman and one-club man for many, many decades. Sincere condolences go to his family and friends, Rest in Peace, John.

Notts County: Jimmy Spencer

I’ve been spending a little time going to visit one of the local football teams recently with three visits to Meadow Lane in Nottingham to see Notts County. The Magpies have unfortunately been bottom dwellers in League One pretty well all season long and as I write are in the midst of a desperate fight against relegation with just two games to play.

In the intervening weeks since my initial visit down the ‘Lane’ Notts have appeared to grow in confidence a little and have picked up a series of hard-fought victories. I’m out of touch with the playing staff at Notts but one or two individuals have stood out with the likes of young ball-playing winger, Jack Grealish coming to mind. Most impressive for me however has been the 22 year-old striker, Jimmy Spencer who has been reasonably prolific of late and put in some fine and mature performances.

Jimmy Spencer

It’s clear to me that Spencer is playing significantly below his level in League One. He is strong, holds the ball up well and has an almost uncanny ability to lay the ball off to a teammate, even under extreme pressure. Not least, the tall striker has superior ball control with the ball at times appearing glued to his foot before another subtle layoff to a teammate. He is quite remarkable in this ability at times and manages to keep possession in some quite impossible-looking situations. As one might expect of a spearhead, his heading is top-class, accurate and when need be, powerful as well as being well-directed.

Jimmy spencer is probably one of the best target men I’ve seen operating outside the top flight of football in this country in many a year. Perhaps the only trait that lets him down a touch is a tendency for constantly complaining to the match officials, which in spite of the rough treatment he receives from defenders he would do well to eradicate or at least temper.

The next couple of weeks are pivotal for Notts County and whether Jimmy Spencer continues his career at in a black and white jersey. I do hope the Meadow Lane club can manage to hang on to his talents. They couldn’t do better in the circumstances.

Notts County’s FA Cup dreams lie shattered

Now, I really don’t ‘do’ match reports of football matches I’ve been to, in spite of writing about Hibs many times and to a slight degree the local teams in Nottingham. I like to catch up now and again though and keep up to date regarding what’s happening. I do really appreciate a live game too – never having caught up on  the ‘Sky generation’s’ appreciation of televised football. I like to be there – looking down on what’s really happening with the sights, sounds and smells first hand.

I visited Meadow Lane to see Notts County for  the first time in a couple of years this week after an aborted attempt at last week’s postponed fixture which was called off shortly before the game was scheduled to kick off. I met friends at Nottingham Midland Station and walked through the Meadows district – the original and traditional heartland of Notts’ support – now much changed since younger days of slum clearances, being taken to watch the Magpies.

On a cool December evening and with a sparse crowd in evidence, we took our seats in the Derek Pavis Stand (the ‘Main Stand’ of my youth) and witnessed the pre-game warm-up. Eventually the players strode out on to the slightly heavy pitch, my friend remarking that it could be ‘Arsenal v Newcastle United’ emerging from the tunnel, considering the two lower league teams’ colours and if you half-shut your eyes and dreamed a little. The remark took me back a good while to when I witnessed the mighty Arsenal playing in the FA Cup at Meadow Lane against the team in Black and White from north of the Trent. Although Notts generally acquitted themselves well against high-grade opposition in that era, that day the Arsenal were impressive even in the warm-up and you understood that they were adjacent to ‘as good as it gets’.

And so to modern-day rebuilt Meadow Lane and a little casual resume of happenings on the night. It has to be said that Notts 0 – 3 Rotherham hardly even tells the story of a game where the Magpies were never at the races – it could have been six or seven nil and I don’t exaggerate.

From the first whistle, Notts seemed to want to just play their neat football – without getting stuck in and winning the battles presented by a tenacious League Two side, all over the pitch. In around half an hour they were two down and reduced to ten men after a silly and unnecessary incident. After forty minutes or so it was game over and playing for pride time at 0-3. Debut goalkeeper, local boy, Mitchell, after a fine early save had a torrid and nervous time though was not helped by a sieve-like Notts rear-guard.

The thin crowd, no doubt hit by pre-Christmas finances and the lack of appeal of the Cup grew increasingly disgruntled and they could hardly be blamed for that. Notts were second to everything and totally outplayed by a Rotherham side who themselves were playing some neat football and slicing open the middle of the host’s defence time after time.

In the second half Notts’ ten men fought back manfully but couldn’t remotely create any openings. Meanwhile, the visitors went close on several occasions. Notts looked completely toothless up front with barely pass marks possibly only being afforded to Bishop and to a degree, Judge, in the middle of the park. Wide man, Rice showed some good footwork and fast feet but nevertheless, little output.

Manager, Curle presided over all this fairly dispassionately . It was interesting to hear the very mixed views from Notts fans about his abilities or otherwise – definitely a very mixed vote on the former Wimbledon player – despite County being only six points from the top of League One.

If last night was indicative of Notts County version 2012/13 then I feel they have a long way to travel and the coming months will see them slipping further down the division. Let’s hope it was something of a one-off because they were truly poor in practically every respect last evening.

Friends who I was with tell me they play some nice football at times and I can believe that. It just seemed like last night they weren’t interested in getting stuck in and asserting themselves, in order to earn the right to play their football afterwards. Rotherham by contrast were really up for it. Notts were stunned by the first couple of goals and realistically – with a man sent off – they were never likely to make a contest of it. After around thirty minutes the game was all but over as a spectacle.

Neil Bishop showed some authority, leadership and professionalism in the middle of the park but there were too many posted missing on the night. As former Notts centre-back Dean Yates said on the radio afterwards, Curle could have substituted ten of them.

I was quite impressed with Rotherham who played some very nice football allied to plenty of graft. Their striker Nardiello had a fine game as did a few others.

It seems a bit churlish as he has done pretty well but I’m still a little unconvinced about Notts manager Keith Curle. There was nothing he could have done with what was I’m told was practically a full-strength Notts side on Tuesday night though. As soon as the Magpies crossed that white line they were chasing shadows all evening long.

We hope for better for Notts.

Notts County – Graveyard of Managers

The news was announced this past weekend that the oldest league club in the world, Notts County have decided to part ways with their current manager, former Notts defender, Craig Short. Nothing too unusual about that you might suggest as yet another manager is unceremoniously sacked but by the local media’s reckoning this announcement means that the Magpies will shortly be announcing their sixth manager in just one year including caretaker bosses.

It was the mid-sixties when I attended my first game at the old Meadow Lane ground with a maternal uncle who, like others in his family, had watched Notts in their earlier fashionable days. As anyone with an inkling about Nottingham football history will inform you, the 1940s and 1950s saw the heady days of England centre-forward, the magnificent Tommy Lawton signing for the then Third Division (South) club for a fee of £20,000 which was sensational news that stunned the football world at the time. The England spearhead signed from Chelsea and came to preside over average crowds of around 35,000 at Meadow Lane. In those days Notts were arguably the glamour club in the city, scoring barrow loads of goals through Lawton himself, aided and abetted by an outstanding inside forward Jackie Sewell and other aces in a strong line-up.

A few short years later however and the writing was on the wall for County with, apart from the brighter news of a smattering of young stars who were sold off such as Jeff Astle and Tony Hateley, some generally very glum and depressing times indeed for the old club. It was in that dismal era with the club floundering amongst the dead men applying for re-election to the league’s old Fourth Division that I first heard the phrase used by my uncle ‘graveyard of managers’ for that is surely what Meadow Lane had become.

A little research tells me that in just over a decade leading up to 1968, Notts County had earned that tag by employing no less than eight different men at the helm. This era began with Lawton himself who lasted a miserable fifteen months and ended with former Forest hero, Billy Gray who managed just a year at the club. I think it’s fair to say that these statistics of the day were outstanding and for all the wrong reasons. Whilst maybe they would not be completely unusual in current win-at-all-costs modern football they were a damning set of figures at the time.

Glory days – Lawton scores his hundredth goal for Notts in front of another big crowd

To the present then and we can see that the more some things change, the more they stay the same as in a similar ten-year period the Magpies hot seat has been filled by no less than twelve managers, not counting caretakers. As previously mentioned, the local media is quoting six in just the last year including short-term appointments.

Craig Short, as far as I’m aware a reasonably popular signing due partly to his former popularity as an excellent central defender for the club has been shown the door after just five months and thirteen games in charge. Five of those games were won and at the time of the sacking Notts stood at a respectable sixteenth in their division. One has to ask, exactly what chance did Short have in that time of creating success at the old club? In furthering his case it has to be remembered that Notts are a newly-promoted side having gained access to League Two this season after a barn-storming finale to season 2009/10. They are now playing at a higher level and with many members of last season’s successful side needing replacement.

Short is very much a rookie, a tyro in football management terms with just a few months experience in an interesting looking former appointment at Hungarian side, Ferencvaros. He undoubtedly has much to learn but arguably showed signs that he was capable of doing so astutely and quickly. In any case, if he had been seen as too inexperienced to lead the Magpies just five months ago what has really changed in this time?

I’m a casual bystander in what happens in the Nottingham football world these days but I enjoy seeing both local teams excel. I have to say that when Ray Trew took over the ownership of the club a short while ago his common sense and financially prudent approach seemed to be exactly what Notts County needed after the ridiculous pie-in-the-sky Munto Finance days. His manner was straight talking and to the point and I liked the cut of his jib in sorting out what were worrying and quickly mounting problems at Meadow Lane. That’s partly why I am surprised and disappointed at the short-termism being shown here.

Notts County are not a big cheese in the world of football these days but I do believe in this case here they provide a very good example of one of the ills of the modern game. There is a lack of patience and tolerance shown to managers generally in what is at 95% of clubs an incredibly difficult job. These men get little leeway to bring to fruition the plans they formulate for the teams that employ them. It is a mathematic fact too that only the few can win things in any given season. There are a myriad of reasons why success comes to certain clubs, huge support and financial backing probably at the forefront but it is not unconnected that even at a peak level such as that seen at Manchester United and Arsenal some of the most successful clubs are those that stick by the man in charge of team affairs on a long-term basis. Former Notts County legend, Jimmy Sirrel a man I met and was fortunate enough to talk to at length one sunny afternoon and a manager who never once suffered the indignity of being sacked, I know would be the first to agree.

Notts County – Nott$watch: The Sad Incidence of Ian McParland’s Departure

Scanning the online news last evening I viewed with some dismay the sad story of Notts County’s Manager and former playing hero, Ian McParland.

I’m pretty well disposed towards ‘Charlie’, I watched him from the Meadow Lane terraces on many occasions when his hugely impressive goal-scoring output made him an enigmatic and revered figure to the black and white faithful. Those days brought him many plaudits in local football of the era – not least when Brian Clough attempted to sign him for the high-flying Nottingham Forest of the day. Notts County vetoed that career move for the man from East Lothian and it seems that history now repeats itself in the way they treat this man with the blood of the game running through his veins, as they unceremoniously dump him from the Meadow Lane managerial role.

I have to confess here, I’m a little angry about this decision. I follow Notts these days as merely a (slightly intrigued) observer but I feel a wrong has been done here. I also feel that Sven and/or whoever has made this crass decision may have misread the public’s attitude towards what they are attempting to achieve at Notts County and the methods they are employing in going about that.

Sven-Goran Eriksson signs for Notts County!

Staggering – that’s the only word!

I’m talking of course of the local football news story that former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has signed for the world’s oldest league club as Director of Football. Apparently Sven’s duties will include the overseeing of player development and training facilities at Meadow Lane. Other responsibilities will include looking after the youth academy, negotiating transfers for the club, scouting for new talent and the general health and fitness of the players. Joining him in dealing with these duties will be his long-time assistant Tord Grip.

It’s all become a reality due to the recent takeover of Notts County by Munto Finance, a Middle-East based consortium who have highly ambitious plans for the club which include a realistic establishing of Notts in the Championship within the next five seasons. This patience makes a refreshing change in these kinds of matters. Those close to Munto Finance, the ambitious consortium which took control last week with plans to establish the club in the Championship within five years, say Eriksson is in for the ‘long haul’.