Three Is A Magic Number?

As Bristol Rovers appoint Stuart Campbell as their third manager of the season, Nobes looks at how other sides who went through as many bosses during a campaign fared.

Dave Penney has been shown the exit by Bristol Rovers after two months

When Dave Penney reflects on his managerial career, it will include a tale of two Rovers. At the first, Doncaster, he established his reputation as a promising young coach.

He led Donny back into the Football League in 2003 before taking them to the League Two title a year later. He then consolidated the Yorkshire side in the third tier.

At Bristol Rovers, however, he hardly had time to get his feet under the desk. The 46-year-old took charge of just 13 matches at the Memorial Stadium as he struggled to turn around the League One outfit's fortunes.

Just two wins and nine defeats - conceding 28 goals along the way - later and the Gas had shown him the door, handing senior player Stuart Campbell the job until the end of the term.

He began his reign with a 1-0 win at Tranmere in midweek, taking the West Country outfit to within a couple of points of safety.

Not that having three different managers during the campaign is an ideal scenario. It paints a picture of instability and panic, pinning blame on one man rather than looking at collective responsibility.

Rovers are banking on their latest switch making the difference though, but what do the history books tell us about sides going through three different bosses in just one season?


Exeter City 2002/3

He now drives a milk tanker around Devon but, at the start of the 2002/3 season, John Cornforth [pictured] was in charge at Exeter.

As boss at St James Park though, he failed to deliver, and was removed from his position at the start of October.

The Grecians, just three points above the drop zone, turned to rookie Neil McNab.

However, the Scot managed just three wins from 20 games and with City rock bottom at the beginning of March he was axed.

Former Preston boss Gary Peters was drafted in for the last 13 games to try and save the Grecians.

Result: Despite collecting 20 points under Peters, City ended up 23rd, just a single point off safety, and were relegated to the Conference.



Northampton Town 2002/3

Cobblers had only narrowly avoided the drop the previous year - when they had turned to Kevan Broadhurst to replace Kevin Wilson.

However, the boot was on the other foot a season later, when Broadhurst was given the push and in came former England international Terry Fenwick [pictured].

His reign lasted just seven games though - five losses and two draws - dumping Town to a point off the bottom of League One.

Chief Scout Martin Wilkinson then assumed control for the last 13 matches of the season.

Result: Wilkinson hardly fared any better. Cobblers finished bottom of the division, a full 11 points from safety.



Macclesfield Town 2003/4

Macc began the season under the stewardship of David Moss, but after a third of the campaign found themselves only out of the drop zone on goal difference.

In came club legend and assistant boss John Askey into the top job.

However, he struggled to lift the Cheshire side out of relegation danger.

With seven games of the season remaining, and the Silkmen three points adrift of safety, he was moved back down to assist veteran manager Brian Horton [pictured].

Result: Collecting 13 points from 21, the experienced hand of Horton ensured Macc beat the drop comfortably in the end.



Millwall 2005/6

The Lions had already got through one manager before pre season had even ended.

Steve Claridge was swiftly removed after 36 days over concerns about his managerial style and the club's prospects for the season.

Ex-Wolves boss Colin Lee was drafted in, but Millwall struggled towards the bottom.

When he left just before Christmas the club were bottom of the Championship and five points from safety.

His assistant, and former Lions player, David Tuttle [pictured] then took over the reins with more than half the season to keep them up.

Result: That worrying pre-season proved correct, with Millwall finishing the season second bottom, and relegated with two games of the season still to play.



Torquay United 2006/7

Only a late great escape had saved the Gulls from relegation to the Conference in the previous campaign.

It had been engineered by Ian Atkins, who led the side into the new season.

However, a bright start soon evaporated and he was given the boot by new owner Chris Roberts with United just outside the bottom two.

Roberts hired former Czech Republic international Lubos Kubik to take over, but his disastrous reign saw the Devonians collect just a single win from 12 matches.

By the time Keith Curle [pictured] took over in February, Torquay were rock bottom and five shy of safety.

Result: Curle guided the side to two wins from 15 as they crashed to a dismal relegation to the Conference.



Leicester City 2007/8

Milan Mandaric hailed the summer appointment of Martin Allen [pictured] at the Foxes - then parted company with him after just three games.

Next up was Gary Megson, but it was roles reversed when Megson walked out on the club after just 40 days to join Bolton.

Mandaric then turned to Plymouth's Ian Holloway to bring some much needed stability.

With more than 30 games of the campaign remaining he was charged with guiding the club up the league table.

Result: Only he didn't. The goal-shy Foxes were permanently staving off the drop until, on the final day, slipping into the bottom three and being relegated.



Bournemouth 2008/9

A ten point deduction had resulted in Kevin Bond's men being relegated to League Two in 2008.

They then had the daunting prospect of beginning the season on minus 18 points.

Failure to win in their first four games saw him axed and ex-Cherries striker Jimmy Quinn being brought in to win their fight against the drop.

By the end of 2008, although back in positive numbers, they still sat seven points adrift of third bottom with half of the season remaining.

Popular former player and Quinn's assistant Eddie Howe [pictured] was thrown into a baptism of fire to keep the Dorset side up.

Result: The rest is history. The 29-year-old rookie garnered 39 points in the second half of the campaign as Bournemouth comfortably stayed up in the end.



Queens Park Rangers 2009/10

The revolving door was in full spin at Loftus Road as Rangers kept up their extraordinary managerial turnover last term.

Jim Magilton [pictured] began the campaign, with the Rs picking up after a slow start to be in contention for the play offs.

An alleged dressing room bust up saw Magilton leave and Paul Hart in as his replacement.

Hart's reign lasted just four matches though before he resigned.

Caretaker Mick Harford presided over Rangers slumping into the bottom five and were just three points above the drop zone when Neil Warnock was appointed.

Result: The outspoken Yorkshireman quickly turned things around in West London, and QPR ended up in 13th - well clear of any relegation danger.



Peterborough United 2009/10

Posh had just won back-to-back promotions into the Championship under Darren Ferguson's management.

A poor start that saw them bottom after 16 games led to the Scot being fired.

He was followed by Kettering boss Mark Cooper, [pictured] plucked from the Non Leagues.

His nightmare tenure only produced one win from 12, and he was given the push in January.

Jim Gannon was the next in the hot seat but, despite a relatively productive spell, he turned down the chance to stay on at London Road.

Result: Gannon's final game saw Peterborough condemned to relegation and Gary Johnson took over for the last four matches of the season.



Notts County 2009/10

Big-spending County were everyone's tips for the League Two title last term.

An inconsistent start saw the club's ambitious owners axe Ian McParland with the club only in the play offs.

They brought in Swede Hans Backe, [pictured] a close friend of Director of Football Sven-Goran Eriksson.

However, after a similarly erratic tenure, he was gone by the time the club's ownership fell through and a new regime turned to Steve Cotterill.

Result: Cotterill picked up the pieces, got the best squad in the division to play to their maximum, and an incredible late run took them to the predicted title.


Sheffield United 2010/11

Like Rovers, United are onto their third manager of the campaign.

The early sacking of Kevin Blackwell [pictured] was then followed by a four-month spell at the helm by Gary Speed.

When he quit for Wales though, they turned to Port Vale boss and proud Sheffielder Micky Adams.

He has struggled to turn around the club's fortunes though, and they currently look likely to be relegated to League One.

The Gas will hope to not suffer a similar fate.

Like The Fox On The Run

With Leicester City surging into promotion contention in the Championship, Nobes looks at other clubs who have come up with a late run to win promotion.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's Leicester are the form side in the Championship

Sure, Steve Claridge may have predicted as much on the BBC's The Football League Show, but so did our very own Doctor Lakes last month - Leicester City are on the march.

In fact, since Sven-Goran Eriksson took charge at the Walkers, no Championship side has done better than the Foxes with the Swede collecting 43 points from his 22 games at the helm.

Now lying 7th and just five points off the top two, City, who were propping up the rest of the division in the first few weeks under Paulo Sousa, are firmly in the promotion mix.

After his team's recent 4-1 loss in the East Midlands, Barnsley boss Mark Robins declared Leicester the best side in the division - and current form backs his judgement.

Should they indeed gain entry back to the Premier League though, they won't be the first side to win promotion off the back of a storming second half season run.

Here's my look at how some of their potential predecessors managed to do it.


Birmingham City - 2001/2

Perennial top six candidates, Birmingham parted company with long-serving boss Trevor Francis in 2001.

They then made an enemy for life in Simon Jordan in poaching Crystal Palace boss Steve Bruce to turn around their fortunes.

However, with nine games of the season remaining, it appeared promotion in his first season at the helm would be beyond former Blues player Bruce.

Not so. A combination of a late run coupled with rivals Preston, Burnley, and Coventry wobbling saw City get back into contention.

Five wins and four draws from their remaining matches secured 5th place and a shot in the play-offs.

There they saw off Millwall over two legs. Then they recovered from a goal behind to defeat Norwich on penalties in the final at the Millennium Stadium and reach the Premier League for the first time in their history.



Wrexham - 2002/3

When the Red Dragons went down to a loss at struggling Exeter at the beginning of March they were still just three points off 3rd in a congested top half of League Two.

However, they were a mammoth 21 points behind league leaders Hartlepool with only 42 points left to play for.

They dropped just eight of those points though, winning ten and drawing four, to finish the season promoted in 3rd.

They ended up three points off top of the table Rushden, a single point behind Hartlepool, and with the largest goal difference in the league.

It earned boss Denis Smith the Manager of the Year award in the basement division. In truth, had the season gone of for a couple more weeks, Wrexham would have been crowned Champions.

Remember when this man used to have the Midas touch? No, seriously.

Crystal Palace - 2003/4

God bless Iain Dowie.

You don't hear those words very often, but the remarkable run his Crystal Palace team went on in 2004 has provided great comfort to many a Championship club and boss since.

Should their side be struggling at Christmas, you can guarantee - in an appeal for more time to turn things around - that they will mention the dramatic turnaround in fortunes Dowie engineered in South London.

True, the Eagles were in the relegation zone at the start of December, but soon surged up the table until, with ten games left, they were just five points shy of the top six.

In those last ten, they won seven and drew one to end up 6th, having only moved into the play off positions for the first time in the penultimate round of fixtures.

Once in the play offs they saw off Sunderland on penalties in the semi finals before earning a sweet victory over Capital rivals West Ham in the final to end the season promoted to the top flight.



Sunderland - 2006/7

It was a run which made Roy Keane a legend on Wearside and established managerial credentials gradually destroyed over 18 months as Ipswich manager.

Still, before we discovered Keane's scouting network was reserved simply for former players, Irishmen, or Manchester United youngsters, he seemed to have the Midas touch in 2007.

The Black Cats rounded off 2006 sitting in 12th after a 1-0 loss to Preston at the Stadium Of Light. They sat six points off the play offs and a massive 16 behind leaders Birmingham.

However, in their final 20 games, Keane's charges won 16 and drew 3 to oust Birmingham from the top after game 42 and stay there to secure the league title and promotion.

The original late run and Blackpool play off win came under Simon Grayson

Blackpool - 2006/7

If Ian Holloway guiding Blackpool to play off success last term was a surprise, their promotion in 2007 was every bit as unexpected, and owed much to a good late run.

The Seasiders had only just avoided relegation the previous season and seemed to be in for a year of mid table mediocrity in League One.

A loss to Millwall in the back end of the campaign left them 10th, a full 12 points off second place.

However, Simon Grayson's men then went on a storming run of 11 wins and two draws to end up in 3rd spot, just two points off promoted Bristol City.

In truth, there was only going to be one winner in the play offs that season. Blackpool swotted aside Oldham in the semi finals before putting surprise package Yeovil to the sword 2-0 in the final.



Bristol Rovers - 2006/7

Clearly 2007 was the year of late runs, with Bristol Rovers filling that particular role in the basement division to win promotion.

When the Gas suffered a 2-1 defeat at Boston, they sat 16th in League Two with only 11 games of the season remaining.

Nobody could have envisaged what was to happen next. Rovers discovered a run of form and won eight and drew two in the run-in.

It culminated in them finishing 6th and they saw off play off veterans Lincoln over two legs to make the final.

There a 3-1 win at Wembley over Shrewsbury secured them the most unlikeliest of promotions to the third tier.

Coming to a concert hall near you soon - Phil Brown on top of the world in 2008

Hull City - 2007/8

Remember when Phil Brown wasn't known for being that eccentric orange-skinned man who enjoys berating his players on the pitch and singing badly?

I know, it seems hard to believe now, but Brown was making a name for himself in East Yorkshire - first saving Hull from relegation from the Championship and then progressing them up the table.

When they lost to table topping Bristol City at the beginning of March, the Tigers sat 11 points off 3rd place with 12 games of the campaign left to play.

Eight of those games were won, and another drawn, as Brown guided City to 3rd place, just four points behind promoted Stoke.

They went into the play offs strong favourites and, after casting aside Watford over two legs, a 1-0 win over, appropriately, Bristol City secured them top flight status for the first time in the club's history.



Notts County - 2009/10

Now, you might be spotting a pattern here - as well as rejoicing that we have the play offs in English football. Late run of form, qualify for play offs, win them.

You're not wrong. However, in the case of Notts County they didn't leave their chances to the end of season lottery.

In truth, County had been the title favourites last season with an expensively assembled squad that nobody thought they could afford - and they were right. They were also right about them winning the league though.

Notts did it the hard way, however. Their third manager of the season, Steve Cotterill, took over at Meadow Lane with them 7th in the division, trailing leaders Rochdale by a full 14 points.

In Cotterill's 18 games in charge, the Magpies won 14 and drew three of them. Coupled with Dale imploding, they secured the title by a decisive ten point margin.



While 14 games may be too few for Sven's men to close the ten point gap separating them and Championship leaders QPR, current form suggests that just points, rather than any other sides, will separate the Foxes and the Rs come May.

You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me

Struggling at the wrong end of League One, Turls looks at the latest mess Notts County have got themselves in - and whether Paul Ince can drag them out of it.

Paul Ince is the latest manager through the revolving door at Notts County

I can't help but feel as if we have been here before. It seems I'm writing an article on Notts County every few months. You'd think I'd get fed up of it after a while but, truth be told, I'm falling madly in love with this shambles of a club.

In case you've been stuck in Siberia for the past 18 months, let's give you a recap of the situation at Meadow Lane.

In the summer of 2009, Notts County were continuing to stun everyone in football with their abysmal levels of mediocrity and increasing level of ridiculousness.

Despite this, Ian McParland was backed to take the club into a new era of mediocrity and underachievement. What most people didn't know was that Munto Finance was lurking round the corner.

Of course, back then, they weren't lurking. Instead, they were inviting Notts County into bed with them whilst waving a packet of El Grande condoms and a bottle of lube. How could they resist? They were offered the world.

Of course, when they rounded the corner, it turned out that the only thing that had changed were the club's owners. McParland was sacked in October - not long after Sven-Goran Eriksson had been appointed into the much-maligned role of Director of Football.

Who cared? McParland was a nobody, the Magpies were a club on the up and weren't going to be hampered by a man who insisted that finishing third and promotion would have been good enough. What a fool he was.

Fortunately, the decision was made to hire the impressively enthusiastic Hans Backe - a man who was Eriksson's assistant during his brief time at Manchester City.

Backe brought stability to a club that was in danger of only getting promoted via the runners-up slot or, even worse, the play offs. He signed a three-year deal and there was little doubt as to the direction the club was heading under his fine stewardship.

Shockingly, Backe left after only seven league games - having accumulated just nine points. He left under a cloud having indicated that he wasn't getting paid. I can understand his frustration - you can't expect to work alongside Lee Hughes without getting paid in some capacity.

So, with the second manager having left, Munto Finance decided to do one. Maybe they were fed up of having to learn a new manager's name every couple of months.

Maybe they were fed up of having a Swedish lothario make passes as their wives and girlfriends. Or maybe they were a bunch of shifty characters all along and just fancied a run-out with a football club.

Probably not the last one though, what with them having passed The FA's 'fit and proper persons test.'

No need to worry though - the club was bought by a man who promised to save them from oblivion. All it took was £1 - probably found down the back of the settee.

In came Steve Cotterill to save the day, and he did - winning the league in the process. Good work Steve. Problem was, he was off like a shot as soon as the job was done - what with him wanting to manage a bigger club on the up. He ended up at Portsmouth though.

Craig Short was in charge at Meadow Lane for just 13 matches this season

So, they entered the new season with another new manager - this time the onerous job was given to Craig Short.

In truth, this was a massive gamble. The guy had just left a managerial gig at Ferencvaros because he didn't have the right licence, so this was his first real role as a manager.

Notts were expected to stay in the league. Sure they didn't have the money of Munto, but they still had a few nifty players in the mix.

You'll notice I used the word "was" rather than "is" when referring to Short's time at the crease.

That's because he was sacked a few weeks ago - allowing him to spend the run-up to Christmas thinking about how to decorate the tree rather than how to organise his defence.

County are now in the bottom four of League One. Why? Because they have had two years of instability. It is honestly as simple as that.

The only time they have had a manager for a sustained period of time was when Cotterill was in charge. He got them promoted. Easily.

Paul Ince is in the hot seat now. He's had a mixed start to his managerial career, but his stock is on the slide so he could do with having a good season at Meadow Lane.

After working wonders at Macclesfield and MK Dons, he was massively out of his depth at Blackburn and struggled second time round at the Dons. Now is his chance to redeem himself by keeping the Magpies in League One.

He's got the players at his disposal, and I personally think he is a good manager who needs his find his feet again after getting his fingers burnt in the big league. Does that make sense?

Poor writing aside, County are at a point in their 'project' which needs to be addressed quickly. You can't keep changing managers every few months because they're not working wonders.

You need to give them a little bit of time to bed in and get the team player. Ince is capable of that. His time at Macclesfield, too, shows that he has the ability to drag County out of the danger zone.

Five managers in less than 18 months is the work of a club that is being ran by fools. It's a trigger happy club that will suffer if they continue to sack any manager that doesn't order the right bottle of wine for the club dinner.

Ince is their man 'til the end of the season - and he'll keep County up comfortably.

So I'll see you again in March when Ince is sacked for only winning five out of ten games.

Short back, and Fides

As Notts County appoint former captain Craig Short as their new boss, Nobes considers why clubs often put their faith in ex-players to fill their managerial vacancy.

New Notts boss Craig Short has been managing in Hungary with Ferencvaros

When football clubs look for a new manager they're often said to draw up a shortlist of candidates. In Notts County's case, a man named Short came out on top of theirs.

Craig Short to be precise, was a key figure for the East Midlands outfit for three seasons - helping them to win promotion to the top flight in 1991.

Now Notts chairman Ray Trew has turned to the 41-year-old to lead their first season back in League One following promotion last term.

It was telling that, in announcing the decision to appoint Short, Trew spoke of desire to find someone who had "Notts County in his heart."

Perhaps it was a line of thinking understandable after the departure of title-winning coach Steve Cotterill - who seemed to be openly inviting offers from other clubs to move on from Meadow Lane.

There should be no such problems of commitment with their new man though.

Working at a club where he enjoyed happy times as a player - as well as getting his first break in management in England - is a dream scenario for the new Magpies boss.

Short has already had his first taste of management - having spent the past season in charge of Hungarian team Ferencvaros.

However, while an Englishman serving his apprenticeship in Hungary might be an unorthodox story, the appointment of a former player as manager at a club is a common one in the game.

Indeed, it's not new territory for the Football League's oldest club - former striker Ian McParland spending three mostly underwhelming years at the helm before being dismissed last October.

They will hope Short's reign will be of greater success. However, it is striking that clubs persist with the notion that appointing a former player is often the best solution to fill the manager's chair.

One explanation why, as already touched upon, is the matter of loyalty. Cotterill's ambition was always going to make his time at Meadow Lane brief.

Short, with his emotional ties is, Notts hope, more likely to stay with the club should other offers arise.

It was part of the thinking of Burnley's appointment of Brian Laws last season after the betrayal, they felt, of Owen Coyle leaving them in the lurch in their Premier League relegation battle, and for neighbours Bolton.

They trust Laws, who began his career at Turf Moor, to show greater commitment to the Clarets cause and not run at the first sign of a better job.

A chairman also hopes that appointing someone who was popular with supporters will, in turn, gain him some popularity.

The club may also see an increase in interest through higher season ticket sales and bigger attendances to the manager's first few games - all important money-wise to clubs who need every penny.

They will also hope that fans are more willing to cut the manager some slack, give him time, and not be so quick to judge and put him under pressure should results not be so good at first.

Fans will also always respond more to a manager who they feel 'understands' their club - and who better than an ex-player? Someone who knows about the history and traditions of a club, someone who they can relate to.

It's particularly important in the case of a club with a tradition for playing the game a certain way - and whose fans demand it. The hope is that the returning hero will deliver it.

There is also the hope that an ex-player, particularly someone who enjoyed success with a club, will be able to inspire his new charges to do exactly the same thing.

Gary McAllister failed to emulate his success as a player at Leeds when manager

Someone who will show the same kind of passion in the dressing room at half time as the fans do on the terraces - because he knows what winning at this club feels like.

Indeed, with a list like that, you find yourself wondering why every club doesn't immediately look and see whether there's a suitable ex-player waiting to make a glorious return to their old stomping ground.

The harsh reality is that the although although the theory often sounds ideal, it doesn't always turn out that way.

Often the burden of pressure and expectation can be greater on an ex-player returning as manager. Fans will believe the great player can also be the great manager. It's not always the case.

Ask Leeds fans - who revelled in the appointment of Elland Road legend Gary McAllister to replace the unpopular Dennis Wise. The Scot had helped the club become English League Champions in 1992 - but couldn't match his playing success in the dugout.

They lost out to Doncaster in the League One play-off final in 2008 and a poor start to the following campaign saw him given the boot.

Their Yorkshire rivals Bradford City attempted something similar when they dropped into League Two three years ago. Back came Stuart McCall - captain during their Premier League days - to lead the charge back up the divisions.

Or so they thought. McCall eventually left earlier this year, after failing to get the Bantams challenging even for the play-offs in League Two in three successive seasons.

Of course, while there are tales of failure, there's also those of success. Roberto Martinez had never managed before he returned to Swansea, a club he had captained as a player, in 2007.

However, in his first full season he led the Welsh side to the League One title, then followed it up with a top half Championship finish the next. All of which was achieved playing the kind of football normally reserved for La Liga teams.

Ronnie Moore took Rotherham to successive promotions at the turn of the Millennium - a club he had enjoyed time at as a striker in the '80s.

Peter Jackson spent two successful terms as manager of Huddersfield - a club he had previously skippered. It's these kinds of success stories Short will be hoping to emulate at Notts County.

However, the danger remains that clubs can place too great an emphasis on sentiment when they make managerial appointments. Playing connections with a club are all very well, but is it the most important factor?

For instance, would Brian Laws, a man who had been sacked for leading Sheffield Wednesday into a relegation fight in the Championship, have even been a candidate for the Burnley job had he not played for them?

If the answer is 'no', then why was he appointed? A question supporters of the Lancashire club were no doubt asking as they slipped to a painful relegation back to the Championship.

Does understanding a club's ethos really matter for a new manager then? Does he need to have emotional connections, or just be good at managing a football team?

The answer: both, ideally. Maybe the best example is that of Cheltenham last season. After a torrid spell under Martin Allen, the Gloucestershire outfit were looking for a new manager and turned to Kidderminster Harriers's Mark Yates.

As a player, the 40-year-old had played for Kiddy in the Conference and won promotion to the Football League with the Robins.

His progress at Aggborough had impressed those at Cheltenham and he was a natural choice to help the club's fight against the drop.

It was a fight they successfully won - as well as an appointment that united supporters split by Allen's regime. It is the kind of victorious combination on both the pitch and the terraces which other clubs dearly desire.

As football is an emotive game therefore, then it is arguably the appointment made with both the head and the heart which is the best solution. Perhaps that's the long, and the short, of it.

Brief Encounter

As Steve Cotterill leaves League Two Champions Notts County, Nobes looks back on his time at Meadow Lane and why it's come to this.

Steve Cotterill won 14 of his 18 games during three months in charge of Notts County

At the start of the season, Turls compared the takeover at Notts County to a relationship. The brief reign of Steve Cotterill as County boss can be viewed in a similar context.

The 45-year-old's departure from Meadow Lane came after he failed to sign a contract extension to his short term deal.

It's unclear exactly why Cotterill was unwilling to extend his Magpies tenure.

He rejected overtures from Coventry last week, although he is now being linked with Portsmouth - newly relegated from the Premier League.

He had always been reluctant to be too emphatic on his Notts future though. Quite understandably too - the East Midlands outfit have been on a financial rollercoaster since their now infamous takeover last summer.

That fell through, leaving Sven Goran-Eriksson and their Premier League dream in tatters. They couldn't even be sure of League One football next term. Enter Cotterill.

His professionalism and ability to forge a winning mentality amongst the County squad propelled the team on an extraordinary end of season run - taking them to the League Two title.

However, he was always unsure of just what the future held for Notts under new owner, Ray Trew. Could they provide assurances about holding onto key players? Could they guarantee he'd have funds to strengthen and push the former top flight club on further?

It's fair to say that he was keeping his options open. This relationship certainly wasn't exclusive as he seemed to openly flirt with other clubs. Coventry clearly didn't take his fancy, perhaps Pompey will.

However, both Notts and Cotterill can look back on their few months together as a mutually beneficial coming-together. The club had been floundering in League Two and flagging in the promotion race after a succession of under-performing managers.

For the man too, the chance to take over at County gave him a route back into the game after more than two years out. The former Stoke boss had almost been a forgotten figure since departing Burnley in November 2007.

That was despite a record at Cheltenham - taking them from the depths of Non League to the third tier that proved he knew how to manage in the lower leagues

A solid performance at Turf Moor further illustrated someone who could work on a tight budget and keep a club in the Championship.

As any manager will tell you, too, the longer you spend out of football - the harder it is to then get back in. You are forgotten, your achievements consigned to the history books. You suddenly find yourself yesterday's man.

If you are lucky enough to get another job, you can suddenly find that things have moved on quickly. Cotterill has used his break back in to great effect though.

The chance to take over the best, but underperforming, squad in League Two and take them to a promotion most expected back in August, was too good an opportunity to turn down.

Now County can look forward to life back in the third tier after a six year absence. Cotterill, too, is suddenly flavour of the month - seemingly with his pick of clubs.

Notts chairman Ray Trew must find a new manager for their return to League One

In the end though, this relationship ended, as many do, because neither party trusted one another.

Cotterill didn't trust Notts to provide him with the backing he felt he needed. The club didn't feel their manager was loyal enough and couldn't be kept waiting.

For County they must try and find someone who will ease the transition up from League Two and ensure last year's hard-won promotion isn't thrown away.

There will surely be four teams worse than Notts in next season's League One, but they can't afford a poor appointment.

They were expected to run away with the basement division this term, but it was only when they found the right guidance that their expensively assembled squad began to fulfil its potential.

It is true that the club couldn't allow Cotterill to simply treat them as a 'last resort' if he didn't receive a more attractive offer. However, he will be a very difficult man to replace.

On the face of it then, it is the manager who has come out of this union the better. He will have another chance to manage in the Championship - although he will be up against it if Fratton Park is his destination.

Portsmouth are a sinking ship and in financial peril. The loyalty and backing of their fans cannot be questioned - but they have also been notorious for chopping and changing managers with regularity.

Cotterill cannot be certain of being given a prolonged spell to get things right.

Trips to Scunthorpe and Doncaster will still sting hard to a club that has been in the Premier League for seven years and appeared in the FA Cup final in two of the last three seasons.

Some might suggest that just a brief period to prove himself would be ironic. Cotterill's departure from Notts has led further credence to the thought that, for him, the chance to further his career comes above any club loyalty.

When he took Cheltenham up to League One in 2002, he left to take on the Stoke job in the Championship. Just a few months later, he answered the call to be Howard Wilkinson's assistant at Premier League Sunderland.

Now he has left the club who gave him a route back into football to, in all likelihood, make the jump to the second tier.

Perhaps it is the kind of 'striking when the iron is hot' mentality that is understandable from a man who spent so long out of the game. How often will a chance like this present itself?

However, in an era when managers are always quick to fire a broadside at club chairmen for not giving them enough time, they too could show a greater degree of loyalty and stick with a club.

If not, managers like Cotterill are in danger of creating a reputation for themselves, and no club will wish to hire a manager who could up sticks a few months later - however good he is.

Only through both manager and chairman creating an atmosphere of mutual trust can a football club function properly. Let that be the lesson in love from this particular brief encounter.

Magpies steal the title

Turls gives credit to Notts County manager Steve Cotterill, after the Magpies secure the League Two title.

A great late run has seen Steve Cotterill's side take the League Two title

Notts County have been the starting point for many a conversation here at Soccer AM/MW Towers. At the start of the season, we wrote about how the Munto Finance and Notts County relationship would never last and how it was bound to end up with the Meadow Lane club in tears.

Obviously, we thought we were talking about the future but no-one expected the future to be a few months. When new broke in February that Munto Finance were fed up with the Nottingham Magpies, everyone was a little surprised that it ended so quickly.

The sordid affair wasn't over as Sven-Goran Eriksson and pals quickly thought about buying the club themselves. It got a little confusing and a little messy, and eventually the Swede packed up his bags and moved on.

Notts County fans didn't have a clue where to turn next. One minute they were dreaming of the Premier League, now they were having sleepless nights as they worried over the future of their club.

Fortunately for them, the Notts County bigwigs decided enough was enough with gimmicks and nonsense and they duly appointed Steve Cotterill as manager. This was by far the greatest thing to have happened to Notta County in a long time.

Forget the time when they thought they were going to be in the top flight in a few years time. Cotterill's appointment was a masterstroke.

Cotterill has been in charge since February and, in this instance, the stats don't lie. The Magpies have lost just one game under their new manager and he guided them to the League Two title having beaten Darlington on Tuesday night.

It's bizarre that as soon as Munto Finance left, County started looking like they were far too good for this division.

So, why has the new gaffer been so successful? Probably because he is a quality manager at this level, but also because he didn't have to worry about the same things that Ian McParland had to during his 'disastrous' reign.

He is certainly more deserving of a managerial positions higher up the leagues, but sometimes you have to go down to go back up again.

Kasper Schmeichel has been a key to County's success - but will be leaving this summer

Let's not kid ourselves though, Cotterill inherited an impressive unit. Kasper Schmeichel in goal, Lee Hughes up top? These are players who should be in the Championship, not League Two.

Notts County have had the best squad in the division, and that is ultimately why they have won the league. McParland was doing a good job until the board thought that County should have had 37 points from a possible 36.

Cotterill's real test will come next season - provided he is still there. League One is a tough place to survive - Wycombe and Stockport will testify to that.

Cotterill will know that he has the playing squad and credentials to keep the team in League without too much difficultly though.

The pressure won't come from the opponents, but a majority of fans who still live the Munto Finance dream. Fortunately, these fans are idiots and should be ignored.

There are still financial worries looming over Meadow Lane and next season's playing squad will probably be a lot different to this year's. Expect Schmeichel to leave in the summer and Hughes would probably follow.

Cotterill will be hoping that he keeps the majority of his squad so he can mount a decent campaign next season. They may not have the Munto millions but they have a quality manager and strong squad.

It's been a rollercoaster season and they will be delighted that they have won the league. They should stay up next season but, after the last 12 months, I don't think many Notts fans can predict what will happen next.

They do know that, as long as Cotterill in charge, it won't matter - much.

Big Match Review - Notts County 2 Bournemouth 2

League Two

Notts County 2-2 Bournemouth

Monday March 15, Meadow Lane, (Att: 6,120)

Jeff Goulding scored a goal deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for Bournemouth in their top of the table clash at Meadow Lane.

The home side, off the back of four wins, took the lead midway through the first half.

Top scorer Lee Hughes saw his penalty saved by Cherries keeper Shwan Jalal but followed up to head home the rebound.

Eddie Howe's visitors got back on level terms early on in the second period. Brett Pitman curling home an excellent free kick for the first goal Notts had conceded in five games.

The Magpies were back in front just four minutes later though. Hughes doubling his tally for the night with a header from Ben Davies's centre.

However, as the game moved into stoppage time the home side sat back and were punished as Goulding crashed a volley past Kasper Schmeichel from inside the area.

The point keeps Bournemouth in 2nd, while Steve Cotterill's side join them in League Two's automatic promotion places.

Big Match Preview

League Two

Notts County vs. Bournemouth

Monday March 15, 19:45, Meadow Lane

It's an important six pointer in League Two on Monday evening as Notts County and Bournemouth meet in a top of the table clash.

The Magpies sit in 4th, just two places and three points behind the South Coast club so the result at Meadow Lane could be crucial in determining the race for League One.

For Notts, it's a game they come into bang in form as new manager Steve Cotterill begins to make his mark in the East Midlands.

It's been a rollercoaster of a season for County, whose Sven-fuelled dreams of the Premier League have now been replaced by a fight for survival off the pitch.

Fortunately, results on the pitch have shown the kind of promise most fans had hoped for back in pre-season.

Cotterill's men have won their last four matches including a 3-0 win at Accrington and a 5-0 thumping of Hereford, and are yet to concede a goal under their new boss.

With 24-goal man Lee Hughes up front and Kasper Schmeichel in goal protected by the division's tightest defence, Notts are looking in good shape for the promotion run-in.

Their record at Meadow Lane is particularly impressive too, with just one defeat suffered and 10 goals conceded on home soil.

New boss Steve Cotterill has had an immediate impact at Notts County

It makes the task for Eddie Howe's visitors all the more difficult as they seek to make the long trip home with something to show for their efforts.

The fact the Cherries are even challenging for promotion this season is testament to their manager's work.

The Dorset outfit have been operating under a transfer embargo and have often been unable to fill their substitute's bench.

However, despite their problems they have managed to maintain their charge for League One.

Defeat in their last two away games though suggests a weakness that could prevent them from finishing in the top three.

Bournemouth's top scorer and biggest goal threat is Brett Pitman, whose 17 league goals have been the catalyst for their promotion assault.

Howe, the youngest manager in the Football League, has built a side that includes experienced campaigners like Steve Fletcher and Sammy Igoe as well as youthful talent like midfielder Danny Hollands.

They will have to be on top form to get something from their trip to Nottingham though. The home side are on top form, as often happens when a new manager takes over.

Their solidity at the back combined with a clinical nature in front of goal makes County strong favourites, and it's difficult to see Bournemouth stopping their fine run of form.

Nobes' Prediction: Notts County 2 Bournemouth 0

Notts dream never rang Trew

As the Notts County dream lies in ruins, in his own inimitable style, Turls reviews what went wrong at Meadow Lane.

They dreamed of glory. They dreamed of the Premier League. They even dared to dream of a place among the elite clubs in Europe.

This was their moment, their time. The fans sang songs of joy and danced to the tune of future success.

So why are Notts County now talking about how their new owner will ensure the clubs survival?

Peter Trembling, the former chief executive and then former chairman of the club, confirmed that he had sold County for £1 to Ray Trew.

That's it?! This is the same club who were reported to be worth £12 gazillion and now they've been sold for the same price as a burger from McDonalds!

Trew, the former Lincoln City chairman, has released a statement saying that his vision is long-term and his first job is to ensure the club continues to exist.

Sounds like a completely different statement to the ones made by Munto Finance at the beginning of the season.

In the summer of 2009, the Magpies were at the centre of one of the most exciting football stories of the century, as Munto Finance bought the club and promised big spending and the "achievable dream" of Premier League football.

They brought in Sven-Goran Eriksson as director of football and they would later sign Sol Campbell - although we know how that turned out.

The pauper club of the East Midlands had found its sugar daddy, and the fans were dreaming of usurping Forest as the biggest team in the city.

Six months down the line and Eriksson has gone, Campbell has gone, and Munto Finance have gone. So what went wrong?

The team didn't get off to the start everyone expected. Everyone thought County would run away with the league and, although these expectations were unreasonable, no-one cared.

The club didn't pick up the desired 36 points from 12 games. They didn't routinely beat every single team in the league and they didn't look like a top-flight club in waiting. So they sacked the manager.

This was expected. No-one expected Ian McParland to last and he didn't, so no harm was done. The problem was the seeds of doubt had been sown. Munto Finance were questioning their decision to ever get in bed with Notts County.

Trembling, McParland, and Eriksson - back when the future was bright

We all knew this day would come. It was inevitable that at some point, the ridiculously wealthy owners would pull out of the operation and leave Notts County in an ocean without arms - worse than being up the creek without a paddle.

However, not a single one of us predicted that it would end before the season was over.

Although the club didn't spend huge money, they were spending beyond their means and when Munto Finance did leave, it was always going to be a worry. Despite Trembling forming a consortium of sorts to buy the club, the dream was over.

I feel sorry for Notts County fans because they all believed the dream that Munto Finance were promoting. They bought every last drop of rubbish that spieled from their mouths.

Can you blame them? Here was a group of men who promised them the world and more importantly, to knock Forest off the Nottingham top-spot.

Earlier in the season, I likened running a club to a relationship. Magpies fans dreamed of a long and happy marriage to Munto Finance.

They wanted the big fancy wedding and the honeymoon. They wanted to nestle down together and watch Take Me Out on Saturday night.

However, Munto Finance didn't want to settle and, after getting a little bit of sex and a few cuddles, they decided it would be cheaper and more exciting to sleep with a bedroom full of hookers instead.

Here's hoping Munto Finance wake up tied to the bed, stripped of all their clothes and money, sporting a massive hangover, and an unsavoury STI - because that's what they did to Notts County.

Fan Files: Notts County

Here at Soccer AM/MW we're keeping in tune with what's really going on across the football pyramid this season by speaking to the people who really know - the fans.

For the latest in our series of interviews we focus on the League Two club everybody's been talking about - Notts County.

It's been a remarkable 2009 for the League's oldest club with a summer takeover by rich Middle Eastern consortium, the appointment of former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson as Director of Football, and the outlining of a vision to be playing Premier League football.

Keith Sheriston has been supporting the Magpies for 40 years and has seen many ups and downs over the years.

He rates promotion to the old First Division in 1991 as the highlight of his time following the team. The last five years struggling at the wrong end of the basement division have, unsurprisingly, been the nadir though.

So Keith, it's been quite a few lean years for the club of late - this is just what you needed wasn't it?

Yes, even if it goes belly up we were never going to go anywhere without this, so let's ride with it and enjoy it while it lasts!

Are you aware of, or have encountered, any hostility towards County from other League Two fans since your cash injection?

Forest fans seem to be waking up and having a go - which didn't tend to happen in the recent past as I think they just felt sorry for dear old Notts.

Now there is a bit of an under current though - a bit like Manchester City to Manchester United now, but not so grand.

As for other League Two clubs, the game to win is now against Notts so it's like playing 46 cup ties a season!

What about the events surrounding the departure of Ian McParland as manager. Was he given the resources to get you promotion but not the time, or did the money just put him under even greater pressure?

McParland was a good manager, but not a good ambassador for the club - which is why he lost his job.

The team we have now is still his and the new manager - Hans Backe - does not see the need for wholesale changes, so on a playing front he must have got it just about right.

New Notts boss Hans Backe is an old friend of Sven-Goran Eriksson

So, if the team's right, is promotion this season a foregone conclusion then? Surely anything less would have to be considered a failure?

Promotion now is the only option and is looking increasingly likely. I agree though, anything less than a top three finish would be a failure.

Has the money been spent well so far? Have you got the players who will get you promoted, or just names?

The blend of players is just about right. The signing of Sol Campbell was a bit of a joke and it backfired big-time, so hopefully they have learned their lesson.

They need to buy quality players capable of coping with the next 'higher' division. That is, League One or even Championship players - but not Premier League at this level. Although the situation with Kasper Schmeichel is different to out-field.

Is there any part of you which wishes you hadn't been taken over and you didn't have all this money to spend?

I wonder what will happen when the investors leave. I can see Notts dropping back down again - assuming we get up there in the first place!

Any club is only as big as the support it gets and unless you get 40,000+ gates it's difficult to compete at the top level unless financed, as at present.

Meadow Lane - a ground fit for the Premier League, but will Notts ever get there?

Is the Premier League dream realistic for County or not then? If so, how long do you think it will be before we see Notts in the top flight?

Anything is possible. Notts were there only 17 years ago.

Look at Burnley and Hull - both avoided dropping out of the Football League by a whisker - the latter no longer than ten years ago. Wolves were also in the basement division in the past.

Five years is certainly possible, as once you start winning the momentum builds and if they have the right manager who buys wisely, yeah, for sure.

And finally, what's the best thing about being a Notts County fan?

[Aimed at Turls] Never having lost to Coalville Town!

Keith, thanks for speaking to Soccer AM/MW.

Notts a Clue

So Ian McParland has been sacked by Notts County. I'm actually very surprised by this decision. Not because it is a shock that he has been let go so early in the season.

No, I'm shocked because I thought the new owners of Britain's oldest Football League club, Munto Finance, would sack the unfortunate soul as soon as the club dropped points.

Maybe they wanted to prove a point and didn't want to be seen a merciless idiots who don't know the first thing about running a football club?

Maybe they flipped a coin and decided his time was up? Or maybe they just got bored with his face?

Whatever the reasoning was, I don't think anyone is surprised by the decision.

McParland found himself between a rock and a hard place when the Middle East Midlands revolution took place. He was still deemed to be the manager of the club but he had the mighty Sven-Goran Eriksson overseeing everything he did.

Although McParland did try to convince himself that every decision was his own, it was clear to see that he was operating within the boundaries that had been established by his superiors.

The difficulty didn't end there though. The gaffer found himself in a lose-lose situation.

If Notts County had a good season and steam-rollered the league - which a lot of so-called "pundits" expected them to do - then the success would rest on the perfectly groomed head of Sven.

And if the club struggled to achieve what was expected of them then the blame would lay at the feet of Ian McParland.

Now, admittedly, Notts County have had an abysmal start to the season. 21 points from 12 games is a shocking return for a club who have spent trillions of pounds on players.

What's that? They're fifth and only four points off the top? And they haven't spelt trillions of pounds on players? So why has he been sacked?

Now I can understand that many people would expect the Magpies to finish top this year, and they may still do so, but you have to realise that this is a club who have enjoyed mid-table obscurity for the past few seasons and have never really looked like mounting a serious promtion push.

McParland (left) was always uncomfortable with the new County regime

The money spent and the players brought in have turned the club into promotion candidates, but that's it. They haven't turned into League Two's greatest team overnight and they were never going to walk away with the league.

The ridiculous media coverage has everyone believing that they are equal to Chelsea and Manchester City and should win every game from now until they get promoted to the Premier League.

So who are they going to bring in to take charge of the club? Sven has already said that he will remain in his position as Overlord of All Things Football and will not become the manager.

This means that Munto Finance are going to have to do a bit of research and find someone who is suitable for the role. Someone who has a good track record and has knowledge of the lower leagues.

The papers seem to have put this together and come up with the name of David Platt.... wait, that can't be right can it? This is the same David Platt who almost destroyed Notts County's city rivals Nottingham Forest?

At the beginning of the season, I said that this Middle East Midlands revolution would eventually end in tears.

I didn't know how long it would be before Magpies fans would be reaching for the Kleenex but if things continue to progress at the current rate, then I'd recommend sending one of their company representatives to the city in the next few months.

McParland was never a popular figure with the Munto Finance crew but he was doing a decent job and would have probably got the club promoted.

Now the board need to find a new manager and I for one am fearful that they will look for a big name who has no clue how to manage in a division such as League Two.

Turls.

A Lost Sol

Sol Campbell, it appears, didn't enjoy being beside the seaside this weekend. His long-awaited Notts County debut ended in a 2-1 loss to Morecambe, with both goals for the home side being conceded via set-pieces.

Now, less than a month after joining the League Two club on a five-year deal and declaring his ambition of reaching the Premier League with them, Campbell has left by mutual consent.

Defeat at Christie Park saw County slip out of the top-seven, piling more pressure on manager Ian McParland. And in the Lancashire resort famous for its quicksands, the former England international defender seems to have had that sinking feeling too.

Having spent his entire career in the top flight of English football, Saturday was bound to be a culture shock for the 34-year-old. Playing in front of packed houses at Wembley must have seemed a long way away when stepping out at Morecambe's less than salubrious surroundings.

The Shrimps were also searching for their first win of the season, and are a committed and hard-working side under Sammy McIlroy. Defenders, being pressed and harried, don't have the luxury of having time on the ball to pick out a pass.

Likewise, if Campbell didn't look forward to facing the like of Didier Drogba in the Premier League, big, strong centre forwards are the order of the day in League Two. Any journey up the pyramid was always going to be a rough ride on the pitch, if not off it.

Perhaps Campbell underestimated the physical challenge he would be facing? Or perhaps the experience of playing with professionals below the standard he was used to, who struggle to do the things he considers basic, or who are just not on the same wavelength, was simply 90 minutes too long.

The prospect of toiling his way through the last years of his football career in the bottom divisions was something that, suddenly, didn't appeal to him very much. The challenge he described as "refreshing" may soon become very stale, £60,000 a week wages or not.

Campbell signed a five-year deal at Meadow Lane in August

The cynics would suggest money was the greatest motivating factor behind his move to Meadow Lane, although Campbell himself cited the chance to link-up again with his former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, now working at Notts, as one of the reasons for joining the club.

No mention, interestingly, of current County boss McParland. Earlier this week, Executive Chairman Peter Trembling intimated that the manager's position was under pressure and is being reviewed "all the time" following their third successive away defeat.

A manager constantly looking over his shoulder and a set of players knowing that the man who picks the team could change any week is not the sound basis that a successful club is built upon. McParland's days, it seems, are numbered.

Is this just a sign of things to come for the oldest Football League club though? With great riches comes great oppurtunity, but also massive pressure. Any Notts manager will be expected to deliver instant results.

And are the board likely to be patient with the current group of players should they win promotion to League One? No. They will radically overhaul the squad in order to gain promotion to the Championship as quickly as possible.

Clubs need stability and continuity, not constant changes. Success requires a sensible transfer policy, not signing big-name players on huge wages. They need a manager too who will be given the support and time he needs, who knows what the lower leagues are all about, and that's not Sven.

County's dreams need a solid foundation. After all - shifting sands are no place to build on. They need only ask Morecambe that.

Nobes.

Big Match Review - Barnet 1 Notts County 0

League Two

Barnet 1-0 Notts County (Att: 2,858)

Saturday August 29, 15:00, Underhill

Big-spending Notts County were humbled by Barnet as Jake Hyde's injury time goal saw the League Two leaders slip to their second successive away defeat.

Off the back of two wins, it was the home side who started brightly, with John O'Flynn heading over Albert Jarrett's cross early on. Ian McParland's side responded though, with Lee Hughes' drive from just outside the box being tipped over by Bees keeper Jake Cole.

Just before the break, Notts thought they'd beaten Cole, when, after neat approach play, Ben Davies' cross was knocked in by Hughes at the far post. However, Davies was adjudged to be offside in the build-up and the sides went into the interval level.

O'Flynn once again wasted a good opportunity to give the Hertfordshire club the lead when a ball over the top caught out the County defence, but the forward could only drag his shot wide of Kasper Schmeichel's upright.

Down the other end, Ricky Ravenhill was denied when one-on-one with Cole, his low shot being parried away then cleared away from danger.

And Notts were punished for their profligacy in injury time. A cross from the right was headed down into the path of Hyde, who managed to spin and shoot through the legs of Schmeichel to steal the points for Barnet.

A reality check for the league favourites at Underhill, but a third win on the trot for Ian Hendon's men that sees them move above Notts in the table and into fourth.

Big Match Preview

League Two
Barnet vs. Notts County
Saturday August 29, 15:00, Underhill

Everyone, it seems, is talking about Notts County. Middle Eastern owners, big money being spent on big name signings being paid big wages, they're the closest thing League Two has to having a Manchester City.

The club that employ former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson as some kind of football director are currently riding high at the top of the basement division. However, County beware, a game against the men from Underhill has proved more than a banana skin for prospective League Two champions in the past.

Indeed, Barnet have had an encouraging start to the season themselves. After an opening day defeat to Lincoln, the Bees have collected seven points from their last three games, including successive 2-0 victories over Morecambe and Torquay.

Now under the guidance of popular former player Ian Hendon, the Hertfordshire club are targetting a place in the play-offs come May themselves. And with the goals of veteran Paul Furlong and the considerably younger but equally threatening John O'Flynn, scoring shouldn't be a problem.

They must almost be wishing this weekend's game was at Meadow Lane though. Since promotion back to the Football League, Barnet have beaten three of the four League Two champions on their own patch, and last season were one of only two sides to win at champions Brentford.

As for the visitors, if new signing Sol Campbell didn't realise the level he's now playing at, a trip to Underhill should be good for concentrating the mind. With its infamous sloping pitch and antiquated feel, he'll be under no illusions that Notts are a long way from the Premier League dream they harbour.

Sol Campbell turned down offers from Premier League clubs to join Notts

However, barring a huge disaster, the squad assembled in the East Midlands should be more than good enough to secure the first of those three promotions come May. With the firepower of Lee Hughes, creativity of Ben Davies, Campbell at the back, and Kasper Schmeichel in goal, County have an embarrassment of riches.

Manager Ian McParland, who will undoubtedly be under huge pressure to deliver, needed a strong start and has got one. Three victories from their four games, including 5-0, 4-0, and 3-0 wins, see County at the League Two summit at this early stage.

However, you get the feeling if the side endure a bad run of form and look like wobbling, it won't be long before Sven finds himself in the dugout replacing the Scot. After all, it's hard to believe players like Campbell and Schmeichel signed for Notts because of their relationship with McParland.

Expectations are huge at Meadow Lane at the moment, and they will certainly be expecting to go to Barnet and win. However, the home side will always be competitive and will be full of confidence after their last couple of games.

This season won't be a procession for County, and although a win at Barnet could be an early marker that they have the steel needed to gain promotion, I think they may have to settle for just a point.

Nobes' Prediction: Barnet 1 Notts County 1