The Longside Reference

     Appoint in haste and repent at leisure; it was reasonable to assume the same mistake would not be made again. With Stuart Gray being given three games to fill in, there was more time to look for suitable candidates than in January when Owen Coyle departed. It was a fair bet then that Laws’ appointment was based on the hope that he had the experience to grind out the handful of results needed to ensure survival. It was a false hope.

     The Press wasted no time in tossing names into the hat, but only two emerged early on with any degree of a “done deal.” The Guardian was in immediately with the claim that Phil Brown would be installed the very next day. He wasn’t. The Mirror and Alan Nixon offered Sam Allardyce as the chosen one.  Allardyce distanced himself from any suggestion that he had made enquiries about the job, the Guardian reporting that he wanted to remain in the Premiership.

     But, someone who knows about these things, and someone I email every now and then, a national guy who has reported them often enough, was quick to point out that no-one should believe what they read in the papers. And this guy should know, he actually writes the stuff. Interestingly what he did say was don’t believe the stuff about Allardyce discounting him from the job.  And Deepthroat by the way isn’t wrong that often. Feelers were put out within an hour of the sacking he said. And what better a way for the big man to have his revenge on Blackburn, than to take Burnley to promotion.

     What managers do Deepthroat said, is they do this via a third party, that’s the way these things work (just like how Coyle came to Burnley). And then if and when nothing happens, or things don’t work out, they can distance themselves from it.  It’s a fair bet that a third party did a lot of the spadework in setting up Coyle at Bolton as well, in a go-between capacity. You’d only need to look at mobile phone bills received at Burnley Football Club to test the veracity of that supposition or indeed exactly when the first contact between Owen Coyle and Phil Gartside actually took place. But if contact and early tapping-up did take place secretly, then so what you might say. It’s just the way things are done in football, what’s new.  

  
     Other than those two names and Eddie Howe, the young and up and coming Bournemouth manager, few early names were touted with any seriousness; although the websites abounded with fans’ wish lists, top-three lists, for god’s sake not him lists, and if he’s appointed you won’t see me again lists. But in a poll in which 2500+ people participated, the top two were Chris Hughton or Sam Allardyce, with 30% and 19% of the vote respectively.

      My God it certainly kept us all busy, emailing, texting, and claiming that Rafa Benitez had been seen in the Park View Chippy, Barry Kilby had been seen with Gareth Southgate (BK was by the way snowbound in blizzard stricken New York so we could discount that one), Poyet had been seen at Gawthorpe, Alan Curbishley at the pie stall in Burnley Market and Dennis Wise in the boot of Brendan Flood’s car (one report said with his feet encased in concrete). Oh, and Steve Cotterill resigned at Portsmouth to make himself available.

     On day two the Telegraph reported Eddie Howe as the favourite and that Derek McInnes of St Johnstone was also in the frame. The Daily Mail revealed that Billy Davies was in a transfer policy dispute at Nottingham Forest and so was interested in the Burnley job. Brian Laws was favourite to take over at Preston where Darren Ferguson had been sacked and Roy Hodgson was within inches of being despatched from Anfield. Owen Coyle was already being touted for that one… and having been at Bolton for almost a year was probably developing itchy feet. “There is nothing going on… I’m going to Scotland to see my family,” he replied in answer to questions- allegedly.

     The news that Jimmy McIlroy had been awarded the MBE in the New Years Honours list was received with acclaim in Burnley and Northern Ireland. His charity support work goes unnoticed and unpublicised. But whenever he is asked to be present at a fundraiser he is there. Sworn to secrecy he only told his family the night before the announcements on New Years Eve. Why me, he asked when he was made a Freeman of the Borough, and no doubt he asked the same question on receiving the MBE award.

     Freeman of the Borough and now an MBE: but how ridiculous it is that he still has no mention in the Football League Museum Hall of Fame. Yet, listed are players such as Bryan Robson, Tony Adams, Viv Anderson, Roy Keane, Mark Hughes, Paul Scholes, Gary Lineker, Howard Kendall… and of course inevitably David Beckham; all good players, but journeymen in comparison with Jimmy Mac. His omission is a mystery but perhaps the MBE will bring his name to the attention of the selection committee. 
    A more mo

dest, unassuming man you could not wish to meet. But, what magnificent talent and sublime skills he possessed. He is a symbol of an age now gone forever and the two books we did together give me such pride and sense of accomplishment. It always amazed me that nothing had been added to the 1960 book he wrote with ghostwriter David Jack until the two 2009 books we did. He was reluctant to do those if truth be known. “Who wants to read about an old has-been like me?” he said.

     Well, the biogs sold out within months although I do believe a few more have been printed since. Over 600 people attended the biog book launch at Turf Moor. Littleborough Cricket Club was packed to the ceiling when we did an evening there. But how infuriating though that books like the dreadful Ashley Cole piffle should sell more than Jimmy Mac’s. 

  
     The book that gave us both the greater pleasure though was the Scrapbook. We sat for hours with the design team at Dunnockshaw going through hundreds of scanned pictures onscreen. Jimmy loved every minute of it, and I loved hearing the stories that came up as each picture came on. Just about everyone in the place at some point would peep round the door to see the great man and say hello, or to say “I saw you play.”

     When he stood to speak at Littleborough a hush descended. You could have heard a pin drop. Everyone waited to listen to his words of wisdom. He spoke ever so quietly:

     “So what time does the stripper come on?” he said in his still lilting Irish brogue. It brought the house down. The place collapsed with laughter. He had another 200 people in the palm of his hand. With just a few words he showed he was not a deity but just a very human being.

    “If only Bob Lord could see me now,” he once began at a BFC dinner. I’ll bet a pound he’ll be tempted to say it to the Queen when he calls in for his medal. 

       And meanwhile, ey oop, on New Years Eve we remembered, we’d all almost forgotten, there was another game at home on New Years Day. The burning question on this one was quite simple – lose and who would the crowd boo this time? Pre match, everyone said the right things but I swore I’d burn my season ticket if I heard the words “bounce back” one more time.

     The news was good. Four of the Sheffield big names were suspended for various indiscretions. Micky Adams had just been appointed new manager. Jack Cork’s dad was Adams’ new assistant. But surprise of the day (other than the win) Cork was left out. So in fact there was a Cork on each bench. Bikey and Wallace were dropped (no surprise there at all).

    One of my New Years Resolutions lasted just 2 minutes into the game; namely not to eff and blind at referees. When Iwelumo went down in the area liked a felled Oak (no bigger than that – a Redwood) and no pen was given I was incandescent. Me and Mrs T were right in line and it looked a fair cop to me. And then when Sheffield were awarded their penalty the next tirade came out. But, the game was won 4 – 2 and all of us went home happy even if we hadn’t seen any miraculous transformation of tactics or formation. Chances were taken, nobody had a bad game, there was that little bit of luck when needed; Eagles was back to his best, and above all there was a spirit and a sense of determination that was sadly so absent against Scunthorpe. At his best Eagles is almost unplayable in this Division and in this game he scored a wonderful first from 30 yards that went in off each post. His celebratory dance was worth the entrance money alone. Then at the end he fashioned the final goal for Thompson. If the omission of Cork was a puzzle, then the introduction of the ungainly, lolloping Edgar for Elliot into midfield was the next one. Memo to Mr Gray: Edgar is neither a midfielder nor a full back. He is a good, solid, reliable centre back but anywhere else a definite NO.

     The crowd roared their approval, friends again with the team. But what a poor crowd, under 15,000 and from Sheffield there was a really disappointing turnout. This was by coincidence Day Three of the managerial parade and interest was now directed towards another name, Malky Mackay of Watford. And, distraught Norwich fans now insisted that Paul Lambert was heading our way on account of he had no funds to add players at Norwich. Plus it would help his marriage as his family were all still back in Scotland and as everyone ought to know, Burnley is a lot closer to Scotland than Norwich.

     Sunday January 2nd, 2011, all of us on pins: Now it was Malky Mackay in the frame according to Alan Nixon with Burnley wanting a quick answer from Big Sam. Big Sam in a telephone Talksport interview said he was flattered by the link with Burnley but was careful to use the word speculation.

     The halfway stage, 23 games played, not doing quite so well as 2008/09 at the same stage: QPR still top, Burnley 8 points behind 2nd place, with 2 games in hand on Swansea. All to play for, enthusiasm re-kindled, but still the burning question, why oh why was Laws ever appointed in the first place? Bolton lost again and Owen Coyle only had 15 players with him. Times are hard at Bolton. Isn’t that what Stan used to do to show he was not a happy bunny… have the bench half empty to show his displeasure?