It’s the real-life script of Dave Bassett: Football Manager.. a crazy story of pranks, success on a shoestring and polishing rough players into diamonds

THOSE Crazy Gang rascals loved playing pranks, and relocating Dave Bassett’s bed from his hotel room to the service lift on an away trip was one of the most imaginative.

Somehow, the Wimbledon players’ rearrangement of the furniture and Bassett’s late-night discovery of his divan in an elevator was a fitting snapshot of a managerial career which brought him seven promotions.

Only Neil Warnock (eight) has had more joy in English football’s lift shafts. Now Bassett has won the ‘Double’ – by being voted the greatest manager of time at two clubs.

In 2017, before Chris Wilder was leading a march towards the gates of Europe, Sheffield United fans handed Bassett the crown,

And last month he was runaway winner of a similar online poll among his old flock at AFC Wimbledon – the reborn original.

When he left Plough Lane in 1987, Bassett (left, with wife Christine) had put together a side for £200,000 which would be later sold for £8million. Miracles don’t normally come cheap in football, but ‘Harry’ Bassett worked his magic with a

all budget more gossamer thread than shoestring.he said: “When we arrived in the First Division, 13 players in our first-team squad had come through the youth system.

“People talk about Manchester United’s Class of ’92 with Beckham, Scholes, Butt and the Nevilles, but 10 years before that Wimbledon’s conveyor belt was in good nick.

“Most people outside the club don’t realise that nine lads played in all four divisions – Wally Downes, Dave Beasant, Kevin Gage, Mark Morris, Mick Smith, Paul Fishenden, Alan Cork, Glyn Hodges and Steve Galliers. Other clubs have gone from