NOLAN’S THE WIN DOCTOR
Magpies were in a ‘coma’ and needed a football miracle.. step forward King Kev
KEVIN NOLAN says he has revived Notts County from a “coma” by giving extensive resuscitation in a remarkable recovery at the League Two club.
County boss Nolan is preparing for the visit of Premier League Swansea today.
He has been in charge for a year during which he has taken the Magpies from 22nd to second place.
Nolan was hired when millionaire Alan Hardy took over in January 2017 with the club on a downward spiral of 10 successive League defeats.
But under the pair, players started getting paid again and are now earning plenty of win bonuses too.
Fans hope that Meadow Lane, where 10,000 are expected today, could see an upset and the former Bolton midfielder, who cut his teeth in management at Leyton Orient in 2016, said: “When Alan came in, the club was in a coma.
“It has been given more than the kiss of life. We have had the defibrillators and everything on it.
“It has been given something which no one would have envisaged in a million years. The last owners put a lot of money in, but got some things wrong.
“Every staff member here last year probably can’t believe the environment we now work in.
“Something is different and there is a vision.
“Bit by bit we are stepping up everything with new offices, new gyms, training rooms, an artificial training pitch and medical set-up.
“It has been about hard work and people believing in what we are doing.
“It was about getting the belief back into the players.
“Under the previous regime, people were worried if they could pay their bills and mortgages, but now there is a buzz at the club.”
Nolan, 35, made his name at Bolton before playing for Newcastle and West Ham, chalking up 401 Premier League games and 69 goals (below).
He holds the unwanted record of being the English player with the most Premier League appearances never to have played for the national team.
Nolan, rewarded with a new three-year County contract in September, added: “Anyone who played with me always said I deserved a cap.
“Did I deserve one? Probably. Am I bothered? Not at all. Is that one of my motivating factors of trying to become a successful manager? Not at all.
“If the day comes and I was offered the England job, would I take it? Of course. It is a massive achievement and it would be a proud moment.
“But that is not what spurs me on, I just want to be the best I can and to work in football as long as I can.
“There is nothing better than having something to wake up to where you train with the lads and you have an aim at the end of the week.”
County won at Championship Brentford (above) in the third round after beating Oxford City in the last minute.
Nolan said: “This tie is a fantastic opportunity. We have not had a Premier League club visit since Manchester City in 2011. We have a game plan and hopefully we can see it off.”