Rusk regime gets off to flying start
SIMON Rusk was in the dugout for The Hatters’ thumping 1-4 win at Woking on Saturday after Stockport County confirmed the appointment of the 39-year-old Brighton U23 boss as the club’s new manager on a three-anda-half year deal.
Rusk, a relative unknown to Hatters supporters up until the departure of legendary boss Jim Gannon last week, was named as County’s new boss late on Wednesday last week, as predicted in the Express, with the former York City man joined at Edgeley Park by experienced assistant Mark McGhee alongside Gannon’s number two Dave Conlon.
Rusk came close to taking the Cambridge Utd vacancy last February before a late ‘change of heart,’ and was also inked with the Blackpool job before the Covid-19 pandemic, and has been highly thought of at The Amex as a coach during his spell on the South Coast.
The former Welsh youth international also worked as part of Chris Hughton’s first-team coaching staff as the club achieved promotion to the Premier League in 2017.
Rusk personally chose McGhee as his assistant, and reportedly sees the former Scotland assistant as a ‘mentor’ after receiving support from McGhee over the last couple of years during his spell at Brighton.
And the former Crawley Town youth boss got off to the perfect start, guiding his side to a resounding win at Kingfield over struggling Woking on Saturday.
Goals from Connor Jennings, John Rooney, Macauley Southam-Hales and Alex Reid saw The Hatters sweep aside The Cards, with an electric first-half seeing County race into a three-goal lead before the interval.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to be the manager of such a great football club. Stockport County has rich tradition and an incredibly loyal fanbase, I’m looking to continue the great work that’s been done and can reassure fans I will devote everything to the role,” said Rusk.
“We have a fantastic squad with great infrastructure and I can’t wait to start working with the players. Stockport County need to be back in the EFL and I believe together with Mark and Dave we can steer the Club to success.”
On the appointment of Rusk, former County and Brighton favourite Gary Dicker spoke exclusively to the Express on his ‘excitement’ for The Hatters.
“Simon’s been at Brighton for a long time – he actually started when I was still playing there, so he’s worked under a lot of good managers. He’s a very good coach and I know he will be fully prepared for the job,” said Dicker.
“I spoke to him briefly on a visit back to Brighton a while back, after watching him deliver a brilliant session. One thing I noticed was that he picked my brains about Kilmarnock and other clubs. He’ll have done his own extensive homework on the club and will know what to expect.
“One element I think he’ll be really good at is man-management – he’s worked with a range of different age groups and nationalities at Brighton and had success. I’d expect that he’ll play a possession-based style similar to the Brighton first team under Graham Potter.
“He’s a really exciting appointment for County. He’s turned down clubs in leagues higher and has been really sought after. Pressure comes with every job, but he’ll be fully prepared and will have researched everything.”
Former Boston Utd midfielder Rusk has been credited during his years on the South Coast with the development of Irish forward Aaron Connolly, now a regular in the first team under boss Potter, as well as defender Ben White and midfielder Steve Alzate – but aside from his work developing youngsters, what can County fans expect from Rusk’s style of management with a senior side?
“He is very much a modern-day coach with a modern-day outlook,” said Dicker. “Brighton’s Under 23s play a similar brand of passing football to the first team and every player that has come through the development squad to play senior football either with the Albion or elsewhere is comfortable on the ball.
“His work with the Under 23s has been pretty impressive. Brighton have a clear development pathway for young players whereby the best talents go out on loan after a season with the Under 23s.
“He deserves a crack at a top job, and I suspect everyone at Brighton will wish him well. He has played a big part in turning us from a club who did not produce a single first team player from 2013 to 2019, to one who now have some of the best young prospects in the country coming through.”
County are at home against Yeovil on Saturday with the game kicking off at 5.30pm and broadcast on BT Sport.