Air of inevitability to sacking of poor fit Rusk
A HECTIC week at Edgeley Park began with the exit of former boss Simon Rusk after last Tuesday evening’s dire 1-2 defeat to Barnet at Edgeley Park.
Following that midweek defeat, which took place as the Express went to print, club officials moved quickly to dispense with the services of former Brighton U23 boss Rusk, who had overseen a start to the season which included five defeats in County’s opening twelve games.
The managerial departure had felt inevitable for a number of weeks, with a growing belief around Edgeley Park that Rusk was simply on borrowed time after an unconvincing run of four straight wins, prior to back-to-back 2-1 defeats to Notts County and
Barnet last week. Rusk departed alongside assistant manager and mentor Mark McGhee following what County described as a “difficult start” to the campaign.
In a statement, the club thanked Rusk for his “integrity and hard work”, citing last season’s eighteen-game unbeaten run as an example of Rusk’s capabilities.
Privately, however, Rusk’s capabilities with regards to the style of play and overall suitability to the role had been called into some doubt during County’s underwhelming start to this National
League season.
Some club officials had been under the impression that Rusk’s tenure, which lasted exactly nine months after replacing Jim Gannon back in January, would bring attacking football, something which appeared to be the case following Rusk’s 1-4 debut win at Woking last season.
That belief, however, soon began to unravel as Rusk’s approach became more apparent – a patient, possession-based style of play focussing on defensive solidity before getting the necessary goal and holding a lead.
After the abovementioned eighteengame unbeaten run, however, even that defensive solidity started to wane. Rusk played his part, along with Director of Football Simon Wilson, in recruiting a high number of defenders over the summer, despite County’s record as the best defence in the league last season.
That ‘bottom-heavy’ recruitment, which went on to see Man Utd loanee Will Fish and former Accrington defender Ben Barclay out in the cold in Rusk’s final weeks, seemed to play its part in throwing County’s defensive strength into disarray, whilst that shot-shy approach in attack remained - with Rusk’s side ultimately left shipping goals and scoring few.
Doubts around Rusk’s future are believed to have ramped up following a heavy 3-0 defeat at Halifax Town in September, with County going on to almost stumble their way through a four-match winning streak which did little to convince supporters or club officials that the side were heading in the right direction.