MOX MEETS... KEVIN NOLAN

‘Grandad’s inspiration drives me’

KEVIN NOLAN has plenty of reasons for wanting to make his mark in management at Notts County.

For the new owner who chose to give him a fresh start at Meadow Lane last season.

For himself, to prove he can cut it in one of sport’s most demanding professions.

But most of all, in memory of a man who contributed more than almost any other to his career in the game – his grandfather.

He said: “About an hour before the call came to meet the chairman about this job, I’d learnt that my grandad, Tony, had passed away.

“I was going through a mixture of emotions. My grandad was the one who used to come to the games with my dad. He’d always be there.

“I’d got all this going through my head when the call came, asking if I would be interested in speaking to the chairman.

“That’s why I’ve got to give this everything – I’d love to take it on further for my grandfather.” The world’s oldest professional club had just been taken over by Nottingham businessman Alan Hardy (above) – but was also sliding towards the Conference.

Nolan added: “As I prepared to take the call, I thought, ‘What shall I do?’. Fortunately, I hit it off with the chairman from the start.

“We stopped the rot in the first game and we managed to move away from danger.

“You learn a lot. I’d always wanted to go into it. I was captain of Bolton at 23. Then Newcastle United, West Ham United. Big clubs.

“Obviously, Sam Allardyce features a lot in what I’ve learnt. But others too – Chris Hughton, Alan Pardew and Slaven Bilic.

“But I’ve only just come out of the game. And, while I might not have the experience as a manager, I think the players can appreciate I do see their side of it.”