BLUES’ BIG APPOINTMENT HAS MUCH WORK TO DO!
MARCUS BIGNOT wants to give Chester fans a reason to dream again – and his reign got off to the perfect start with three poiints from his first game in charge.
The 43-year-old former Solihull Moors and Grimsby Town boss saw his new side beat Maidenhead United 2-0 yesterday having replaced Jon McCarthy in the manager’s hot-seat.
McCarthy was sacked after just one win in the opening eight games of the National League season that left the Blues in the relegation zone.
Bignot gained a reputation as one of Non-League’s best young managers after a five-year spell at Moors, where he turned the club from Step 2 strugglers to National League North champions.
That led to a Football League chance with Grimsby, but he was sacked just five months into his job – he says he’s learned big lessons and the experience will help him going forward.
“My experience at Grimsby is only going to make me better,” Bignot told The NLP. “Chester, I believe, are going to reap the benefits. I want to get back there. This club wants to get back there.
Vision
“It’s a dream at the moment. But if you’ve got a vision followed by action, dreams can come true.
“They’ve experienced before when actions haven’t followed visions and it can become a nightmare – you can have a situation like Chester found itself. The club is now back on its feet and we’ve got to keep moving forward now.
“This football club was once a Football League club. Given a chance and the opportunity, there’s no reason why it can’t be in the future. What we won’t put on that is a timescale. We know the demands of football now so we’ve got to be realistic.
“The realism of where we are right here, right now is we have to get football results. We can’t be in the position where we find ourselves.
“If we improve on this position, then this season will be a success. Then it’s onto the next challenge. The model has to run side-by-side. The off-the-field has to compliment the on-the-field. Likewise, on the pitch reflects off the pitch.
“In terms of that mindset it is similar to Solihull. Over time we overachieved and we got promotion. That’s what I believe. Given time, we can overachieve here too.
“Anything is possible then. You’re 46 games from the Football League. That’s the reality. To achieve that is the challenge. That’s why every weekend we go to football hoping to win three points.”
The former Crewe and QPR defender brings other experiences to Chester too. He drove the rise of Birmingham City Ladies – uncovering future England internationals Eni Aluko and Karen Carney – and at Solihull was hands on behind the scenes too.
Blessed
He thinks that background means he will be an asset off the pitch too for the fan-owned club.
And having met a number of the club volunteers on his first day, he’s even more determined to succeed.
“I’ve always spoken about the difference between Non-League and the professional leagues is volunteers,” Bignot said. “They are the life and soul of the football club. Already on my first day… I thought we had volunteers at Solihull Moors, but my word there is so many here at Chester.
“That really took my breath away. From outside you hear about
it – that it’s fan-based, volunteerbased – but to see them all at work makes you go in every day feeling grateful and blessed that you’re getting paid to be manager of their club. I won’t be taking this job for granted.
“Mark Maguire (CEO) took me round the whole club when I arrived, I’ve seen the U18s play – so I had a productive first day.
“There will certainly be some apologies on names forgotten because there’s that many to remember, but over time knowing all the people behind the scenes is just as important as knowing all the players out on the pitch.”
Responsibilities
That can start with leaning upon his former Rushden & Diamonds boot boy Tom Shaw, the playercoach who has been in charge since McCarthy’s departure.
“I’ve spoken to Tom at length since the appointment,” Bignot said. “The immediate remit is to give them a structure to play to, both on and off the ball, and we’ll give them some organisation, both on and off the ball.
“They will have clear roles and responsibilities. We’ve got to work harder by being smarter and if they’ve got that desire I’m sure results will follow and we’ll be going in the right direction.”