Eames makes Bees balancing act look easy
NOT many Football League managers can boast a five-time Olympic medallist as a former team-mate. But that is exactly what the man in charge at Barnet has in his locker.
Rossi Eames spent his teenage years training in Klemen Bedenik’s stable alongside the star of British gymnastics Max Whitlock, and even moved to Slovenia for two years to pursue his dream.
But he came back to Britain aged 21 and, after a brief semi-professional football career, began studying to coach at university in Leeds.
“Max was in a different league to me,” said Eames of the 24-year-old Whitlock, below, a double gold medallist in Rio last year.
“I was an OK gymnast. I worked hard and that was why I had a little bit of success. But I was Conference and he was Champions League!”
Eames, 31, is now somewhere in between.
When Martin Allen cut short his fourth spell as Barnet manager last month to join non-league Eastleigh, no one expected development coach Eames and academy manager Henry Newman to be in charge for more than a temporary spell.
But eight weeks later, League Two’s very own odd couple are talking up their chances of a play-off spot in only the club’s second season back in the Football League.
However, the two men are too humble to be called manager – or for the word ‘interim’ to be dropped from their titles.
“We believe the term first-team manager is a little archaic,” said Newman after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Newport County.
The Bees were frustrated by the bottom side, who arrived with journeyman Graham Westley at the helm and no league win since November 19.
More than half of the home side’s starting line-up are under 23 and, in total, five – like their rookie coaches – have come through the ranks at the Hive.
Eames’ care for his players and his academic background are both evident on the touchline.
Unlike his predecessor Allen, constantly issuing screamed orders, he stands at the corner of the technical area, emitting the occasional barked request while scanning the field analytically.
But what he lacks in volume is more than made up for by his partner.
Newman starts most games sitting in his seat, but it rarely lasts long. He always has something to say to his players and there is no room for subtlety.
But that is not to say that Eames’ intellect outshines his fellow coach’s – Newman has five As at A-Level, and a degree in economics and philosophy from the London School of Economics to his name.
Public interaction between the two, meanwhile, is rare. The two lieutenants seem to have telepathic understanding of the other’s thoughts.
“We’re both very self-aware and aware of the other in relation to their personality, strengths and weaknesses,” said Newman.
“We’re more than comfortable in each other’s company and have the level of security to decide who does what on a week-to-week basis.”
Only goal difference separates the odd couple from a place in the top seven.
There is nothing to say that should be as far as they go.