NOLAN ‘CAN BE THE BOSS OF ENGLAND’
NEW Notts County owner Alan Hardy reckons he may have discovered a future England manager.
Hardy gave Kevin Nolan a chance the day after he bought debt-ridden Notts.
Nolan saved the world’s oldest league club from relegation to non-League football for the first time and now has them chasing League Two promotion.
Miracle-worker Nolan has done it in eight months and Hardy has rewarded him with a new threeyear contract.
“Notts County was a club in intensive care,” said local businessman Hardy.
“It was 91st in the Football League, one foot in the National League, months away from doomsday, with a club record of 10 successive defeats.
“The atmosphere was toxic. What an incredible turnaround it’s been.”
County are second in the table and expecting a 12,000 crowd for today’s game with Lincoln thanks to former Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham star Nolan.
Sam Allardyce (right, with Nolan winning promotion with West Ham in 2012) bossed Notts on his way to a successful managerial career that peaked with his short tenure as England boss. Hardy claims Nolan can follow that path.
“Kevin Nolan is an outstanding leader. He is one of the future stars of the game. I acknowledge that one day he’s going to be a Premier League manager. One day even manager of England.
“With that possibility we have to bed in the foundations over the next three years and that is why I’m delighted Kevin has signed the contract.
“Our aim is to get into the Championship under Kevin’s management.
“People who have been in the game a long time rate him right at the top.”
Nolan (left) had a spell in charge at Leyton Orient under controversial owner Francesco Becchetti and old club Bolton are reported to be interested in him. Hardy joked: “I put on Twitter that there’s a £10m buy-out clause. So if Bolton are looking, it’s £10m.
“Kevin and I have an agreement that if a big club comes in then I’ll shake his hand, pat him on the back and wish him all the best.”
And Nolan added: “It doesn’t matter who comes calling, I’ve got such good backing it would have to be right and replicate what I have here.”