Norwich fans foolish if they write him off
PARTICK THISTLE boss Alan Archibald has warned Norwich City fans to think twice before underestimating new manager Alex Neil. The 33-year-old Hamilton playermanager is set for a sensational switch to the English Championship after taking unfashionable Accies from the second tier to the top end of the Scottish Premiership. Neil may be a relatively unknown quantity south of the Border — having spent five years in England as a player for Barnsley and Mansfield — but his impressive managerial record has convinced Archibald that he can shine with the Canaries. ‘If Alex goes in with a good mindset, he can be a success,’ said Archibald. ‘He has shown in the last two years what a job he has done. ‘Everybody wrote Hamilton off at the start of the season and the same thing is happening again — they’re writing him off before he’s even got the job.’ Archibald (below) and Neil are two young managers who have followed similar career paths. Both men were stalwarts on the field for their clubs before leading them to promotion from the dugout. After taking over from Jackie McNamara on an interim basis in January 2013, Archibald steered the Jags into the top flight — before keeping them there in his first full season as boss. This term, Thistle have consolidated their Premiership status and can go 13 points clear of bottom club Ross County with a win in the Highlands tomorrow. It is not surprising, then, that the 37-year-old believes Neil’s move south will blaze a trail for all promising coaches in the SPFL. ‘I think it’s great for the Scottish game,’ Archibald said. ‘It’s great for Alex as well, he’s done a great job. You want to do the best you can, you never know what can happen. ‘You want to work at the top level whatever you do, whether as a player or a manager. There’s no doubt it inspires everybody to see where they can go in the game.’ Meanwhile, Archibald claimed he was not aware of speculation that striker Nathan Eccleston is to quit Firhill this month. The former Liverpool trainee sparked rumours that he is seeking a new club on Monday when he tweeted: ‘Time for a change of scenery I think....’. But Archibald responded yesterday: ‘I’m not sure what he’s referring to, unless he’s going on holiday. He’ll need to come out of the toilet because he phoned in sick this morning. ‘I really don’t know, I’ve not heard. At the moment he’s part of our squad. ‘Nathan’s had a stop-start time of it, he’s been on and off fitness-wise. He’s got himself fit and found himself behind Ryan Stevenson and Kris Doolan because they’re on a wee bit better form.’ The manager would not disclose any details about the club’s suspension of right-back Jordan McMillan, however, only adding: ‘This is not ideal because I’ve lost a player, like any injury or suspension. It will not be a
distraction.’