STARTING OUT IN THE HOTSEAT IS TON OF PRESSURE
IN the trigger-happy world of football boardrooms it is more important than ever for managers to make an immediate impact.
American presidents are historically initially judged on their first 100 days – sometimes Premier League and EFL bosses do not even get that long!
Following a chance meeting between the then Tranmere manager Micky Mellon (right) and headmaster Phil Denton – a Prenton Park devotee – a plan was hatched to write about the crucial first 100 days as a leader in different spheres including football.
Mellon, now in charge of Dundee
United, and Denton, who runs St. Bede’s Catholic High in Ormskirk, interviewed a number of football luminaries including Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, West Ham’s David Moyes, West Brom’s Sam Allardyce, Burnley’s Sean Dyche and former Oldham and Everton boss Joe Royle.
Solskjaer had an advantage when he was handed the United job because as a player he was already indoctrinated in the club’s DNA, as was assistant and one-time Sir Alex Ferguson aide, Mike
Phelan. “On our first day I signed contracts at 8.45am,” Solskjaer told Mellon and Denton. We’d only found out the day before because (Jose) Mourinho had been sacked.
“I came in the building and there were smiles everywhere. We talked (to the players) about high expectations, having fun and even surprising a few people.”
Solskjaer, who is keeping a diary of his Old Trafford reign, revealed one entry: ‘December 29th, we invited Sir
Alex into the training ground’. The Norwegian added: “I asked him to come in and speak to the players but he said he didn’t want to intrude as they were my team now.
“When he arrived he said he’d been up all night thinking of what to say to me! He told us: ‘They say all roads lead to Rome. Forget about that, all roads lead to Liverpool. Stop them winning the League!’”
Dyche, now the Premier League’s longest serving manager admits his first 100 days at Turf Moor in 2012 had him running into the toilet.
Despite leading 1-0 at Wolves the fear of slipping into the Championship drop zone struck at half-time. They ended up winning 2-1 despite having a player sent off.
Dyche said: “People might think that I gave some great tactical advice that got us over the line. I went into the toilet, just put my hands on the wall and said to myself ‘breathe, breathe, breathe.’
“I pulled myself together and just said something to the players – I can’t remember what. It was an experience that I got so much from.”
*The First 100 Days: Lessons In Leadership From The Football Bosses by Micky Mellon and Phil Denton. Reach Sport. £10.99.