Durban sacked before he had time to build on foundations
MANAGER BROUGHT IN BY TOM COWIE ENDURED A TOUGH TIME ON WEARSIDE, HOWEVER, ALAN HAD AN EYE FOR A NUMBER OF EXCELLENT SIGNINGS
Sunderland’s recent history of giving young, hungry managers a chance is not a new trend.
Paolo Di Canio – aged just 45 and in his second job in management – was given the keys to the Stadium of Light by Ellis Short, as was Gus Poyet, 46 at the time of his appointment with a spell at Brighton under his belt.
Jack Ross is 42, still relatively fresh-faced in managerial terms, but there was a time when the Black Cats went for leaders who were even younger.
Rewind to the summer of 1981 and one thirty-something followed another in the Roker Park hotseat.
Ken Knighton had been sacked by Tom Cowie, the millionaire businessman, who had recently taken over as chairman of the football club, less than a season after guiding Sunderland back into the First Division.
Still just 37 years old, Knighton was put on the scrap heap by car dealer Cowie and a new model, albeit slightly older and with a few more miles on the clock, was bought.
Alan Durban was a month shy of his 40th birthday, but had already racked up an impressive standing in the game.
A former Wales international and captain of the national side, he had begun his managerial career at Shrewsbury Town, leading them to promotion from the old Fourth Division in 1977.
From there, he moved on to Stoke City, then a Second Division outfit who had just been dumped out of the FA Cup by Blyth Spartans.
Durban took control, introducing a stellar cast of youngsters including Paul Bracewell, and restored their top-flight status in his first full season before guiding them to a highly-creditable 11th spot in Division One.
It was enough to catch the eye of Cowie, looking for the next bright young thing and someone who could fashion successful teams from modest means.
Despite a reputation for being a dour manager – the famous ‘if you want entertainment, send for the clowns’ quote would dog him – Durban was head hunted and to the surprise of many, swapped the security of the Potteries for the white-hot atmosphere of Wearside.
His three-year stint at Roker Park is explored in a new book, ‘Give Us Tomorrow Now’, by David Snowdon, an in-depth analysis of a manager striving to satisfy legions of passionate supporters and an impatient boardroom.
It describes ‘a battle to lay enduring foundations and find an on-field blend amidst constant boardroom interference and an intense media spotlight’ which ultimately ended with Durban being sacked by Cowie in 1984, with many fans and watchers believing he was on the verge of producing something sustainable and long-term.
Durban had endured a tough start to the season which included eight consecutive games without a goal, and a lack of flair and entertaining football were often cited but when he departed, Sunderland were comfortable in the top flight, nine points clear of the drop zone with a game in hand – and this was in the days of two points for a win.
Gary Rowell, writing in his column for the Echo a few years ago, said: “I think the fans who watched Sunderland during his reign might be divided in their opinion of him, but overall I thought he was a good manager, who was sacked before he had time to finish the job.
“Saying that, he certainly had his faults and I probably had more run-ins and arguments with him than any other manager I played under.
“Alan Durban was a man who loved to set his team up as organised as possible and difficult to beat. And being an attacking player in his team was never an easy job. He liked nothing better than a clean sheet and I am convinced he would rather win 1-0 than 5-3.”
One thing that couldn’t be levelled against the Welshman was poor recruitment.
Durban had an eye for a player, as his signings of Ally McCoist, Lee Chapman, Bracewell and Jimmy Nicholl testify, while his ability to bring through youngsters like Barry Venison and Nick Pickering ensured a youthful feel to his teams.
Durban’s career – like many managers who would follow him out of the Sunderland exit door – never recovered.
After leaving Roker Park, he incredibly had a brief spell managing Willington in the Northern League before returning to Wales as Cardiff City manager, only to see them fall to successive relegations under his stewardship.
However, he only ever managed Sunderland in the top flight and there were a number of last-gasp relegation fights – sound familiar? – but the season after his dismissal, the club was relegated to the Second Division and two years later had dropped into the third tier.
Belatedly, there was a growing appreciation for the job Durban had done at Sunderland, and the foundations he had laid.
Leighton James, quoted in ‘Give Us Tomorrow Now’, said: “Sunderland Football Club lost its way when Alan Durban was sacked, and almost 35 years later, with the exception of a few decent seasons, they are still suffering for it.”
Give Us Tomorrow Now, by David Snowdon, is available from Pitch Publishing.