GRAHAM WESTLEY
The former Stevenage boss salutes MK Dons boss Karl Robinson
KARL Robinson won a marvellous promotion with MK Dons last season. It was done in supreme style playing expansive passing football and scoring goals aplenty. It was richly deserved and his reputation grows constantly.
Previously, I had criticised Karl in this column, and I subsequently said that we exchanged telephone words before shaking hands and laying things to rest. As men do, we left things behind and have enjoyed a good relationship since then.
This week I will be visiting him to learn all about his winning formula, to gain an insight into his methods and to exchange ideas. Such is the respect between managers nowadays.
Sharing
There is a true gentlemanly approach to helping each other even though we will all be in competition from time to time.
Sharing knowledge and best practices between ourselves can only strengthen us all and, in the end, that is a huge positive for the English game.
Karl has started well in the Championship and is destined for great things. I have to say that he greatly deserves them.
I have worked with some very capable and highly dedicated men, players and staff in my time in football – 800-odd games as a manager sees to that. One of those men is Dino Maamria who has served me brilliantly as both a player and a coach. His reputation as a player was one of being feared in Non-League football as a ferocious competitor. But Dino was much better than just a workmanlike player.
Passion
He was a clever player with a strong eye for goal and a passion for winning. Which is why I chose to appoint him as a player coach and subsequently as my first team coach. We’ve occupied many a successful dugout together and shared many learning experiences together. He is a tremendously loyal and hard-working man, currently completing his Pro Licence to add to his now vast experience.
It has astonished me that he hasn’t been snapped up by a club since we left Stevenage back in May. With the reported dearth of coaching resources in England, it doesn’t add up to me that a man with so much to give is sitting on the sidelines.
He needs to be working and he ought to be working.
Football League take note.
.... AND DINO IS DUE BIG BREAK