CAROLINE BARKER
Our guest columnist salutes the unsung caretaker-managers
THIS article might be pointless, but why break the habit of a lifetime? By the time you read this Shrewsbury may well indeed be ‘Danny Coyne’s army’, or maybe ‘Kevin Nolan’s army’ or ‘Sam Ricketts’ army’ *delete as appropriate.
But for the last wee while, since John Askey’s sacking, the fans of Shrewsbury have been singing for their goalkeeper-coach turned caretaker-gaffer. Why not warble those tonsils a little longer then?
Former Wales international Coyne is, as I write, behind Nolan (after Wimbledon was a no-go), Wrexham’s Ricketts and Newport’s Michael Flynn in the running to be named permanent manager at the Shrews, but, with even Robbie Fowler linked to the job, why not go for the one already sat, albeit as a caretaker, in the dugout?
I love the oddity of football, the phrase caretaker-manager is something pretty much only common in our game. For American Football read ‘interim’ , rugby, basketball too, interim, a rather more clinical attachment, funny given the word ‘caretaker’ conjures up images of a mop and a bucket.
For Coyne, read Simon Bassey at Wimbledon, Steve Chettle at Notts County, all in recent weeks propelled up the ladder at their club, albeit temporarily, but is there grounds for a more permanent conversion?
Permanent
Sort of the same, but different, I’ve been maternity cover before and there was a freedom I’ve not felt in other jobs. All the fun of the fair with none of the pressure.
So much so, some make a habit of it, the well-worn Tony Parkes, caretaker-manager of choice at Blackburn, six times no less and once at Blackpool too, never landing the full-time job.
Chelsea love a caretaker. Guus Hiddink took them to the semi-final of the Champions League, Roberto Di Matteo won the Champions League and the FA Cup, got the job permanently, was sacked and replaced by Rafa Benitez who then won the Europa League. Winner.
As was the ultimate, Sir Alf Ramsey, a World Cup medal in his temporary drawer as he took up the mantle at Birmingham, before becoming an ill-fated consultant.
More recently, we’ve seen Charlton have a fairly lengthy engagement with Lee Bowyer, some seven months before he got the job full-time.
The play-off chasers announced Bowyer’s gig alongside the words ‘Lee Bowyer’s Red and White Army’ with all the fluff and nonsense going on above him at board level. He’s been the constant and they finally caught on.
Of our original three (Coyne, Bassey and Chettle), Chettle’s seen Neal Ardley walk into the job at Meadow Lane, but with his friendship with chairman Alan Hardy, it’s likely the safe pair of hands will be put to work soon enough.
And what about Coyne and Bassey, then? Simon Bassey, or Bass as he’s affectionately, if not originally, known down Wimbledon way, has been there and done it before.
Back in 2012 he stood up when Terry Brown left and spoke about his great affection for the club, about how he’d applied for the job, how he’d do what was needed of him. This time round, he says he’s just happy to steady things for ‘his club’.
Happy
Coyne, too, has been here before. Back in 2016 and before Paul Hurst, he had an 18-day sojourn as manager, before stepping back to his previous coaching role. If needed, I’m sure he’d take the call again, and that’s the key.
A caretaker conjures up the image of living on site, bucket and mop in hand, up a ladder fixing a light-bulb, but in Coyne and Bassey and countless before them it’s the care they take which means everything to the club and fans. For me, that’s worth just as much as the Nolans and the Campbells of this world if not more.
Yeah, sure I know they get paid, I know you’d probably do the same, but they’ve been the hand on the rudder when your side has needed it most.
They’ve stood up when needed, now then if not giving them the job of the future, make sure they’re involved as they have been in the past. The ultimate care takers should be taken care of, too.