It may have only been five months, but Notts County’s ‘five year’ plan, which included promotion to at least The Championship within that time frame, looks like little more than a pipe dream after yet another big name departed the club on Tuesday.
Manager Hans Backe, who had been in charge for just seven weeks, has resigned from his post-just days after the club underwent yet another ownership change.
Munto Finance put the club up for sale last week, with Peter Trembling, a representative of that company, purchasing the club for a nominal fee.
Backe seems to have been unsettled by the constant speculation behind the owner’s intentions and identity and this latest episode, that was cleared up over the weekend seems to have been the last straw for the Swede.
He also has a case for being provided with little or no funds, unlike his predecessor Ian McParland and it was unclear whether he would have any money to spend during the upcoming January transfer window.
County’s second managerial departure of the season will only add to the dressing room unrest and unsettle the fans, who for the most part have been subjected to some hugely entertaining and successful football at Meadow Lane.
This time last season Notts County had just been beaten 2-0 by Chester City, now bottom of the Blue Square Premier and facing a second successive relegation, and were languishing in 16th after four wins all season.
This season the club find themselves 6th in League Two just five points off the third automatic promotion place after a near perfect home record this season.
Their single home defeat came last weekend at the hands of Accrington Stanley and proved that the off-the field goings on has maybe affected the players confidence.
Of course the astronomical wages and fees being paid out at the beginning of the season may well have to be toned down, now Munto Finance have sold the club, and that might mean a complete re-structure of the wage system meaning many players will have to either take a pay cut, or leave altogether.
But it’s this sort of conjecture that Magpies fans don’t want and it’s sure to continue until Trembling and director of football Sven Goran Eriksson reveal their intentions.
Whether they have the financial power necessary to keep County challenging in the higher echelons of League Two is again difficult to say but its unlikely they’ll have the same sort of financial power as the previous owners did.
Eriksson’s relation with the club means that high-profile international names are sure to be linked with the vacant managers job, with Roberto Mancini almost certain to be a strong front-runner as he was after McParland’s departure.
I was never a supporter of McParland’s sacking to begin with, yes he wasn’t highly thought of in League Two, and was lucky to retain his job after the clubs takeover, but given that he was allowed a chance to start the clubs meteoric rise and that he faired pretty well, why was he rid of when the club were flourishing?
Since his sacking the club have gone from 5th, four points off the top, to 6th, 10 points off the top; where’s the progress there?
What’s more the club have been completely embarrassed by the scenario surrounding Sol Campbell and now this ownership squabble, wasn’t it so much simpler before the takeover?
It brings up the question; does a financial injection create more problems than it’s worth?
QPR for example have had six different managers in the two years following on from the massive money boost at the club, and are as a result no closer to their ultimate dream; promotion to the Premiership.
Portsmouth have had three different owners during their foray into the Premiership, and are becoming unstuck on and off the pitch as a result with administration reportedly looming over the south coast club.
And finally two of English footballs most illustrious clubs, Manchester United and Liverpool have debts topping £600 million between them after respective American takeovers and are finding success on the field an absolute necessity if the clubs are to survive in the short term.
It will surely take the liquidation of one, if not two of the countries best loved clubs for fans and chairman to realise success can’t be pushed- the best things come to those who wait, remember?
Not that its likely, but maybe Trembling and Eriksson will take these wise words into account when deciding what to do next at Notts County, the football leagues oldest ever club don’t deserve such an uncertain future.
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