Alan Devonshire leaves Braintree

[Shrimpurh]

Great appointment Braintree. Class act. I'm 99% sure Danny Cowley (my former PE teacher) is going to be a success

 

[DarkSithLord]

Looks like a sensible appointment and makes complete sense. Be very interesting to see if he can step up.

 

[Eastleigh Fan]

It's funny that people ask if a manager can "step up". Many managers have been promoted into this division, having never managed this high before & done well. In very recent times, you could ask if managers can manage a level down, given Liam Daish, Jamie Day & plenty of others have all dropped back down a division either with their Prem club or to take another job & have subsequently been sacked at the lower level. So it's not really the level you are at, that makes or defines whether or not you are a good manager, but the club you are at and how well you get your team playing that defines you. Managing a Conf South/North or Conf Prem or even a L2 club, is pretty much the same really. There is no "big step up". It's a management job, if you can do the job well at a decent club, then you are clearly a decent manager.

 

[Aberstone]

Excellent appointment.

Similar style of play to what Devonshire had them playing at Braintree - physical but with technical ability once they were near the opposition's 18 yard box. I've never seen a fitter side than his Concord team, he'll have well drilled and in peak physical fitness.

I'm more interested to see where Concord go from here.

 

[Sparrow]

It's funny that people ask if a manager can "step up". Many managers have been promoted into this division, having never managed this high before & done well. In very recent times, you could ask if managers can manage a level down, given Liam Daish, Jamie Day & plenty of others have all dropped back down a division either with their Prem club or to take another job & have subsequently been sacked at the lower level. So it's not really the level you are at, that makes or defines whether or not you are a good manager, but the club you are at and how well you get your team playing that defines you. Managing a Conf South/North or Conf Prem or even a L2 club, is pretty much the same really. There is no "big step up". It's a management job, if you can do the job well at a decent club, then you are clearly a decent manager.

Many things wrong with your post, Eastleigh's Fan, but most notably the final sentence. Kevin Willkin highly impressed at Nuneaton, how did he get on at Wrexham? Surely a 'decent manager' wouldn't get sacked little after a year, would they? This is the same Kevin Wilkin, of course, who gained promotion three times with Nuneaton and almost got them in the Conference Premier play-offs.

 

[Beee]

Cowley has done a fantastic job at Concord, taking them from step 5 to step 2 on no money. His teams are extremely fit and adapt well to opposition teams and their conditions - they ripped our reserve/youth XI to pieces at our place playing quick passing football, but on the bogs of the Conf South he has them playing more direct stuff.

Fantastic appointment for Braintree and probably the best they could make on their budget. They'll be absolutely fine next season.

But having said all of the above - you can hear every word that the managers say to referees in the Conf South, and the way Cowley talks to refs is disgraceful. Intimidating them right from the first whistle, which is a shame because there's no doubt that he's a good manager.

 

[Master D]

Many things wrong with your post, Eastleigh's Fan, but most notably the final sentence. Kevin Willkin highly impressed at Nuneaton, how did he get on at Wrexham? Surely a 'decent manager' wouldn't get sacked little after a year, would they? This is the same Kevin Wilkin, of course, who gained promotion three times with Nuneaton and almost got them in the Conference Premier play-offs.

It's a massive step up, I've come to realise that. You go from playing part time pub sides every week to playing full time ex League clubs. Neil Young for Chester too, pissed the pub leagues but couldn't hack this level.

 

[Aberstone]

Yeah, Cowley's 'antics' on the touchline won't go unnoticed in the Conference. I've loved to hate him over the years.

 

[Aberstone]

Bearing in mind he doesn't drive and lives in West London I think he'll want something more local, Maidenhead is a good possibility with Johnson Hippolyte leaving at the end of the season.

Confirmed. Should have put some money on it.

 

[Gassy]

Thought Braintree were excellent at the mem this season. Certainly one of the better teams to come down here. On that performance, I'm not surprised he's been approached

 

[Sparrow]

Surprised he's gone there. Maidenhead don't particularly have much about them but it's obviously the right fit for his requirements e.g. doesn't drive and local.

 

[mnb089mnb]

Confirmed. Should have put some money on it.

I think a lot of people here locally had a hunch that it'd be him...

 

[mnb089mnb]

Surprised he's gone there. Maidenhead don't particularly have much about them

They've got real ale on tap.

Interesting season for Maidenhead. New manager and most of the players are out of contract. They've been strugglers for a while but have stayed up due to basket case clubs taking up the relegation spots. Next season looks a lot more competitive.

 

[BeeArmy]

I went to our game at Concord in the FA trophy this season. Danny Cowley is certainly a character.

Watch this video of their red card against us and you can hear his reaction in the background.

 

[Eastleigh Fan]

Another boardroom i have ears in.
Told you the day after it was announced that Dev has left Braintree that he was going to Maidenhead.