It's tough being a manager


Jimmy Smith’s close range finish ten minutes from time to seal a win for Leyton Orient away at Preston on Saturday was probably not the most significant goal in England throughout the weekend at face value, but it did mean that Graham Westley’s brand new era at Deepdale was to end in anti-climax after a week in which the young manager finally left Stevenage to become their 6th manager in 3 years.
Over the years I've learned not to turn Sky Sports down whenever they offer me work. But there are rare occasions when I've just had to say 'Sorry, No, I can't do it'.
Hartlepool nil Huddersfield nil. Goalscoring opportunities nil (or at least it felt like that!). Entertainment nil. Reports on Sky nil. Hours driving to and from the game a lot more than nil. Ticket price nil. Money earned more than nil. And it's those last two which I try to remember on days like this.
Coleman’s work at the Manchester club has originated from scratch, from the depths of the Northern Premier League in a remarkable journey which had its latest stop in the League 2 play-off semi-finals back in May.
There are 32 teams left in the competition, five all-Premiership ties mean there will be a host of lower league clubs looking for a financially rewarding cup run.
In the week that League 2 Stevenage defeated Premiership Newcastle, Conference side Crawley dumped Championship Derby out of the FA cup, and Arsenal went down 1-0 to Ipswich, we could be expected to ask what's going on in football!