Football Betting: Sir Dario Gradi?

English Football League / Paul Moon / 24 April 2009 / 2 Comments

Dario Gradi's win rate at Crewe Alexander is misleading - he had to weather numerous crises at the club and should be given the country's highest honour, says Paul Moon.

In 1998 Dario Gradi received the MBE for services to football. In 2004 he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in recognition for his impact as a manager in the English game. It is now time for him to receive the highest honour this country can bestow - a knighthood.

In nearly 30 years of football management he has never wavered from his core principles of discipline, sportsmanship, developing youth players and playing attractive football.

His philosophy should be the common denominator in our lower leagues but it is far too easy to compromise in the financially driven dog eat dog football world. I am surprised and saddened that his courage has not been replicated elsewhere. His efforts should have been a beacon of light!

Those with a hard-boiled dispensation would claim he has not been a true success. In 24 years of managing the Railwaymen he has won promotion just four times, twice from the old Fourth Division and twice from the old Third (relegated three times). At first glance his career record at Crewe appears moderate: Played 1098 Won 422 Draw 264 Lost 412.

However, on occasions statistics can be misleading! They do not reveal the recurring crises at the club over the years due to its import export nature and a club income on which many more lowly clubs could not survive.

Managing Crewe Alexandra, Gradi became the first manager in the English leagues to complete 1000 games in charge. His career has been synonymous with a talent production line and he openly concedes that this cottage industry is necessary to fund their FA Youth Academy. This costs upwards of £1m year whilst the maximum grant for Football League clubs is £138,000.

He has been responsible for uncovering and producing more excellent players than any other manager from his tier. The list is extensive, some include: David Platt, Danny Murphy, Neil Lennon, Rob Jones, Geoff Thomas, Rob Hulse, Seth Thomas, David Vaughan, Dean Ashton, Ashley Ward, Michael O'Connor and, bizarrely, Robbie Savage.

It will not be easy for Crewe to continue producing such good players, especially if they become a League Two side next year. Funds and support from the Premier League must cascade downwards to help Football League sides or academies could be the first thing to go in any cost cutting exercise.

Gradi has said he would be surprised if the club turned away from the academy model but there has been some suggestion that the appointment of Gudjon Thordarson (over my choice - John Ward) has been made to make way for talented Scandinavian players to come to South Cheshire.

Meanwhile, Crewe are in real danger of being relegated from League One. They have not won in eight matches and badly need a win against Stockport County on Friday night. Current Betfair odds: Stockport [3.15] Crewe [2.46] Draw [3.5]. I find these odds extraordinary! Stockport are comfortable in mid-table and playing at home while Crewe are third from bottom. Despite my sympathies I cannot afford to miss this value.

Whether Crewe survive this season or not, the high respect in which Dario Gradi is held will not diminish one iota. He leaves a legacy to English football that all of us who love the game should appreciate. Should he be Sir Dario Gradi this time next year? I think so...

Comments (2)

1. Sut Mae | 24 April 2009

   What do you mean? - and, bizarrely, Robbie Savage.
   

2. Racing Cert | 24 April 2009

   I did not realise the amount of time Dario Gradi has been manager of Crewe , yes 24 years is a long time and it seems nice that a club with the record he had still had faith or whatever the reasons to keep him at the club. I am possitive that if it were in the premiership he would not have lasted 2 years .
   We need bread and butter clubs like crewe and it is heart warming that honesty and loyalty must have came through somewhere along the line .
   it's a shame now that the sport we invented and love is dog eat dog and the slightest drop in form or success leads to being a failure and consequently gets you the sack .there is no loyalty in the game today and if there is its only while you are winning .
   Although on paper stockport look good to beat the Railwaymen , i certainly believe that crewe may get the draw ,I am lumping on betfair at 3.5 .