English Football League / Ian Lamont / 18 December 2008 /

Ian Lamont discusses Paul Ince's time spent in the lower leagues and asks whether he's a manager who can perform at this level but not in the top flight. Plus the best of this weekend's betting in League Two.

Paul Ince's exit from Blackburn sparked much comment among my friends - and one of them rather cruelly said: "It's all very well learning your trade as a manager in the lower leagues, but you wouldn't want to get stuck there, would you?"

Such is the superficial nature of football fans who base their enjoyment of the game around the Premiership from the comfort of their sofas.

The interesting issue remains, are the lower leagues a good place to start, or should you progress from within a top club? People seem to forget that Tony Adams had a brief, disasterous, stint at Wycombe in 2003-04. Maybe his failure was because he still had background issues.

Maybe it was because, as a top-level performer, he knew how to do it but not how to pass the knowledge on, unlike Chester's Mark Wright, who steered unfashionable Southport to third in the Conference before switching to Chester. But let's not drag up the personal life issues that might have prevented Wright pushing Chester - or himself - further!

For me, the jury is still out on Adams at Portsmouth (I've taken a punt on them to be relegated, available at [9.6]). Good No 2s don't always make good No 1.

You can find examples of good and bad. Martin O'Neill proves rather the exception in being a hit in the top flight having managed a lower club (Wycombe). Some come up short. Peter Taylor's Premiership record is lousy, while his England Under-21 record is second to none and he has gained several promotions in the bottom two divisions.

Martin Allen seems good at setting up good teams then moving on without actually winning promotion. He whipped Barnet into shape then left, with Paul Fairclough taking over from him and steering them into the Football League. He took Brentford to two play-off spots then left for Milton Keynes. Again he left, only for them to get promotion the following season. So is he a winner or not? Chairmen are taking a chance on him if you ask me.

It was Ince who got Milton Keynes promoted. It comes down to character and knowing how to build the right support network around you. I would argue you get more time to do that in the lower divisions and it wouldn't surprise me to see Ince back as a manager at the likes of, let's be naughty, Notts County.

I'm still trying to fathom how the Magpies managed to filch all three points against Morecambe two weeks ago, although the scorer that day Sean Canham is a huge plus in Ian McParland's side. At a first-quoted price of [2.25] earlier this week, it is not yet time to buy into the Meadow Lane despair described in last week's theme by backing them. There is still mileage in laying them, even though they have moved to [2.5]. They host Lincoln, who showed distinct signs of life beating Accrington 5-1 last Friday. This is just the sort of opportunity Peter Jackson's Lincoln need as they seek some sort of joy on their travels for the first time since Bournemouth in late October.

Barnet didn't quite pull off the three points to justify buying despair last week, but showed signs of life, twice taking the lead. But that was at home. A trip to Darlington seems an occasion to be confident of a defeat with the Shakers keen to get back on their feet. A third straight reverse would be unthinkable if a promotion push is to be maintained and they should be backed at [1.7].

Bury seem to me a large price at [2.7] to win at Bournemouth. Glynn Hurst, who scored twice and set up the other, took his turn to star among a front six that show lovely movement as they defeated a poor Port Vale last week. While Bournemouth at home have a miserly defence, if Alan Knill's side play at their best they ought to be able to cut open a team short of Darren Anderton not to mention confidence, after that defeat to Blyth.

There is still mileage in backing Macclesfield, who have just one defeat, to Wycombe, in eight, especially at [2.4] at home. I know a Dagenham fan - exiled in the north west - who raved about their early season away triumphs at Morecambe and Rochdale, but who has been somewhat quieter of late. John Still's side could pick up a point, but I think Martin Gritton can continue his good form in front of goal and grab the Silkmen three more points.

Recommendations

Lay

Notts County at [2.5]

Back

Darlington at [1.7]
Bournemouth at [2.7]
Macclesfield [2.4]

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: