When Saturday Comes | The half decent football magazine

Forever young

James Morris looks back on Dario Grado’s 26 years in management at Crewe Alexandra, as he steps aside to oversee the youth academy

Dario Gradi was not exactly a stranger to the experience of Crewe Alexandra fans calling for his head. Absurd as it sounds now, with the club currently sat in League Two, chants of “we want Gradi out” were doing the rounds even when the club was punching way above its weight in the Championship.

Sunday, January 1st, 2012 - Book reviews

Headless chickens

Absent owners and a poor manager have ruined what was once the model of a well run small-town club, says Bruce Wilkinson

When Venky’s took control of Blackburn Rovers last November and installed Steve Kean as the Premier League’s least likely manager, they repeatedly asked supporters not to pass judgement until they had been in charge for a year. Having reached this anniversary a few weeks ago, fans are now more than able to see that the club is heading in a downward spiral of such terrible proportions that a slide through the divisions and possible bankruptcy are not out of the question. Most followers were prepared to give the new owners time to show their true intentions and, at a stretch, even be persuaded that Kean could be a capable coach.

Sunday, January 1st, 2012 - Book reviews

Pound stretchers

Mike Ashley is reviled by many fans, but according to Mark Brophy, his tough financial policies are making Newcastle self-sufficient

As Newcastle United faced relegation in 2009, they were heavily in debt with one of the highest-paid squads in the Premier League and an owner who was trying to cut his losses by selling the club. Many expected a tumble down the divisions and an imminent financial collapse. Just over two years later, following promotion, consolidation, a summer of turmoil and the unlikeliest of good starts, Newcastle sit near the top of the league, like an urchin crashing a society party. Perhaps more importantly, the finances of the club are under control.

Sunday, January 1st, 2012 - Book reviews

Theatre of the absurd

Ron Hamilton asks where next for Darlington, as they endure another woeful season

Supporting Darlington has long had a certain Beckettian quality – an unceasing bleakness punctuated by bursts of farcical tragicomedy. Even in the aftermath of May’s FA Trophy victory, the joy of a winner in the 120th minute at Wembley soon gave way to cynical muttering about how long it would be before things went wrong. Less than six months later the club’s future is, once again, hanging in the balance.

Sunday, January 1st, 2012 - Book reviews

Rescue package

Matthew Barker examines US Ancona, whose supporters united to save the club after relegation and financial woe threatened its existence

US Ancona 1905 were founded at the turn of the last century by a local who returned from a stint working at the docks in Liverpool, hence their red and white kit. They have appeared in Serie A twice, most recently during the 2003-04 season (with Goran Pandev, Dario Hübner and Dino Baggio among their ranks), though they dropped straight back into the second tier with a miserly 13 points from their 34 games.

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 - The Archive

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Stories

Forever young

James Morris looks back on Dario Grado’s 26 years in management at Crewe Alexandra, as he steps aside to oversee the youth academy

Headless chickens

Absent owners and a poor manager have ruined what was once the model of a well run small-town club, says Bruce Wilkinson

Pound stretchers

Mike Ashley is reviled by many fans, but according to Mark Brophy, his tough financial policies are making Newcastle self-sufficient

Theatre of the absurd

Ron Hamilton asks where next for Darlington, as they endure another woeful season

Rescue package

Matthew Barker examines US Ancona, whose supporters united to save the club after relegation and financial woe threatened its existence