Loyalty

Last updated : 10 October 2002 By
Cotterill(right) left Early this morning.
Loyalty, a word that can't be used in the same sentence as many boards or managers within the modern game. Well, away from Crewe that is, Dario is way ahead in the longest serving manager stakes yet the trend to hire and fire managers within a matter of months is becoming more and more frequent in the modern game. Little respect or loyalty is portrayed by many as the delivery of success and funds become a necessity if a manager is to come close to seeing out his contract.

Recent days have seen the departure of Peter Reid from Sunderland and today, the emergance of Steve Cotterill lining up alongside Howard Wilkinson after the former Cheltenham man resigned from his Britannia Stadium post late last night. The offer of more money, security and funds will tempt many away from their club, players and managers alike, but this hasn't always been the case....

The more stability a club boasts, the greater is the success, look at the top sides, Arsenal, Manchester United and Crewe! All have managers who have shown loyalty to their players, board and fans alike, much in the same way that their respective board have shown faith and patience with them. Dario's longlivety at Crewe is a fine example of a club who have created immense bonds between management and board, which then develops success on and off the field, We at Crewe have the stability of knowing who our manager will be next week, come win, lose or draw. The fact that Dario can work so closely to Mr Bowler allows the club to strive towards success, both parties work within their respective roles and have the same ambitions and targets, to enhance the club, on and off the field of play. The loyalty shown by Mr Bowler and co. upon appointing Dario after his short spell out of the game following his managerial roles at Crystal Palace and Wimbledon allowed the little known Italian a second chance in his short managerial career, the risk that the floundering club took when the master was appointed proved pivitol upon where the club find themselves today, Dario has taken the club to heights whcih were previsouly unthinkable, the manager has accomplished so much and yet he remains with us, no jumping ship after stage one was completed, he could have easiy upped and left for a better paid job upon guiding the club to their highest league finish for decades, yet the influential guru is still here, as commited as ever to bettering both himself and the players whom look up to him.

In stark contrast, nearby Stoke are now searching for their 14 manager within the period that Dario was appointed here, all those years ago. The latest departure leaves the following mangers having all been appointed and left the job since Dario was appointed at Crewe on the 1st of June, 1983;

Steve Cotterill, Gudjon Thordarson, Gary Megson, Brian Little, Alan Durban, Chris Kamara, Chic Bates, Lou Macari (two spells), Joe Jordan, Alan Ball, Mick Mills and Bill Asprey.

The astonishing list puts the loyalty that has been shown by both Dario and the board into perspective...

I may also predict that many more names will be added to that list before Dario's managerial status at the club eventually ends.