Post by QPR Report on Nov 28, 2009 3:16:00 GMT
The Times - November 28, 2009
Visit of Leeds is bright spot as mood at Kettering grows dark
Tom Dart
Welcome to management, Lee Harper. You were on your way to a game at Cambridge United when the chairman called, offering you the job of running Kettering Town, though you hadn't quite applied for it, and you'll have to carry on in goal.
Then your star striker texted you to say: “I'm off.” Your record reads: two Blue Square Premier matches, two defeats. Your former manager has just signed your best defender. Leeds United are visiting tomorrow in an FA Cup second-round tie, live on television, and you may not even get to select yourself, because you are injured. Oh, and after this season, the club might cease to exist. Good luck!
“It's been an absolute baptism of fire,” Harper said, which might be an understatement. Kettering Town are fourth in their division and, taking into account the benefits and exposure from tomorrow's FA Cup second-round tie, it's a deceptively rosy picture.
Two weeks ago, Mark Cooper, Kettering's manager, decamped for Peterborough United, which is where Harper comes in. The unhappy Francis Green left for Oxford United. Exodus Geohaghon lived up to his name when Cooper called. Plans for a new stadium collapsed, leading Imraan Ladak, the chairman, to wax apocalyptic.
“Our council refuses to support the football club and has scuppered a £20million new stadium project that was almost certain to go ahead.,” he said. “The council intervention has shelved it and virtuallyput the very existence of the club at threat,” he said. “As it stands there will not be professional football in Kettering next season.”
Kettering's lease on their ground runs out in three years and is unlikely to be renewed, so Ladak wants the issue resolved now.
Kettering Borough Council says it is willing to hold private discussions. If Ladak's worst-case scenario comes true, the demise of Kettering would be sad indeed, for they are one of the great non-League names.
“It's a difficult couple of weeks, waiting for everything to settle down, and I think the players have lost a bit of focus with the huge game on Sunday coming up,” said, 38, who began his professional career at Arsenal, where he spent about 50 games on the bench as understudy to David Seaman.
He moved on to Queens Park Rangers, managed by Gerry Francis Walsall and Northampton Town, scene of his most memorable match, in January, 2004, even though it was a 3-0 defeat.
“The FA Cup game at Sixfields against Manchester United where I saved a Diego Forlán penalty - people still talk to me about that game,” Harper said. “Cristiano Ronaldo playing ... I made seven saves as well.”
Ladak asked him to take charge and preserve continuity. “He has a great deal to offer in terms of management skills and ability because he's experienced and if you look at the people he's worked under, there's a whole range,” Ladak said.
And he's right. “I spent a year with Arsène Wenger in my three years at Arsenal and I started out with George Graham,” Harper said. “Graham had an aura; what he said went. Wenger was different. I don't remember him raising his voice in the year that I was there. At the training ground we didn't do a lot of running without the ball.
“I learned a lot off him - his man-management skills. I've worked with managers who absolutely scream obscenities, talk to you like you're their worst enemy. They get no respect whatsoever.
“I've decided just to be honest with my players, but trying to keep everybody happy is difficult, especially at this level because they're not getting bundles of money. They've got families and they've got to think about paying their mortgages.”
And now, they wonder if their club will soon be homeless.
The Poppies: lest we forget
* In 1976, Kettering Town became the first English club to have a shirt sponsor - Kettering Tyres.
* Regular members of the Conference, they returned to non-league football's top division after promotion from the Blue Square North in 2007-8.
* A consortium headed by Imraan Ladak, then aged 27, took over the club in 2005 and appointed Paul Gascoigne as manager, but he departed acrimoniously after 39 days.
* Ron Atkinson had a spell as director of football in 2007.
* Kettering reached the FA Cup fourth round last season, losing 4-2 at home to Fulham. They set up tomorrow's tie with Leeds United courtesy of an away win over Hartlepool United in the first round.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6935417.ece
Visit of Leeds is bright spot as mood at Kettering grows dark
Tom Dart
Welcome to management, Lee Harper. You were on your way to a game at Cambridge United when the chairman called, offering you the job of running Kettering Town, though you hadn't quite applied for it, and you'll have to carry on in goal.
Then your star striker texted you to say: “I'm off.” Your record reads: two Blue Square Premier matches, two defeats. Your former manager has just signed your best defender. Leeds United are visiting tomorrow in an FA Cup second-round tie, live on television, and you may not even get to select yourself, because you are injured. Oh, and after this season, the club might cease to exist. Good luck!
“It's been an absolute baptism of fire,” Harper said, which might be an understatement. Kettering Town are fourth in their division and, taking into account the benefits and exposure from tomorrow's FA Cup second-round tie, it's a deceptively rosy picture.
Two weeks ago, Mark Cooper, Kettering's manager, decamped for Peterborough United, which is where Harper comes in. The unhappy Francis Green left for Oxford United. Exodus Geohaghon lived up to his name when Cooper called. Plans for a new stadium collapsed, leading Imraan Ladak, the chairman, to wax apocalyptic.
“Our council refuses to support the football club and has scuppered a £20million new stadium project that was almost certain to go ahead.,” he said. “The council intervention has shelved it and virtuallyput the very existence of the club at threat,” he said. “As it stands there will not be professional football in Kettering next season.”
Kettering's lease on their ground runs out in three years and is unlikely to be renewed, so Ladak wants the issue resolved now.
Kettering Borough Council says it is willing to hold private discussions. If Ladak's worst-case scenario comes true, the demise of Kettering would be sad indeed, for they are one of the great non-League names.
“It's a difficult couple of weeks, waiting for everything to settle down, and I think the players have lost a bit of focus with the huge game on Sunday coming up,” said, 38, who began his professional career at Arsenal, where he spent about 50 games on the bench as understudy to David Seaman.
He moved on to Queens Park Rangers, managed by Gerry Francis Walsall and Northampton Town, scene of his most memorable match, in January, 2004, even though it was a 3-0 defeat.
“The FA Cup game at Sixfields against Manchester United where I saved a Diego Forlán penalty - people still talk to me about that game,” Harper said. “Cristiano Ronaldo playing ... I made seven saves as well.”
Ladak asked him to take charge and preserve continuity. “He has a great deal to offer in terms of management skills and ability because he's experienced and if you look at the people he's worked under, there's a whole range,” Ladak said.
And he's right. “I spent a year with Arsène Wenger in my three years at Arsenal and I started out with George Graham,” Harper said. “Graham had an aura; what he said went. Wenger was different. I don't remember him raising his voice in the year that I was there. At the training ground we didn't do a lot of running without the ball.
“I learned a lot off him - his man-management skills. I've worked with managers who absolutely scream obscenities, talk to you like you're their worst enemy. They get no respect whatsoever.
“I've decided just to be honest with my players, but trying to keep everybody happy is difficult, especially at this level because they're not getting bundles of money. They've got families and they've got to think about paying their mortgages.”
And now, they wonder if their club will soon be homeless.
The Poppies: lest we forget
* In 1976, Kettering Town became the first English club to have a shirt sponsor - Kettering Tyres.
* Regular members of the Conference, they returned to non-league football's top division after promotion from the Blue Square North in 2007-8.
* A consortium headed by Imraan Ladak, then aged 27, took over the club in 2005 and appointed Paul Gascoigne as manager, but he departed acrimoniously after 39 days.
* Ron Atkinson had a spell as director of football in 2007.
* Kettering reached the FA Cup fourth round last season, losing 4-2 at home to Fulham. They set up tomorrow's tie with Leeds United courtesy of an away win over Hartlepool United in the first round.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6935417.ece