Brian Little set to be new manager at Sligo Rovers

[AlwaysAVFC]

Going to Ireland for a few days at the Start of June not that far from Sligo. Looking at the fixtures the only game while I'm there is away at Bohemians and then they go on a mid season break. It would have been good to go see them.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Since leaving us his jobs have been Stoke, Baggies, Hull, Tranmere, Wrexham, Gainsborough - to me that his been a continual downward curve in terms of size of club and job. With all due respect to Gainsborough, Sligo are a bigger club than them. This is his first upward career move since 1994. 

[Rico]

Hope he can do a good job, and maybe if he spots one or two useful players he can point them in our direction. Still can't really fathom out how his managerial record has gone from one of the top young English coaches to basically non league football. But if it was a straight choice of Brian Little or Alex Mcleish it would be "good bye Alex, hello Brian - oh by the way I believe you know Mr Cowans don't you?"

[john e]

good luck to Brian,

a few years ago my Dad was a steward at the MK Dons when they played at the hockey stadium before the new ground was built, because he was in his 70's he was given an easy job looking after the away bench.

anyway Brian Little was due with Doncaster i think, so i gave my Dad an old 1977 league cup 1st reply match programe  against Everton (Hillsborough) and said get him to sign that.
you can imagine his face when he came out with his team and took his position in the dugout to be presented with this blast from the past.

i wasnt there but me Dad said he laughed said he remembered the night well ( he scored a scrappy goal) signed the programe and wished my father well,
 my Dad said in all the time he was guarding the away bench Little was the one who treated everyone with utmost respect, and was a true Gent


ps, i dont think he had a to bad game in the 2nd reply !!

[KevinGage]

It should also be noted that another potential area of revenue for small clubs, transfers, is not as great as it possibly could be. It's very rare for a player in Ireland to sign up to more than a year, or two (at most), which means that any player who catches the eye of a club in England will cost a fraction of what might normally be expected.

Aye.

As well as that, the vast majority of talented players will go direct to the Academies in England straight from schoolboy football nowadays.   So clubs miss out on even those modest fees. 

The likes of Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt and our own Enda Stevens seem to be the exception.

[nigel]

Good luck Brian , it is a shame it did not work out longer for him at Villa. I thought he was building something special

Yes, then Doug started messing about

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Good luck Brian , it is a shame it did not work out longer for him at Villa. I thought he was building something special

Yes, then Doug started messing about

Brian was building something special when he won us the League Cup, got us to an FA Cup S/F and 4th place but by the time he left we were 15th in the table and looking like relegation possibilities. I don't think that the way things unravelled was all Dougs fault and/or down to the Collymore signing. Were not other things happening ?

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17149243

According to this, David Unsworth turned the job down before it was offered to Brian.
My understanding is that he had actually taken the job but resigned when Mrs. Unsworth discovered Sligo is in Ireland and not a small seaside resort just up the coast from Merseyside.

[simon_spellman]

Hopefully Simon and the Irish Villains will keep us updated. Is it the close-season over there at the minute?

Just finished our last pre-season match today 3-0 away to Longford Town, 5 wins out of 5 in pre-season, the season proper starts on 2nd March, 1st match away to Shelbourne ( who we beat in the Cup Final last season). A mouth-watering fixture against current champions Shamrock Rovers is on the last day of our season 26th October at home in Sligo, if that tuned out to be must win for a title for us im sure there may be a few Villa fans tempted to make the trip over!! Just another point of interest, we have recently acquired the sponsorship of none other than Volkswagen for the next 2 seasons, so you know a club is moving in the right direction when big companies like that are getting involved with the club. If anyone would like to get to know a little more about the Rovers, their website is www.sligorovers.com , where they have the latest news, fixtures, squad info and their online club shop.

[dcdavecollett]

M.y favoutite Brian story was told me by an old mate and dates from 1995-98.

A Villa fan and his daughter called in at the ticket office one midweek. Who should walk through the door but the Great Man himself.

Said Villa fan engages Brian in conversation. Brian is apologetic, says he is in a rush but if the guy & gal would like a proper chat, would they please go into his secretary's office and book an appointment to see him.

They did as they were bid and subsequently enjoyed an hour-long chat with, for the bloke, one of Villa's great post-war players, and for the lass, her favourite Villa manager, over tea and bickies.

Makes you proud to be a Villain, eh?

[Irish villain]

I will be going to more League of Ireland games now...

[LeeB]

M.y favoutite Brian story was told me by an old mate and dates from 1995-98.

A Villa fan and his daughter called in at the ticket office one midweek. Who should walk through the door but the Great Man himself.

Said Villa fan engages Brian in conversation. Brian is apologetic, says he is in a rush but if the guy & gal would like a proper chat, would they please go into his secretary's office and book an appointment to see him.

They did as they were bid and subsequently enjoyed an hour-long chat with, for the bloke, one of Villa's great post-war players, and for the lass, her favourite Villa manager, over tea and bickies.

Makes you proud to be a Villain, eh?

I wept like a baby when he left.

[Irish villain]

M.y favoutite Brian story was told me by an old mate and dates from 1995-98.

A Villa fan and his daughter called in at the ticket office one midweek. Who should walk through the door but the Great Man himself.

Said Villa fan engages Brian in conversation. Brian is apologetic, says he is in a rush but if the guy & gal would like a proper chat, would they please go into his secretary's office and book an appointment to see him.

They did as they were bid and subsequently enjoyed an hour-long chat with, for the bloke, one of Villa's great post-war players, and for the lass, her favourite Villa manager, over tea and bickies.

Makes you proud to be a Villain, eh?

I wept like a baby when he left.

Fourteen years? Hard to believe. I remember coming home from school to the bad news. I remember hoping Gullit would get the villa job. Anybody remember the Football Focus that weekend after Gregory had been appointed? I remember Doug and Gregory being interviewed at length.

[Aston Manor]

Could do with an update that website..

Management Team    
Friday, 10 December 2010 16:17
Sligo Rovers Management Team Details:

Manager: Paul Cook

Anyway, good luck Sir Brian and I'm another who now follows Sligo.

[The Left Side]

Best of luck Sir Brian, may you walk on water once more!