New Scunthorpe United boss Knill relishing underdog role
GOD help me, Alan Knill joked when reminded his career as Scunthorpe United manager starts this afternoon with a trip to second-placed Norwich City.
It was a moment of lightness in the middle of a serious message from the new Iron boss, who arrived at Glanford Park yesterday.
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WELCOME HOME: New Scunthorpe United boss Alan Knill takes his seat in the home dug-out for the first time. Picture: Carl Gac.
The 46-year-old made it clear he is at Scunthorpe to win.
The immediate future looks bleak, given his new side are five points adrift of safety.
But if United are to drop down to League One, Knill promised it won't be without a fight.
"I wish I'd looked at the fixtures first!" teased Knill.
"No-one expects us to win, and I like that.
"I like when people write you off, I like that a lot because you have something to prove.
"I've always found that a lot of the time, when you're at the bottom of the league, people always say: whatever you do, don't lose.
"I don't believe that. I think, let's go and win. As long as you show a commitment, and show a fight and an effort, people accept that.
"With eight games to go, we have to make sure we do those three things.
"Then you allow the talent to come out after that.
"Wins help confidence, so it is about trying to get that first win."
Knill will be in the dugout this afternoon at Carrow Road, though he has had no say on the Iron starting XI out there.
When he does get a chance to stamp his authority on his squad, the ex-Scunthorpe defender knows exactly what form he wants it to take.
"I want to continue what others have done before me and keep this football club as high as it possibly can go," continued Knill.
"Where that is, nobody knows.
"For two or three seasons it's competed really well and it's my aim to try to continue that.
"Obviously I'm hopeful or else I wouldn't have walked in here.
"I'm a big believer in developing players. For the three years I've been at Bury we played as good a football as anyone in that league and I developed very good footballers.
"I enjoy watching my team play, that's a big thing for me. If I enjoy it, I'm hopeful others will.
"I like young players. I want a young, energetic, exciting side.
"When I sat down with the chairman (Steve Wharton), he wanted exactly the same.
"I made a rule last year, that I wouldn't sign anybody over 26. I wanted a young, athletic side.
"I managed to do that and I've only got two over 26 at Bury.
"Don't get me wrong, sometimes my team failed, but the majority of the time, it didn't.
"It was really athletic, really ran around and was enthusiastic every day – I want exactly the same here."
3 Comments
by Mike, SHAKERLAND
Monday, April 04 2011, 8:28PM
“I don't think that Scunny are so much better equipped to bounce back when they are relegated to league 1 and yes fail have proved that with good team spirit and organisation you can cut it in a demanding league.I think Hill has worked miracles with a well run club though it pains me to say so.It's funny Alan Knill left Bury to sign for Scunny in the late 1980's a bit of a coincidence.My one criticism of his style of management is that he tends to be reluctant to allow youth players to thrive and picks the same team week in week out and then he never seems to make substitutions which impact in games.Definitely a manager who looks a glass which is half empty.Up the shakers.”
by 1500club, Lincs
Sunday, April 03 2011, 11:30AM
“Baraclough started with 4-0 away win and ended up sacked within a few months - perhaps this start is actually a blessing in disguise?
The 'players under 26' quip is ridiculous generalising...what if they are 27 and one day old? It may as well read 'I can only sign budget players on free transfers from Div 2'.
Up the Iron!”
by hurtingfan, scunny
Saturday, April 02 2011, 2:00PM
“Strange comment,theres an age old saying youll not win anything with kids,you need a blend of youth and experiance but what do i know!!”