THE man who once took the Scunthorpe captain's armband off Alan Knill hopes his return to Glanford Park as manager will serve as an inspiration to United as they battle for Championship survival.

But it will be a real baptism of fire for the new Iron boss as he faces the top two teams in the table in his first two games in charge.

Chief scout Lee Turnbull, who has been United's assistant caretaker manager for the past two weeks, expects Knill will be in the dug-out and very much in charge at Carrow Road tomorrow against second in the table Norwich City.

"I am sure Alan will relish the opportunity to manage in the Championship," said Turnbull.

"And I am sure that, with only eight games left to play, he will want to get straight into it."

Turnbull was a team-mate of Knill's for three seasons at Glanford Park back in the mid 1990s.

"It was me who actually took the captain's armband off Alan when I came here from Wycombe," he recalled.

"For whatever reason, the manager at the time, Dave Moore, decided to take it away from Alan and give it to me.

"But we got on really well and became good friends.

"Alan was a man's man, he was well organised, a good player, a good skipper and an all-round good guy. He was a good influence in the dressing room.

"You could see even in those days that he was someone who was probably going to go into coaching or football management.

"He was well structured in what he wanted to do."

Turnbull has stayed in touch with Knill and is looking forward to working alongside him again.

"He has obviously done a really good job at Bury," he continued.

"And coming back here to Glanford Park, he knows how this club works.

"He is a track suit sort of manager, and someone who does not suffer fools.

"Hopefully his appointment will act as an inspiration to the players or make them want to impress the new manager."

Knill has brought with him his main coaching staff from Bury – assistant Chris Brass and goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler.

Knill will be on rolling 12-month contract at Glanford Park.