More strange goings-on at Notts County

Staying or going?

Friend

The man appointed as manager just seven weeks and nine matches ago has now stepped down from his role. Hans Backe is a friend of Director of Football Sven-Goran Eriksson and has previously worked as his assistant.

Backe was given the role after former manager Ian McParland was sacked. McParland was and is a real Notts County stalwart and he had led County to fifth in the table before he was removed.

Stability

The fifty-seven year old Swede Backe signed a three year deal and some stability appeared to be coming to the club as he was obviously very close to Sven.

Assistant manager Dave Kevan will take temporary charge of the team ahead of a game at Bournemouth on 21st December.

Charge

His final game in charge was Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Accrington Stanley which left them still inside the play-off places in sixth position in the league.

This is the latest strange happening in the five months since the Middle East consortium Munto Finance took over the club. Despite concerns at the Football League as to who exactly Munto Finance were, the future for Notts County looked to be bright.

Owners

The new owners talked of achieving back to back promotions to get into the Championship and even talked about their plans to bring Premiership football to the club.

The big talk was backed up by the appointment of the former England boss Eriksson as the Director of Football. Money was made available to McParland and some decent signings were made.

Unfortunately

Things looked even better when former England centre-back Sol Campbell was signed for the club. It all seemed too good to be true for the loyal Notts County fans. Unfortunately for them, that does seem to be the case.

The Sol Campbell transfer turned into something of an embarrassment as it disintegrated into a high-profile debacle when he walked out after just one appearance.

Questions

Now, club chairman Peter Trembling has taken over the club from Munto Finance, and Backe’s departure will undoubtedly raise questions about Sven-Goran Eriksson’s role at Meadow Lane. As his friend has left, it surely seems likely that Sven may follow. Of course, he could take over team affairs.

It is a shame that what appeared to be a fantastic opportunity for a club like Notts County has gone so spectacularly wrong. The players on the pitch are still ‘doing the business’ and they may still achieve promotion this year. It will be them that deserve all the credit as they are achieving despite of their club bosses rather than because of them.