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There is no substitute for experience when it comes to
managing a big football club, according to Lawrie
McMenemy.
The former Southampton boss watched two teams from his native North
East fall out of the Premier League last weekend – and both had
young managers at the helm.
Alan Shearer won just one of his eight games in charge for
Newcastle as they were relegated, while Gareth Southgate’s third
season as Middlesbrough manager also ended in the drop.
And McMenemy – currently visiting Hong Kong for the HKFC IP Global
International Soccer Sevens – believes letting former players go
straight into management at a top-flight club is a risky
business.
“Young managers should really cut their teeth in the lower
divisions, but these days they want big names at Premier League
clubs,” he said.
“Alan’s only been in charge of Newcastle for a few weeks and if he
stays to try and get them out of the Championship he’s going to
find out just how hard management is.
“Gareth Southgate was another who went straight into management
from playing and it’s a difficult thing to do.
“But Middlesbrough have got probably the best chairman in England
in Steve Gibson, he’s stuck by Gareth and will continue to do
so.
“Even so, they are the least well supported of the three North East
clubs – they are behind Newcastle and Sunderland in that respect –
and I think they may continue to struggle.
“I managed in all four divisions in England in my career and I can
tell you the Championship is the most difficult to get out
of.”
However, McMenemy was quick to point out that Shearer could hardly
be blamed for Newcastle’s demise.
“As Alan himself said, it’s mainly down to mismanagement on and off
the field going back several years," he said.
"Their massive support has kept them going in the past couple of
seasons but all their problems have finally caught up with
them.”
