:00:01. > :00:11.Hello and welcome to Late Kick Off. Delight, despair, a dismissal and a
:00:11. > :00:21.
:00:21. > :00:25.dream come true - all here this What's going on at Notts County?
:00:25. > :00:30.Martin Allen is out and it looks like Keith Curle is in - it's 12
:00:30. > :00:33.managers in 10 years at Meadow Lane..
:00:33. > :00:37.Meanwhile, on the other side of the Trent, we're at the relegation
:00:37. > :00:47.dogfight between Forest and Coventry - who's going to stay up?
:00:47. > :00:47.
:00:47. > :00:53.And how a phone call really can change everything. Hello? How are
:00:53. > :00:56.you? I'm OK, thank you. And we'll find out just how alright Chris
:00:56. > :00:59.Smith is later in the show. I'm joined in the studio tonight by
:00:59. > :01:01.two men who learnt their football trade here in the Midlands. Noel
:01:01. > :01:04.Blake made his name as an uncompromising defender with
:01:04. > :01:07.Birmingham, Stoke and Portsmouth and is now coach of the England
:01:07. > :01:13.Under 19 team. And Michael Johnson knows all about life at Meadow Lane,
:01:13. > :01:15.as player, coach and caretaker manager. Gentlemen, welcome. If
:01:15. > :01:19.you're looking for job security, don't think about the manager's job
:01:19. > :01:23.at Notts County. Keith Curle will be the 12th manager there in 10
:01:23. > :01:33.years. He'll succeed Martin Allen who was sacked after Saturday's 3-0
:01:33. > :01:44.
:01:44. > :01:50.defeat at Hartlepool. For Late Kick 33 managers you have seen come and
:01:50. > :01:58.go, but it has been an event fall 48 hours. It has. After the game at
:01:58. > :02:03.Hartlepool, as it happens it was our worst performance of the season,
:02:03. > :02:09.but Martin Alan's departure was unrelated to the performance and --
:02:09. > :02:13.that preceded it. He went for other reasons. Why was he sacked? There
:02:14. > :02:18.has been disquiet of behind-the- scenes for some time. There has
:02:18. > :02:23.been a lack of togetherness between the board of directors and Martin
:02:23. > :02:29.Allen, and both parties would admit that. Things have not been righted
:02:29. > :02:32.between them. Has he been harshly treated? Many will think that. You
:02:32. > :02:42.only have to look at the message boards and there are some
:02:42. > :02:45.incendiary comments about his sacking by Notts County. Keith has
:02:45. > :02:49.been at the ground today. He will be unveiled as the new manager
:02:49. > :02:54.tomorrow. What has been the reaction? The fans are mixed
:02:54. > :02:57.because they would have liked a bigger name, someone who has had a
:02:57. > :03:03.team promoted at this level. He has not done any of that and for that
:03:03. > :03:12.reason, they are not exactly enthusiastic about it. We have seen
:03:12. > :03:19.his backroom staff arriving here today. Colin West and Colin Lee.
:03:19. > :03:24.think it looks a very strong backroom staff, very experienced,
:03:24. > :03:29.and I would like to think it is about the strongest backroom staff
:03:29. > :03:35.any manager have at Notts County. Two Homes game -- home games so he
:03:35. > :03:38.has not got time to settle in. is a big week for Notts County. It
:03:38. > :03:45.could hardly be digger for Keith Kyle.
:03:45. > :03:50.Knowle, Keith is confirmed as the new Notts County manager. What do
:03:51. > :03:58.you think? It is a very good appointment. I am surprised at
:03:58. > :04:05.Marton going. But that said, it is a good appointment. Keith will go
:04:05. > :04:09.on his own now and I am sure that you will put it into good practice.
:04:09. > :04:17.He has been at number two for some time, but a short spell at
:04:17. > :04:25.Mansfield Town. You will have learned to experience from Neil
:04:25. > :04:28.Warnock. Obviously Chris has excelled in the role. It is
:04:28. > :04:33.important that someone's teeth it - - someone gives you that chance and
:04:33. > :04:38.belief. Hopefully he will get the backing of the board and get the
:04:38. > :04:43.boys and revitalised. Team spirit has been low, but they are still in
:04:43. > :04:51.a great position. It is all to play for. How important is consistency
:04:51. > :04:54.as a manager, a coach? Notts County have had 12 managers in 10 years,
:04:54. > :05:00.vitally important that the board make a statement and give him the
:05:00. > :05:06.tools to do the job. They need to put a plan in place. It needs a t a
:05:06. > :05:12.project because everyone suffers, the fans, the system, and obviously
:05:12. > :05:19.the players. Someone needs to come in, keep has the job, give him the
:05:19. > :05:25.tours, two years, let's go for it. He has decent players to work with.
:05:25. > :05:34.They score games -- goals at every level. He will be looking to hit
:05:34. > :05:40.the ground running. Yes, they do play good football. I'm sure he
:05:40. > :05:46.will get his teeth into that. have been a player, a coach, for a
:05:46. > :05:56.long time with the England Under 19 set up. No, I did not want to throw
:05:56. > :06:02.my hat into the ring. It is a tough job. I have work to do it here.
:06:02. > :06:06.have had people like Sol Campbell in gold at Notts County Club. I
:06:06. > :06:09.played against them in the top division. What are the realistic
:06:09. > :06:14.expectations of Notts County fans over the next few years, should
:06:14. > :06:17.they be a need for the championship as much they always say they are a
:06:17. > :06:21.championship club. We did have a brief spell in the top league, but
:06:21. > :06:26.we fell out of it in two years. Notts County should be aiming at
:06:26. > :06:35.the championship. They are not very far of the play-offs so it is all
:06:35. > :06:40.to play for. Finally, good appointment for you? Fantastic. I
:06:40. > :06:43.worked with Neil in Notts County in the early days. I think if Keith is
:06:43. > :06:46.anything like Neil, we will be very happy.
:06:46. > :06:50.Still to come, all the weekend's goals, including a much-needed win
:06:50. > :06:53.for Walsall in their fight to stay in League One.
:06:53. > :06:56.Now to a club I know a thing or two about. After narrowly missing out
:06:56. > :07:00.on promotion in recent seasons, Nottingham Forest are now in a
:07:00. > :07:10.struggle for championship survival. On Saturday, they played host to
:07:10. > :07:26.
:07:26. > :07:33.Coventry City in a tension filled Time is running out now. Winner
:07:33. > :07:35.takes all today. Defeat is unthinkable.
:07:35. > :07:45.This was a game giving Forest manager Steve Cotterrill sleepless
:07:45. > :07:51.
:07:51. > :07:54.Thank you very much. Lovely day! What about Steve - is he under
:07:54. > :08:02.pressure? Well the only pressure he is under is the pressure of the
:08:02. > :08:06.manager to get his team wining matches! -- a winning matches. He
:08:06. > :08:16.is not under pressure from anywhere else. We have to start winning
:08:16. > :08:26.matches sooner or later. Under Cotterill I really do not believe
:08:26. > :08:26.
:08:27. > :08:30.we will go down. Any other manager would have been out by now. We have
:08:30. > :08:33.got to start scoring goals. Coventry were backing their team in
:08:33. > :08:37.big numbers. Nearly 3,000 fans were there. Can you stay up and what
:08:37. > :08:47.will be the key to staying up. fight and a battle until the end of
:08:47. > :08:49.
:08:49. > :08:59.the season. If we stay up, it would be massive. If we use, we will be
:08:59. > :09:01.
:09:01. > :09:11.These players need nerves of steel and strong hearts and minds of
:09:11. > :09:13.
:09:13. > :09:16.today. On what is a chilly day in Nottingham. The Sky Blues have the
:09:16. > :09:26.worst away record in all four divisions but in Alex Nimely a
:09:26. > :09:26.
:09:26. > :09:30.player who can worry defences. a shot by Alex Nimely. Very wild.
:09:31. > :09:34.In honesty the first 45 minutes were forgettable. Tudgay goes so
:09:34. > :09:37.close! At half time Cotterill responded with a double
:09:38. > :09:46.substitution. Blackstock and Findley had the desired effect.
:09:47. > :09:56.It's the post - incredible. Murphy had to be at his bravest and
:09:57. > :10:01.
:10:01. > :10:05.It's the West Midlanders who almost took the lead. But at the other end
:10:05. > :10:15.Garath McCleary went on an astonishing run. Forest come again
:10:15. > :10:26.
:10:26. > :10:36.with McClearly. It's a great run As the minute ebbed away Forest got
:10:36. > :10:50.
:10:50. > :10:53.Lee, big win today. Yes, big win. am pleased for the players and the
:10:53. > :11:03.supporters because they are going home knowing they are out of the
:11:03. > :11:05.
:11:05. > :11:08.bottom three. We were comfortable for long periods in the game.
:11:08. > :11:18.just kept running and running and thankfully things opened for up for
:11:18. > :11:23.
:11:23. > :11:26.me but more importantly we got the So, with Portsmouth deducted ten
:11:26. > :11:36.points, Forest climb out of the bottom three but it's still too
:11:36. > :11:40.
:11:40. > :11:45.tight to call down there. Gentlemen, you are big Forest fans.
:11:45. > :11:51.They could have gone bottom if a bond -- Doncaster Rovers had not
:11:51. > :11:56.been superseded by Leeds United. In terms of Forest moving forward,
:11:56. > :11:59.vitally important three points. was a massive one. Whoever lost
:11:59. > :12:03.that game would have been favourites to go down.
:12:03. > :12:08.Unfortunately Coventry lost it, but hopefully this might give them a
:12:08. > :12:13.bit of team spirit, a kick up the backside and start to climb the
:12:13. > :12:19.table for all stock it has been a tough year for Nottingham Forest on
:12:19. > :12:23.the pitch and with the sad death of a night will. Plenty for Forest to
:12:23. > :12:31.worry about, but on the pitch the players stood up to be counted,
:12:31. > :12:36.especially in the second half. was a big game. When you are facing
:12:36. > :12:44.relegation, it is all hands to the Poms, especially home games we have
:12:44. > :12:48.to get the points. As a former centre half, you will not be to
:12:48. > :12:53.have the with the Coventry defending for the first goal. The
:12:53. > :13:03.ball was picked up on the halfway line, the players saunters through.
:13:03. > :13:07.
:13:07. > :13:12.No, it has gone... New look at the midfield players as well. We all
:13:12. > :13:18.talk about taking one for the team, but if you are fighting for your
:13:18. > :13:23.lives in the division, it is a case of taking one for the team, that is
:13:23. > :13:31.what the pros talk about. Are you surprised at the position of
:13:31. > :13:35.foreign start in? -- Nottingham Forest are in? Plenty of experience
:13:35. > :13:40.in the team so people are looking at them pushing forward for a play-
:13:40. > :13:46.off place. It has been a strange season for them. Especially when
:13:46. > :13:51.you look at last season. We just missed out on the play-offs and in
:13:51. > :13:55.the space of one season, there has been a dramatic turnaround in
:13:56. > :13:59.results and fortunes, financially as well. Hopefully this win might
:13:59. > :14:06.do something to boost their confidence and go a few games
:14:06. > :14:10.without defeat. You read -- heard the fans on our peace there who are
:14:10. > :14:19.not pleased with Steve. We all know what has happened in recent weeks.
:14:19. > :14:25.Is that a good fit for Nottingham Forest football? Not a universal
:14:26. > :14:30.choice for them. It was not a fan favourite at the time. But I can
:14:30. > :14:33.assure you, he will roll up his sleeves and begin and work around
:14:33. > :14:35.the clock to make sure that the football club gets success.
:14:35. > :14:45.Derby County's hopes of closing the gap with the promotion play-off
:14:45. > :14:47.
:14:48. > :14:54.chasing teams were squashed at The Rumsfeld behind. The Derby
:14:54. > :15:04.manager felt the scoreline was harsh on his players. Alan Martin
:15:04. > :15:04.
:15:04. > :15:12.scored Southampton's second. It is 3-0 after 69 minutes. The Japanese
:15:12. > :15:15.player scored a goal. We'd love to hear from you here on Late Kick Off.
:15:15. > :15:20.We're open for business seven days a week on Facebook, and you can
:15:20. > :15:22.continue the conversation right now on Twitter by using the # lkomids.
:15:22. > :15:25.Walsall improved their chances of avoiding relegation from League One
:15:25. > :15:35.with a 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Wycombe Wanderers at the
:15:35. > :15:37.
:15:37. > :15:47.Bescot Stadium. Good pace by the Belgian the youngster. He takes a
:15:47. > :15:54.
:15:54. > :16:00.tumble. Penalty! Saved Again. Clear by Foster. It is in. An incredible
:16:00. > :16:10.finish by Kevin Hurst. Patterson, midway inside the half. He threads
:16:10. > :16:13.They doubled their lead. After three games without a win,
:16:13. > :16:23.Cheltenham are back in form. A 5-0 drubbing of Dagenham and Redbridge
:16:23. > :16:25.
:16:25. > :16:35.is where we start our look at what's been happening in League Two.
:16:35. > :16:35.
:16:35. > :16:39.He swings the corner in. He slams it into the roof of the net. 2-0.
:16:39. > :16:49.So 2-0 to the Robins and soon it was ten men for Dagenham when
:16:49. > :16:52.
:16:52. > :17:02.goalkeeper Chris Lewington was sent A free-kick! Hogan says it. He
:17:02. > :17:04.
:17:04. > :17:11.scores. The 9th of the season. Spencer! Spencer makes it four.
:17:11. > :17:15.Into the net! Mohammed will be claiming that one. Shrewsbury are
:17:15. > :17:25.fourth, two places and two points behind the Robins with a game in
:17:25. > :17:29.
:17:29. > :17:39.hand after a 2-1 win at Barnet. whips it in. It was an own goal! A
:17:39. > :17:46.
:17:46. > :17:50.great save. Good footwork and Scores! 2-0 -- 2-1. His 11th of the
:17:50. > :17:53.season. Port Vale won again but left it late to beat fellow play-
:17:54. > :18:00.off hopefuls Gillingham at Vale Park.
:18:00. > :18:10.A cross in and a goal. Gillingham take a lead. Heading towards the
:18:10. > :18:16.
:18:16. > :18:20.Another teasing cross. That will be a penalty with 90 seconds to go.
:18:20. > :18:23.Marc Richards steps up to it and scores. He sent the goalkeeper the
:18:23. > :18:26.wrong way. Burton Albion have now gone eight games without a win
:18:26. > :18:29.after a draw with Rotherham. Calvin Zola gave them the lead five
:18:29. > :18:34.minutes before half-time but Burton old-boy Shaun Harrad spoiled the
:18:34. > :18:37.Brewers' day. 1-1 the final score. Hereford remain perilously close to
:18:37. > :18:41.the relegation zone after a home defeat against in-form Swindon.
:18:41. > :18:46.Paul Caddis gave Swindon the lead with a penalty and Paul Benson then
:18:46. > :18:56.doubled that advantage. Rob Purdie provided Hereford with some hope
:18:56. > :18:58.
:18:58. > :19:06.but no more than that. After a wobble for Cheltenham Town, a clean
:19:06. > :19:16.sheet and five goals to be good. Very much so. Mark is playing good
:19:16. > :19:22.football. I've seen in a couple of times. To go to Dagenham and win
:19:22. > :19:27.five is a terrific result. Your role with the Football Association
:19:27. > :19:31.at St George's Park is now up and running. How much of the
:19:31. > :19:35.championship Leagues One and Two fours into your remit and how many
:19:35. > :19:42.young players are playing down there? We cover all of the leagues
:19:42. > :19:50.which we have to. If the lads are playing we will watch them. They
:19:50. > :19:54.are monitored all the time. We see quite a lot of football. We need to
:19:54. > :19:58.know whether lay -- lads are and how they are performing. Shrewsbury
:19:58. > :20:03.managed to win the game, they have Swindon tomorrow. They cannot
:20:03. > :20:08.leapfrog with a win. A good season for them. They are doing really
:20:08. > :20:13.well. Jaco is the assistant coach. A massive game against Swindon and
:20:13. > :20:19.the one he wins, it's a big push towards what they really want which
:20:19. > :20:24.is promotion. In terms of the bigger clubs like Villa and Wolves
:20:24. > :20:29.and West Brom but it would be fantastic, two teams they could go
:20:29. > :20:39.in automatically. Let's not forget Port Vale and Burton Albion are in
:20:39. > :20:39.
:20:39. > :20:45.the promotion shake-up. Yes, the Midlands... The region it needs the
:20:45. > :20:52.teams to be doing well. Port there have had their ups and downs on and
:20:52. > :20:57.off the field but the final push. St George's Park, lots of talk
:20:57. > :21:02.about it. Is this going to be a place where you as a coach are
:21:02. > :21:09.inspiring young coaches and they get the opportunity to come through.
:21:09. > :21:15.That is the plan. It is well overdue. The leading nations in
:21:15. > :21:18.European football have got those facilities. It is well overdue and
:21:18. > :21:20.looking forward to working there. There's another busy week of League
:21:20. > :21:23.games ahead. In the Championship, Birmingham's bid for an automatic
:21:23. > :21:27.promotion place takes them to Barnsley. In League One, Walsall
:21:27. > :21:30.will move out of the relegation zone if they win at Scunthorpe. And
:21:30. > :21:32.there are two games in League Two with a direct bearing on the
:21:32. > :21:35.congested promotion race. Cheltenham are at home to AFC
:21:35. > :21:39.Wimbledon while Shrewsbury play the first of two games which could
:21:39. > :21:47.define their season. Next Monday, they play Crawley but tomorrow,
:21:47. > :21:53.it's third-placed Swindon. On Wednesday, Notts County entertain
:21:53. > :21:55.Stevenage in League One. And then on Thursday, there's a cracking
:21:55. > :21:58.East Midlands derby in the Championship as Derby host
:21:58. > :22:00.Leicester. There'll be coverage of all those games on your BBC Local
:22:00. > :22:03.Radio stations. Every year, hundreds of aspiring footballers
:22:03. > :22:05.face heartbreak when they're told the won't be getting a contract
:22:05. > :22:08.with a professional club, me included. 21-year-old Chris Smith
:22:08. > :22:18.from Stoke knows what that feels like - he's already been rejected
:22:18. > :22:19.
:22:19. > :22:23.by Everton and Stoke. But Chris had another chance. From 5000
:22:23. > :22:26.applicants, he made it to the last four of a competition to win a pro
:22:26. > :22:29.contract with League 2 Swindon Town. Last week was the moment of truth -
:22:29. > :22:32.had Chris convinced the Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio. Late Kick
:22:32. > :22:35.Off's Laura May McMullan was with him as he waited for the 'phone
:22:35. > :22:38.call which could change his life. It's the X-Factor of football.
:22:38. > :22:45.Eight months of trials, over 5000 applicants and 21 year-old Chris
:22:45. > :22:55.Smith from Stoke-on-Trent has made it to the last 4. The goal - a
:22:55. > :23:01.professional contract with Swindon Town. It would mean everything.
:23:01. > :23:09.From a young age from playing football, it is something to aim
:23:09. > :23:14.for. It is your dream come true. He's already had a taste of Academy
:23:14. > :23:21.life as a boy with Everton and Stoke City but was released. Every
:23:21. > :23:24.opportunity I get, I try my best. It is like make or break. And who
:23:24. > :23:27.better to give me that chance than the charismatic Italian legend
:23:27. > :23:37.Paolo Di Canio - someone as passionate as a manager as he was
:23:37. > :23:38.
:23:38. > :23:41.as a player. To him a person's spirit is everything. If I see the
:23:41. > :23:51.passion or fire or fight in someone then I immediately feel something
:23:51. > :23:51.
:23:51. > :23:57.for them. They go straight away in my heart. Over a hundred miles away
:23:58. > :24:07.in Swindon he's full of praise for Chris. As a right-back he has a
:24:08. > :24:08.
:24:08. > :24:13.fantastic quality because once again he is a tough defender.
:24:13. > :24:20.so surreal. When I think about how many people entered, 5,500. When
:24:20. > :24:23.you think you are in the final four it is daunting. And he's obviously
:24:23. > :24:25.impressed Di Canio. After numerous trials watched by scouts and
:24:25. > :24:29.coaches, and playing alongside Swindon players - before Christmas
:24:29. > :24:33.he spent a week training with club. Well, there's just half an hour to
:24:33. > :24:39.go before he gets the phone call and obviously it's a day that could
:24:39. > :24:49.With the clock ticking away and the decision on Chris's future edging
:24:49. > :25:03.
:25:03. > :25:11.Hello? Hello. Chris? Hello question mark how are you? This is Paolo Di
:25:11. > :25:19.Canio. Hello, I'm OK? Your new manager, had you feel question mark
:25:19. > :25:29.oh, my God. Yes! Oh, my God. Oh, my God. At 21 he can now start living
:25:29. > :25:38.
:25:38. > :25:46.He was excited! I am very happy because he is a good lad. With the
:25:46. > :25:55.work he has put in to actually trying to achieve this, it is
:25:55. > :25:57.seeing the rewards come back. It is fantastic. I was so thrilled myself
:25:57. > :26:07.I couldn't hide it. Through hard work and determination Chris
:26:07. > :26:07.
:26:07. > :26:13.Smith's life has changed forever. Johnno, 1988 a young up Collymore
:26:13. > :26:16.was released. Wolverhampton Wanderers, if there's a lesson to
:26:16. > :26:21.all of the kids out there, if you do not adverse succeed, there's a
:26:21. > :26:27.way back in. You are testament to that. There are plenty of players
:26:27. > :26:33.what have come back later. Something like Chris, there is a
:26:33. > :26:38.chance. In terms of youngsters, you deal with a lot, at the elite level,
:26:38. > :26:42.there are a lot of knock backs, particularly young kids going
:26:42. > :26:47.through the academy system from eight until 16. How do you prepare
:26:47. > :26:53.them for the downfalls question mark it is an interesting question
:26:53. > :26:59.because it is something football has not catered for long enough in
:26:59. > :27:06.terms of the after-care. There is always an opportunity, keep
:27:07. > :27:13.persevering, football is full of... You look at the professional game
:27:13. > :27:19.and there are opportunities. Never say never. Chris Smith, you are
:27:19. > :27:23.based at the Potteries and you told me about the fact he played for
:27:23. > :27:32.stone Domino's I could not get into the side. He had the conviction to
:27:32. > :27:38.do something else. He is creative. It is hard work. With Paolo Di
:27:38. > :27:42.Canio, I am sure he can go through. Does this prove players develop as
:27:42. > :27:46.well at different ages, not only as a footballer but as a human being
:27:46. > :27:49.as well. He has had not backs from Everton and Stoke and has an
:27:49. > :27:56.opportunity. You can see his enthusiasm for the game
:27:56. > :28:02.undiminished. It's a real opportunity. Yes, and there are
:28:02. > :28:10.players what do come in their late teens and the managers want to
:28:10. > :28:16.instantly... 18-21, the development group. Players like that will
:28:16. > :28:20.benefit. He has a year's contract with Swindon Town. I think we
:28:20. > :28:26.chuckled when we saw Paolo Di Canio and his antics. A decent and
:28:26. > :28:31.passionate manager. Yeah, and we said he is who he is. That is the
:28:31. > :28:38.way he played and managers. He will bring the best out of him. What is
:28:38. > :28:41.your advice to young players baggage released? Keep persevering.
:28:41. > :28:44.Stick to your beliefs and never give up. Excellent stuff. Well