Episode 6 Late Kick Off Midlands

Hello and welcome to Late Kick Off. Delight, despair, a dismissal and a

dream come true - all here this What's going on at Notts County?

Martin Allen is out and it looks like Keith Curle is in - it's 12

managers in 10 years at Meadow Lane..

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Trent, we're at the relegation

dogfight between Forest and Coventry - who's going to stay up?

And how a phone call really can change everything. Hello? How are

you? I'm OK, thank you. And we'll find out just how alright Chris

Smith is later in the show. I'm joined in the studio tonight by

two men who learnt their football trade here in the Midlands. Noel

Blake made his name as an uncompromising defender with

Birmingham, Stoke and Portsmouth and is now coach of the England

Under 19 team. And Michael Johnson knows all about life at Meadow Lane,

as player, coach and caretaker manager. Gentlemen, welcome. If

you're looking for job security, don't think about the manager's job

at Notts County. Keith Curle will be the 12th manager there in 10

years. He'll succeed Martin Allen who was sacked after Saturday's 3-0

defeat at Hartlepool. For Late Kick 33 managers you have seen come and

go, but it has been an event fall 48 hours. It has. After the game at

Hartlepool, as it happens it was our worst performance of the season,

but Martin Alan's departure was unrelated to the performance and --

that preceded it. He went for other reasons. Why was he sacked? There

has been disquiet of behind-the- scenes for some time. There has

been a lack of togetherness between the board of directors and Martin

Allen, and both parties would admit that. Things have not been righted

between them. Has he been harshly treated? Many will think that. You

only have to look at the message boards and there are some

incendiary comments about his sacking by Notts County. Keith has

been at the ground today. He will be unveiled as the new manager

tomorrow. What has been the reaction? The fans are mixed

because they would have liked a bigger name, someone who has had a

team promoted at this level. He has not done any of that and for that

reason, they are not exactly enthusiastic about it. We have seen

his backroom staff arriving here today. Colin West and Colin Lee.

think it looks a very strong backroom staff, very experienced,

and I would like to think it is about the strongest backroom staff

any manager have at Notts County. Two Homes game -- home games so he

has not got time to settle in. is a big week for Notts County. It

could hardly be digger for Keith Kyle.

Knowle, Keith is confirmed as the new Notts County manager. What do

you think? It is a very good appointment. I am surprised at

Marton going. But that said, it is a good appointment. Keith will go

on his own now and I am sure that you will put it into good practice.

He has been at number two for some time, but a short spell at

Mansfield Town. You will have learned to experience from Neil

Warnock. Obviously Chris has excelled in the role. It is

important that someone's teeth it - - someone gives you that chance and

belief. Hopefully he will get the backing of the board and get the

boys and revitalised. Team spirit has been low, but they are still in

a great position. It is all to play for. How important is consistency

as a manager, a coach? Notts County have had 12 managers in 10 years,

vitally important that the board make a statement and give him the

tools to do the job. They need to put a plan in place. It needs a t a

project because everyone suffers, the fans, the system, and obviously

the players. Someone needs to come in, keep has the job, give him the

tours, two years, let's go for it. He has decent players to work with.

They score games -- goals at every level. He will be looking to hit

the ground running. Yes, they do play good football. I'm sure he

will get his teeth into that. have been a player, a coach, for a

long time with the England Under 19 set up. No, I did not want to throw

my hat into the ring. It is a tough job. I have work to do it here.

have had people like Sol Campbell in gold at Notts County Club. I

played against them in the top division. What are the realistic

expectations of Notts County fans over the next few years, should

they be a need for the championship as much they always say they are a

championship club. We did have a brief spell in the top league, but

we fell out of it in two years. Notts County should be aiming at

the championship. They are not very far of the play-offs so it is all

to play for. Finally, good appointment for you? Fantastic. I

worked with Neil in Notts County in the early days. I think if Keith is

anything like Neil, we will be very happy.

Still to come, all the weekend's goals, including a much-needed win

for Walsall in their fight to stay in League One.

Now to a club I know a thing or two about. After narrowly missing out

on promotion in recent seasons, Nottingham Forest are now in a

struggle for championship survival. On Saturday, they played host to

Coventry City in a tension filled Time is running out now. Winner

takes all today. Defeat is unthinkable.

This was a game giving Forest manager Steve Cotterrill sleepless

Thank you very much. Lovely day! What about Steve - is he under

pressure? Well the only pressure he is under is the pressure of the

manager to get his team wining matches! -- a winning matches. He

is not under pressure from anywhere else. We have to start winning

matches sooner or later. Under Cotterill I really do not believe

we will go down. Any other manager would have been out by now. We have

got to start scoring goals. Coventry were backing their team in

big numbers. Nearly 3,000 fans were there. Can you stay up and what

will be the key to staying up. fight and a battle until the end of

the season. If we stay up, it would be massive. If we use, we will be

These players need nerves of steel and strong hearts and minds of

today. On what is a chilly day in Nottingham. The Sky Blues have the

worst away record in all four divisions but in Alex Nimely a

player who can worry defences. a shot by Alex Nimely. Very wild.

In honesty the first 45 minutes were forgettable. Tudgay goes so

close! At half time Cotterill responded with a double

substitution. Blackstock and Findley had the desired effect.

It's the post - incredible. Murphy had to be at his bravest and

It's the West Midlanders who almost took the lead. But at the other end

Garath McCleary went on an astonishing run. Forest come again

with McClearly. It's a great run As the minute ebbed away Forest got

Lee, big win today. Yes, big win. am pleased for the players and the

supporters because they are going home knowing they are out of the

bottom three. We were comfortable for long periods in the game.

just kept running and running and thankfully things opened for up for

me but more importantly we got the So, with Portsmouth deducted ten

points, Forest climb out of the bottom three but it's still too

tight to call down there. Gentlemen, you are big Forest fans.

They could have gone bottom if a bond -- Doncaster Rovers had not

been superseded by Leeds United. In terms of Forest moving forward,

vitally important three points. was a massive one. Whoever lost

that game would have been favourites to go down.

Unfortunately Coventry lost it, but hopefully this might give them a

bit of team spirit, a kick up the backside and start to climb the

table for all stock it has been a tough year for Nottingham Forest on

the pitch and with the sad death of a night will. Plenty for Forest to

worry about, but on the pitch the players stood up to be counted,

especially in the second half. was a big game. When you are facing

relegation, it is all hands to the Poms, especially home games we have

to get the points. As a former centre half, you will not be to

have the with the Coventry defending for the first goal. The

ball was picked up on the halfway line, the players saunters through.

No, it has gone... New look at the midfield players as well. We all

talk about taking one for the team, but if you are fighting for your

lives in the division, it is a case of taking one for the team, that is

what the pros talk about. Are you surprised at the position of

foreign start in? -- Nottingham Forest are in? Plenty of experience

in the team so people are looking at them pushing forward for a play-

off place. It has been a strange season for them. Especially when

you look at last season. We just missed out on the play-offs and in

the space of one season, there has been a dramatic turnaround in

results and fortunes, financially as well. Hopefully this win might

do something to boost their confidence and go a few games

without defeat. You read -- heard the fans on our peace there who are

not pleased with Steve. We all know what has happened in recent weeks.

Is that a good fit for Nottingham Forest football? Not a universal

choice for them. It was not a fan favourite at the time. But I can

assure you, he will roll up his sleeves and begin and work around

the clock to make sure that the football club gets success.

Derby County's hopes of closing the gap with the promotion play-off

chasing teams were squashed at The Rumsfeld behind. The Derby

manager felt the scoreline was harsh on his players. Alan Martin

scored Southampton's second. It is 3-0 after 69 minutes. The Japanese

player scored a goal. We'd love to hear from you here on Late Kick Off.

We're open for business seven days a week on Facebook, and you can

continue the conversation right now on Twitter by using the # lkomids.

Walsall improved their chances of avoiding relegation from League One

with a 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Wycombe Wanderers at the

Bescot Stadium. Good pace by the Belgian the youngster. He takes a

tumble. Penalty! Saved Again. Clear by Foster. It is in. An incredible

finish by Kevin Hurst. Patterson, midway inside the half. He threads

They doubled their lead. After three games without a win,

Cheltenham are back in form. A 5-0 drubbing of Dagenham and Redbridge

is where we start our look at what's been happening in League Two.

He swings the corner in. He slams it into the roof of the net. 2-0.

So 2-0 to the Robins and soon it was ten men for Dagenham when

goalkeeper Chris Lewington was sent A free-kick! Hogan says it. He

scores. The 9th of the season. Spencer! Spencer makes it four.

Into the net! Mohammed will be claiming that one. Shrewsbury are

fourth, two places and two points behind the Robins with a game in

hand after a 2-1 win at Barnet. whips it in. It was an own goal! A

great save. Good footwork and Scores! 2-0 -- 2-1. His 11th of the

season. Port Vale won again but left it late to beat fellow play-

off hopefuls Gillingham at Vale Park.

A cross in and a goal. Gillingham take a lead. Heading towards the

Another teasing cross. That will be a penalty with 90 seconds to go.

Marc Richards steps up to it and scores. He sent the goalkeeper the

wrong way. Burton Albion have now gone eight games without a win

after a draw with Rotherham. Calvin Zola gave them the lead five

minutes before half-time but Burton old-boy Shaun Harrad spoiled the

Brewers' day. 1-1 the final score. Hereford remain perilously close to

the relegation zone after a home defeat against in-form Swindon.

Paul Caddis gave Swindon the lead with a penalty and Paul Benson then

doubled that advantage. Rob Purdie provided Hereford with some hope

but no more than that. After a wobble for Cheltenham Town, a clean

sheet and five goals to be good. Very much so. Mark is playing good

football. I've seen in a couple of times. To go to Dagenham and win

five is a terrific result. Your role with the Football Association

at St George's Park is now up and running. How much of the

championship Leagues One and Two fours into your remit and how many

young players are playing down there? We cover all of the leagues

which we have to. If the lads are playing we will watch them. They

are monitored all the time. We see quite a lot of football. We need to

know whether lay -- lads are and how they are performing. Shrewsbury

managed to win the game, they have Swindon tomorrow. They cannot

leapfrog with a win. A good season for them. They are doing really

well. Jaco is the assistant coach. A massive game against Swindon and

the one he wins, it's a big push towards what they really want which

is promotion. In terms of the bigger clubs like Villa and Wolves

and West Brom but it would be fantastic, two teams they could go

in automatically. Let's not forget Port Vale and Burton Albion are in

the promotion shake-up. Yes, the Midlands... The region it needs the

teams to be doing well. Port there have had their ups and downs on and

off the field but the final push. St George's Park, lots of talk

about it. Is this going to be a place where you as a coach are

inspiring young coaches and they get the opportunity to come through.

That is the plan. It is well overdue. The leading nations in

European football have got those facilities. It is well overdue and

looking forward to working there. There's another busy week of League

games ahead. In the Championship, Birmingham's bid for an automatic

promotion place takes them to Barnsley. In League One, Walsall

will move out of the relegation zone if they win at Scunthorpe. And

there are two games in League Two with a direct bearing on the

congested promotion race. Cheltenham are at home to AFC

Wimbledon while Shrewsbury play the first of two games which could

define their season. Next Monday, they play Crawley but tomorrow,

it's third-placed Swindon. On Wednesday, Notts County entertain

Stevenage in League One. And then on Thursday, there's a cracking

East Midlands derby in the Championship as Derby host

Leicester. There'll be coverage of all those games on your BBC Local

Radio stations. Every year, hundreds of aspiring footballers

face heartbreak when they're told the won't be getting a contract

with a professional club, me included. 21-year-old Chris Smith

from Stoke knows what that feels like - he's already been rejected

by Everton and Stoke. But Chris had another chance. From 5000

applicants, he made it to the last four of a competition to win a pro

contract with League 2 Swindon Town. Last week was the moment of truth -

had Chris convinced the Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio. Late Kick

Off's Laura May McMullan was with him as he waited for the 'phone

call which could change his life. It's the X-Factor of football.

Eight months of trials, over 5000 applicants and 21 year-old Chris

Smith from Stoke-on-Trent has made it to the last 4. The goal - a

professional contract with Swindon Town. It would mean everything.

From a young age from playing football, it is something to aim

for. It is your dream come true. He's already had a taste of Academy

life as a boy with Everton and Stoke City but was released. Every

opportunity I get, I try my best. It is like make or break. And who

better to give me that chance than the charismatic Italian legend

Paolo Di Canio - someone as passionate as a manager as he was

as a player. To him a person's spirit is everything. If I see the

passion or fire or fight in someone then I immediately feel something

for them. They go straight away in my heart. Over a hundred miles away

in Swindon he's full of praise for Chris. As a right-back he has a

fantastic quality because once again he is a tough defender.

so surreal. When I think about how many people entered, 5,500. When

you think you are in the final four it is daunting. And he's obviously

impressed Di Canio. After numerous trials watched by scouts and

coaches, and playing alongside Swindon players - before Christmas

he spent a week training with club. Well, there's just half an hour to

go before he gets the phone call and obviously it's a day that could

With the clock ticking away and the decision on Chris's future edging

Hello? Hello. Chris? Hello question mark how are you? This is Paolo Di

Canio. Hello, I'm OK? Your new manager, had you feel question mark

oh, my God. Yes! Oh, my God. Oh, my God. At 21 he can now start living

He was excited! I am very happy because he is a good lad. With the

work he has put in to actually trying to achieve this, it is

seeing the rewards come back. It is fantastic. I was so thrilled myself

I couldn't hide it. Through hard work and determination Chris

Smith's life has changed forever. Johnno, 1988 a young up Collymore

was released. Wolverhampton Wanderers, if there's a lesson to

all of the kids out there, if you do not adverse succeed, there's a

way back in. You are testament to that. There are plenty of players

what have come back later. Something like Chris, there is a

chance. In terms of youngsters, you deal with a lot, at the elite level,

there are a lot of knock backs, particularly young kids going

through the academy system from eight until 16. How do you prepare

them for the downfalls question mark it is an interesting question

because it is something football has not catered for long enough in

terms of the after-care. There is always an opportunity, keep

persevering, football is full of... You look at the professional game

and there are opportunities. Never say never. Chris Smith, you are

based at the Potteries and you told me about the fact he played for

stone Domino's I could not get into the side. He had the conviction to

do something else. He is creative. It is hard work. With Paolo Di

Canio, I am sure he can go through. Does this prove players develop as

well at different ages, not only as a footballer but as a human being

as well. He has had not backs from Everton and Stoke and has an

opportunity. You can see his enthusiasm for the game

undiminished. It's a real opportunity. Yes, and there are

players what do come in their late teens and the managers want to

instantly... 18-21, the development group. Players like that will

benefit. He has a year's contract with Swindon Town. I think we

chuckled when we saw Paolo Di Canio and his antics. A decent and

passionate manager. Yeah, and we said he is who he is. That is the

way he played and managers. He will bring the best out of him. What is

your advice to young players baggage released? Keep persevering.

Stick to your beliefs and never give up. Excellent stuff. Well