THE Ardley In/Out Thread [Multiple threads merged]

[MAD_MAGPIE]

Surely working under such tough conditions as they were, Billy must have gotten us relegated?

Dearden joined Notts County in January 2002, with the club on the brink of relegation and suffering serious financial problems. He was named as Second Division Manager of the Month in March following a 16-point haul.[6] He successfully guided the "Magpies" to safety in the Second Division thanks to a winning streak of eight wins in the club's final eleven games of 2001–02.[7]

The remainder of his tenure at Meadow Lane was dominated by the club's financial problems. He was unable to make a single permanent signing but comfortably kept County in the division during his first full season. He set a record for the longest period in administration as a manager in British football.[8] He left the club by mutual consent in January 2004, with the "Magpies" under new ownership.[9] At the time of his departure County were second bottom of the division after losing a crucial "six-point game" with Peterborough United.[10]

It’s interesting how with the passage of time and the hindsight of the near 20 years since the Billy Dearden era it can be seen actually as a great achievement. We probably did not appreciate at the time how good a job he actually did under those circumstances. We had nothing before to compare it to. We do now. It really was truly a great escape to keep us in the third tier throughout his tenure.

I liked Billy Dearden as a manager and a man as well. I hope he’s doing well and he should always be welcomed at The Lane.