Leadership Challenge

The End of an Era: Brian Resigns

“It’s a Funny Old World, Saint”

The Resignation of Brian Clough following a challenge for the management of Nottingham Forest has sent shock waves through the world of football.

In this issue:

• We look back at the events of the last few days,
• Gary Badly presents a personal view of the man,
• We interview former Tricky Trees and anyone else we could get a printable quote from,
• We have a few drinks,
• We look at those management challengers
• And, for those of you who like high tech computer graphics, we explain the voting system using fancy pictures.

The Man Who Transformed Nottingham Forest

By Gary Badly

A week is a long time in football.  It was only 7 days ago that I was forgiving the poor first half showing against Sunderland and looking forward to another 3 points from Derby.  Yet here we are having lost the man who has been described as the Greatest Post War Manager.  The problems of the last year or so have been minor ones, considering that we won the League Cup twice, and we can look back over his reign with pride: we have much to be grateful for.

Brian Clough became manager of the Trees in 1975 and by 1979 our team was No 1 in Europe.  His years at the City Ground have seen a League Championship, two European Cups, Four League Cups, and a few minor trophies (does anyone know what a Simod is?), and the odd victory over Liverpool.  He is a man of enormous stature, never afraid to speak his mind, never afraid to criticise, yet capable (so I’m told) of praise where it is due.  Even though he failed to put the stags back on the Garibaldi shirt in place of that ridiculous tree, he will be remembered with great affection by those who love the Beautiful Game.  We shall never see his like again.

(Reprinted, with permission, from the Needwood Fans’ Football Chronicle)

Countdown to Resignation

18.1.89

First signs of the trouble to come as BC mistakes fans on the pitch after the QPR game for Arsenal players and starts a punch up.

14.6.89

Forest midfielder and holder of 18 England caps, Neil Webb signs for Man Utd.

26.7.89

Forest sign Irish International John Sheridan, but he departs to Sheffield Wednesday 3 months and one League Cup tie later.

4.11.89

[Forest centre half] Terry Wilson makes clear his feelings on the Sheridan affair by scoring Wednesday’s first away goal of the season, giving them victory at the City Ground.

7.1.90

Man Utd fluke a cup victory at the City Ground with Neil (18.5 caps) Webb in the stand.

4.4.90

Forest seen on television advertising Flowers by Interflora during a match with Everton.  BC urges all fans to “Wear your Pansy with Pride.”

29.4.90

Talk of a leadership struggle is postponed as Forest win the League Cup yet again.

25.8.90

The new season begins.  Forest are still unable to win at Anfield or get a point at home to a North London club.

13.11.90

Having resigned as goal keeper and proggie columnist, Steve Sutton makes a devastating press statement in which he reveals that goalkeepers generally tend to come out for crosses and occasionally catch the ball, rather than punch it straight to opposition forwards.

20.11.90

Neil (Fat Wallet) Webb, having advanced his collection of England caps to 20 during the previous 17 months, announces his intention to challenge BC for the Forest job, saying ‘Harry says the only way to get back into the England team is to come back to Forest’.

24.11.90

We can’t even beat Derby

25.11.90

BC resigns

Clough Remembered

John Robertson

“I remember me and Bri used to go round the Chippy for a crafty fag and a meat pie before each game.”

Capn Bob Mismaxwell

“Sorry, I don’t keep track of such petty games as football.  Who is this Clough guy, and what relevance does he have to Derby County?”

Larry Lloyd

“I used to say to him before we won the League “Here’s the man who won two League Championships on the same day: his first and his last with Derby in ‘72.”  Well, it worked: he went straight out and won another!”

Agent Cooper

“Damn Fine Manager”

Kenny Dalglish

“What’s important is Liverpool Football Club.  We’ve just got to get our house in order before the next game.”  (Translated by B. Rice.)

Frank Clark

“I thought I was going to be manager next!”

Don and Phil

“Never knew what I missed, til he kissed me.”

The Management Candidates

Neil Webb, the Challenger

Fat, former Forest midfield star, now with Manchester United trying to recover the England place he lost to an equally fat Geordie.  Can be seen trying to effect the spontaneous tear when things don’t go right for him.  Has recorded a version of the Happy Mondays’ classic “Fog on the Manchester Ship Canal”.

Roy Fenton, the Establishment Candidate

Therefore boring

Archie Gemmill, BC’s Choice

Former Forest player who has support from both sides of the club (those who supported us before ‘75 and those who came across from Derby).  Could play himself if Terry Butcher starts getting all the press.

The Clough Years

1975: We beat Spurs

1976: We win a Cup

1977: We win Promotion

1978: We win the Championship and a Cup

1979: We win two Cups

1980: We win two more Cups

1981: We sign Justin Fashanu

1982:

1983:

1984:

1985:

1986:

1987:

1988:

1989: We win two Cups

1990: We win a Cup

The Voting System

Many people have expressed surprise that Fat Wallet could mount a successful challenge on Brian Clough based on Manchester United’s form last season; however, the rules clearly state that in order to force a second ballot, the challenger’s club needs only to have won as many games in serious competitions in the preceding season as the incumbent’s.  In the League, Cup, and League Cup last year, both clubs won 20 games.

The second ballot is based on a vote of all current players signed from non-League clubs, plus all Main Stand Season Ticket holders younger than 50 on the first day of the season (providing both of them can make it to the ground to cast their vote).

If no-one achieves an outright victory, the three leading contenders go to a third round in which all Exec Stand and Trent End regulars also vote.  Bridgeford Enders are excluded under the “No Roof, No Vote” rule.

If there is still no outright winner, the result shall be decided on penalties.

[The original had the note: “Sorry about the graphics, but the computer crashed.”  The editors of the Tricky Tree kindly provided some to fill the gaps.]

Background

You may have noticed that the Nasty Party has regular bouts of regicide followed by a bizarre ritual to choose their next leader.  They change the selection process each time in an effort to pick a vaguely competent person but fail to understand that their options are severely limited for the simple reason that they are all charlatans, cheats, and chancers.

On 22 November 1990 following a leadership challenge from Michael Heseltine, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher resigned.  On 24 November, Forest lost to a team in the relegation places (and one which would eventually finish bottom of the league).  “Leadership Challenge” was written to celebrate the former and exorcise the latter.  It appeared in that year’s Christmas issue of the Tricky tree (Volume II, Issue 3).  It was also compiled in “It’s Twelve Inches High …” published by the Football Supporters Association (095185870X – It’s Twelve Inches High and It’s Made of Solid Gold by Matthews Tony, Et Al – AbeBooks).