Management Team Chemistry

I intended to write a full article about the live podcast, but time has not been my friend in that respect. However, I do think it pertinent to touch upon the management duo. I know it’s head coach and assistant head coach, but we’ll always refer to them as manager and assistant.

When I first interviewed Mark, he felt like a head coach might feel, someone who trained the players he had but didn’t get involved in much else. He would dodge questions on injuries in the media and often say things like ‘that’s not my department’. It felt like he was feeling his way in, and the fear might have been if he didn’t get full control at any point. In fairness, I never met him when he had Mike Garrity as his assistant, and this was only a couple of weeks after he joined the club.

This time, things were very different. Firstly, Mark felt much more confident in himself. This was his Lincoln City now, and whilst it may have taken a bit more time, the fact he’s far more settled is clear for anyone to see. There were no questions we couldn’t ask, none he was unwilling to answer, and he spoke with a much more candid demeanour. He didn’t feel like a man trying hard to settle in the first few weeks; he felt like the manager. I think the fact he’s had his first full window contributes to that – he’s likely more familiar with the players he’s wanted and the profile he needs to drive the team forward.

Then there’s Danny Butterfield. The assistant’s job is easy and hard in equal measure. it’s easy because you don’t face the press, and you don’t live and die by your decisions. It’s hard because people often see you as a faceless tracksuit, wondering what the input actually is. There’s no wondering with Danny – he’s clearly the slightly more relaxed joker to Mark’s straight talking, and their natural chemistry together shone through during the interview. I confess, I really warmed to Danny; he was at ease, making a few wisecracks, but also able to speak eloquently about the team and players. Obviously, he has had a good playing career and been around the game at different levels, so he adds in that respect, but I think personality is just as important as ability at times (you have to have both), and Danny appears to be just the right fit for Mark.