Chris Hutchings’ managerial record would put the fear of God into any chairman considering hiring an existing member of staff as the club’s new manager. The former Bradford City and Wigan manager was sacked from both clubs after being unable to fill the shoes of his predecessor, Paul Jewell.
However, Carlisle United’s Gregg Abbott and Chris Hughton at Newcastle United are proving they can cut it at their respective clubs, despite being involved in the previous regimes.
Hughton has managed to remove the black cloud of misery that hovered over St.James’ Park and install a winning mentality into the side. Relegation to The Championship gave the North East side the reality check they needed. Overpaid players and the club’s poor financial management gave Hughton the difficult task of removing the ‘deadwood’ from the club that saw the side relegated last season.
A summer clear out and financial backing from owner Mike Ashley has given the Newcastle manager the chance to put his own stamp on the team. Wayne Routledge, Fitz Hall and Leon Best are just some of the names Hughton has brought in to ensure an instant return to the Premier League. Newcastle’s comeback against Bristol City shows the changes the manager has made to the mentality in the dressing room.
Last season, the flood gates would have opened but the regenerated side battled on to grind out a 2-2 draw. The result has left the Toon Army two points clear at the top of the Championship table with a game in hand. Much of the credit must be given to Hughton, who has dealt with the circus in the boardroom at St.James’ Park to produce a side that has returned to winning ways.
A league below, Gregg Abbott has taken Carlisle United from relegation contenders to a safe mid-table position and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy finalists this season. Abbott was appointed manager of the Cumbrian club, in 2008, after serving as number two to John Ward, who left the club after 13 months in charge. The former Bradford City star has got the balance of youth and experience right at Brunton Park this season, on a restricted budget. Losing Vincent Pericard to Swindon, earlier this season, was a major blow for the side. But Abbott has galvanised his current crop of players and the results reflect this.
Ian Harte looks to have been given a new lease of life under Abbott, turning the clock back to his Elland Road days, topping the Cumbrian’s goal scoring table with 14 goals. The loan acquisition of Manchester City’s Adam Clayton has proved to have been Abbott’s best piece of business. The 21-year-old has been in great form scoring his first goal against Leeds United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second leg.
After steering The Blues to Wembley for a record fifth time, Carlisle rewarded Abbott with a new contract, which will keep him at Brunton Park until the summer of 2011. Despite the outcome at Wembley, Carlisle United will consider this season as progress.
Both Hughton and Abbott have continued the work of their predecessors, while implementing their own philosophy into their clubs.
More and more English clubs are searching abroad for new managers. Hopefully the success stories at Carlisle and Newcastle this season, prove those already under contract can do as good of a job, if not better, than foreign managers.
Written by Michael Muncaster