Graham Allner is sacked as manager

By Peegs
January 13 2003

Cheltenham Town have announced the news that Graham Allner has been sacked as manager of Cheltenham Town. Also departing is Assistant manager Mike Davis.

After a run of poor results and the failure to attract new names to the club Paul Baker decided to relieve Allner of his job as manager. Mike Davis has also left his post as Assistant Manager.

This news shows the clubs ambition is to do its upmost to stay in the Divison. Many fans have said "Whatever happens this season it will be are best league finish". Which is true but relegation is a failure. Whether or not Allner could have saved us we will never know.

A recent poll on this site showed that 70% of fans wanted Allner out. Although the board wouldn't have taken notice of this poll in their decision it was indication many fans had no faith in Allner's ability to keep us in Division 2.

What is puzzling to fans is the fact that Allner has been backed with £100k to spend on players in recent weeks. Subsequently - as reported on this site - the transfers fell through but why back a manager in the transfer market knowing that you were going to sack him?

What we mustn't think is that Graham Allner is a failure. He was assistant manager in our 3 years in Division 3 so was involved in 3 successful seasons. Fair play to the bloke it was never going to be an easy job following on from the legend that is Steve Cotterill.

Now the board must announce who the new "gaffer" is going to be. A story submitted by an Editor on this site before the sacking shows a few possible candidates - click here

I personally would like to see Nigel Clough or Steve Parkin as the new maanger, I'm being realistic in my opinion as of course an Arsene Wenger or Bobby Robson would be the ideal choice.

One of Graham Allner's bad points was the fact he seemed to just lean on the dug out through out the game. This didn't please the Cheltenham fans so hopefully the new manager will show a bit more passion.

In the mean time Mark Yates, Chris Banks and Bob Bloomer have been put in charge of the first team. Certainly Banks and Bloomer could be future managers but I would hope the board wouldn't offer them a position at this moment in time.

No news has been released as to when the new manager will be appointed although the new "gaffer" will hope its after Saturdays trip to Cardiff!

All the best in the future Graham, thanks for your servive to Cheltenham Town FC.