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The Sack Race by Hardy on 18/08/2002 Last weekend's NLP contained an article previewing the new Conference season, particularly the odds for first manager sacked. Is this just a bit of fun? The Sack Race Last weekend's Non-League Paper contained an article previewing the new Conference season. In it they commented on the betting for who would be the first Nationwide Conference manager to be dismissed from his job this season and suggested putting a pound on Garry Hill (right, looking pensive before last season's game at Woking) at 33/1 should the Daggers make a slow start. So is this just a bit of harmless fun? Well maybe not. All managers of football clubs from park football to International teams are expected to get results and managers in the Conference are no different. They are however chasing a very elusive prize as we found out last season and are typically doing so under the utmost financial pressure with tight budgets and limited resources. Of the twenty-two men in charge of their clubs for this weekend's season opening fixtures no less than thirteen have been in place for under two years, and six of those have less than a year at the helm, over a quarter. The average length of tenure for the current crop is just two and a half seasons, 30 months. The New Boys The newest manager is Halifax Town's Chris Wilder, appointed only in July. With Halifax going through severe financial turmoil after being relegated from the football League, Chris has been forced to start with virtually a blank sheet of paper at the Shay, building his playing squad from scratch. The next newest faces are Peter Shreeves at Barnet and Wayne Turner at Stevenage Borough both appointed in March. The pressure to achieve is more likely to be felt by Turner than Shreeves though with Barnet ineligible for promotion this season due to their Underhill ground. It is noticeable that all these clubs are ones that would expect to be doing better than they actually are, a common thread in clubs who change horses regularly. Dave Penney and Mark Wright at Doncaster and Chester were also appointed in 2002. It is also interesting to note that the sides that have come up and been successful in recent seasons have managers with above the average time in charge, Margate, Farnborough, Leigh and the Daggers being cases in point. Of this seasons promoted sides Gravesend's Andy Ford has been in place five years and Burton's Nigel Clough nearly four. The Old Boys At the other end of the scale is Morecambe's Jim Harvey, appointed in June 1994, who achieved promotion in his first year and has five top ten Conference finishes to his credit. In 2000/01 though Morecambe came 18th and the temptation must have been there to see what a new man could achieve. Morecambe stuck with Harvey though and they were rewarded with 8th last season. Next longest serving manager is the boss of yesterday's visitors, Steve Waywell. Appointed in August 1995, Steve has done wonders with really limited resources, leading Leigh from the Northern Premier League first division when he joined the club to the NPL championship in 2000 and to 5th in the Conference in 2000/01. Leigh is a Rugby League town and despite all the football club's successes they had a crowd average of just 493 last season. Two men who are not likely to be in immediate danger are Graham Turner of Hereford United and Graham Westley of Farnborough Town. They have the security of knowing that the man who could sack them is actually themselves since they both own the clubs in question. Turner, interestingly enough, has stepped back from team management twice during his spell in charge since August 1995 but both times only temporarily. So is Garry on his way? So is Garry Hill's position in the Dagger's hot-seat in danger? Garry is idolised by the Daggers fans and was recently given a long term, full-time contract. Sacking him would not only be a huge mistake but it would also be very costly to the club. The length of the contract is as much aimed at keeping possible suitors away as anything else at it would be much more likely that Garry would be lured away by a Football league club than dismissed. When Daggers Chairman Dave Andrews was asked his opinion on the odds given on Garry Hill's departure, he smiled and said, "33-1 are very generous odds and I might have a few bob on it myself"