1:50pm Thursday 18th March 2010
By Marc Higginson
ALAN Knill has revealed he takes inspiration from his Premier League colleague Mick McCarthy.
The Bury boss meets many managers on his various scouting missions around the country, but he has singled out Wolves manager McCarthy and Bristol City’s Gary Johnson as two he particularly admires.
Both men have had success further down the football pyramid and Knill, rated as one of the brightest young coaches in the lower leagues, has admitted he keeps a close eye on their respective fortunes.
“Mick is not really a friend but I did my Pro Licence with him and I like to watch him and listen to him speak,” said Knill.
“I always like Mick’s interviews because they are usually pretty honest and what you see is what you get.
“I have watched him build this current Wolves team and, even though they are at the wrong end of the Premier League at the moment, they are going to be a really good side eventually.
“He has put together a squad of good young players and that is something I like to do.
“I like Gary Johnson too — he has managed abroad and he too talks a lot of sense.
“But every manager I have worked for has always had something about them and then you have a go yourself and do it the best way you can.”
Knill has to draw on all of his managerial qualities to get his promotion-chasing Shakers side back on track after a return of just four points from their last 15.
His side have failed to score from open play in more than a month, but he is confident in the ability of his side to bounce back.
“Promotion is in our grasp and we don’t want to lose it,” said Knill. “Stephen Dawson was right when he said we need to relax.
“It’s not easy to do that when there is so much at stake and every time you miss a chance you can hear the crowd grumble and that transmits to the players.
“Hopefully it will turn around quickly for us.”
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