Turner to Step-Down as Hereford United Manager
Graham Turner Vacates Team Control to Concentrate on Administration
Apr 23, 2009
If you were asked “Who are the longest serving managers in English football?”, the most immediate answers that spring to mind are Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. Very few would be able to name Hereford United boss Graham Turner. But Turner’s reign as manager of the Herefordshire team will end on May 2nd, with a home game against the MK Dons, after 14 years in charge.
What Influence Has Turner On Hereford United?
It would be easy to underestimate the profound effect that Turner has had on this small West Midlands outfit. As Chairman, manager and majority shareholder; Turner is Mr Hereford United. Without Turner at the helm it is impossible to imagine Hereford United still as a professional entity.
During his fourteen years in charge Turner has overseen a two promotions in three years promotions, two relegations and four play-off appearances. Not only this but Turner brought the club back from near extinction in 2002. In fact Turner has turned the club into one of the most stable teams financially in the whole of the lower leagues, with the club turning out a profit for the last five years.
How Does Turner’s Decision Affect Hereford?
Some may see Turner stepping down as the end of an era at Hereford United. However the scenario would seem to appear more as “mutton dressed as lamb” rather a new dawn at the football club off the field.
Though, Turner has relinquished first team responsibilities, with John Trewick likely to assume the manager’s role, Turner will still play a major role in the set-up of the football club. As Chairman, he will continue to support the club financially and make sure that Hereford continue to turn-out a yearly profit. As well as this Turner will be expected to improve the public relations of the side and ensure that Hereford do not return to the dark days of administration.
More significantly, however, in his new role as Director of Football, Turner will continue to control player acquisitions and departures. So even though Turner will not have a say in who takes to the field on a Saturday afternoon, he will still control the influx of players in the squad.
Could Turner Now Manage Another Team?
However Turner has hinted, when he announced his decision to step-down as manager, that he still has an ambition to return to management at some point in the future. However decorated and appealing Turner’s managerial CV appears (30 years as a manager with 5 promotions in that time), the opportunity to manage another club is highly unlikely.
Firstly, Turner is still the majority shareholder in Hereford United and if Turner wished to start afresh at a new club; a new backer for Hereford would need to be in place, thus making Turner’s opportunity to be available for an immediate start slim.
But what may detract from the appeal of Turner is the fact that he has been his own man for the past fourteen seasons. He hasn’t had a higher figure of authority, albeit the supporters, to answer to when mistakes have been made. The buck has always stopped at his door but if he chose to return to management, he would have to report to a board of directors and also would have less opportunity to rectify any mistakes that he made as manager.
Turner has, though, committed himself for the foreseeable future to Hereford and fans will be hoping that with the changes that are going to be made this upcoming off-season that the team can rebound straight back into Coca-Cola League One next season.
