Billy Ayre was installed to the manager's seat at Cardiff when Frank Burrows resigned in January 2000.[18] "This came as a complete shock," he said at the time. "I was on the motorway driving back to South Wales when the chairman rang me. I want to keep the job, and I hope I'm given the chance to prove myself."
Ayre Today, Gone Tomorrow
 |
| The dreaded drop |
February 2000 - After disasterous 3-1 defeat at home to Luton, Frank Burrows accepts the inevevitable and resigns. Chairman, Steve Borley, cites dressing room unrest as reason for departure but fails to make known his sources. Billy Ayre is appointed caretaker boss. South Wales Echo reporter, Terry Phillips, fails to make a connection. Ayre is promised a permanent position if City beat the drop. "I have full confidence that Ayre can pull the club round," says Borley.
March 2000 - With City racking up the points at the rate of one a week they finally manage a 3-2 home victory against Colchester. Philanthropic City fans offer to finance transfer of Kurt Nogan from Preston. When player finally arrives (about six months too late) Nogan rises to the challenge with 3 full appearances and no goals.
March 2000 - With City racking up the points at the rate of one a week they finally manage a 3-2 home victory against Colchester. Philanthropic City fans offer to finance transfer of Kurt Nogan from Preston. When player finally arrives (about six months too late) Nogan rises to the challenge with 3 full appearances and no goals.
When asked if the signing was a 'disaster', Ayre responds that, in this instance that word was well choosen.
 |
| Cardiff sign Nogan |
Ayre recalls Robert Earnshaw from Grenock Morton with a Save Our Season plea to the 19 year old. "I'm not expecting Earnie to save us on his own," says Ayre. But he was really. Earnshaw immediately injured.
April 2000 - Late season away wins at Reading and Oldham ignite hopes that City will stay up and fears that Ayre might be appointed full-time manager.
 |
| Lowest ever league gate |
However, classic home defeats of the new Millenium in six-pointer games against Cambridge and Bury more or less send City down and put Ayre out of the running for manager of the season. Opinion is unamimous, Ayre is hopeless. 2-1 defeat at Stoke and 4-1 massacre at Gillingham put City out of their misery. Last home game of season is played out in front of record lowest gate of 'no-one'.
May 2000 - No sign yet of Ayre's resignation or sacking. News filters through that Ayre is considering new 2 year contract and will be confirmed as City's 22nd post-war manager! "Billy Ayre has vast experience at this level," says City supremo, Steve Borley. as if it were a positive.
June 2000 - Ayre is told to set about building a promotion winning team. The alternative, should he fail, is that Cardiff City will give up football and open a shoe shop.
May 2000 - No sign yet of Ayre's resignation or sacking. News filters through that Ayre is considering new 2 year contract and will be confirmed as City's 22nd post-war manager! "Billy Ayre has vast experience at this level," says City supremo, Steve Borley. as if it were a positive.
June 2000 - Ayre is told to set about building a promotion winning team. The alternative, should he fail, is that Cardiff City will give up football and open a shoe shop.
 |
| Cardiff branch out into retail |
Series of half-hearted signings follow, all overshadowed by takeover talks with Sam Hammam. Ayre is rumoured to have money to spend on players and change left over to spend on sweets.
July 2000 - Hammam takes over the club in all but name. Vows publicly to give Ayre a chance to prove himself. In private, says he would rather mainline 'horse' through his jap's eye than continue to run a professional football club with Ayre in charge.
August 2000- On eve of season, Hammam panics and appoints Bobby Gould as manager. To relieve Ayres humiliation he is graciously allowed to select the team against Exeter. "Billy Ayre will still have a very important role to play at this club," Hammam lies to the press and they print it. "I looked at my watch today and it was a quarter to one," Hammam tells the press and they print it.
July 2000 - Hammam takes over the club in all but name. Vows publicly to give Ayre a chance to prove himself. In private, says he would rather mainline 'horse' through his jap's eye than continue to run a professional football club with Ayre in charge.
August 2000- On eve of season, Hammam panics and appoints Bobby Gould as manager. To relieve Ayres humiliation he is graciously allowed to select the team against Exeter. "Billy Ayre will still have a very important role to play at this club," Hammam lies to the press and they print it. "I looked at my watch today and it was a quarter to one," Hammam tells the press and they print it.
 |
| 3 points at last |
As City relinquish two goal lead against Southend, Gould is seen to rush from seat in stands to the dugout. Ignoring Ayre, he directs the team. Draws against Blackpool, Rochdale and others suggest Ayre hasn't a clue how to win football matches and it becomes apparent that the only 3 points he'll ever lead City to are on the Pools coupon.
 |
| Cork |
September 2000- Ayre mercifully takes up position as assistant manager. After a few hiccups, City start winning. Was there a connection? Ayre's important role at the club is again stressed. Alan Cork, Sam Hammam's football son, is appointed Gould's number 2. Ayre is relegated to Head coach.
 |
| Great manager |
September 2000 - Ayre is demoted to Head coach after Alan Cork is appointed no.2 to Bobby Gould. "Billy's role at the club couldn't be more important," Bobby Gould tells the Echo.
October 2000 - Ayre applies for and gets the assistant coach's job at Cardiff City. "This is merely a change of title," says Sam Hammam, "Billy's importance to the club push for promotion is not affected."
November 2000 - In a backroom reshuffle, Ayre is promoted to assistant to the assistant head coach (reserve team) at Ninian Park. "I see this as a sideways move. I can't stress highly enough my regard for Billy Ayre." writes Bobby Gould in his programme notes.
December 2000 - After a string of poor reserve team results, Billy is given coaching responsibilities for the Youth team. He drives them to a game at Swansea. "Billy is such a loyal servant to the club." Bobby Gould muses in a memo to Sam Hammam.
October 2000 - Ayre applies for and gets the assistant coach's job at Cardiff City. "This is merely a change of title," says Sam Hammam, "Billy's importance to the club push for promotion is not affected."
November 2000 - In a backroom reshuffle, Ayre is promoted to assistant to the assistant head coach (reserve team) at Ninian Park. "I see this as a sideways move. I can't stress highly enough my regard for Billy Ayre." writes Bobby Gould in his programme notes.
December 2000 - After a string of poor reserve team results, Billy is given coaching responsibilities for the Youth team. He drives them to a game at Swansea. "Billy is such a loyal servant to the club." Bobby Gould muses in a memo to Sam Hammam.
Jan 2001 - Ayre installed as chief boot scraper and polisher at Ninian Park. "Christ! Are you still here?" Hammam says to Ayre during an impromptu meeting in the lavatories.
Available from Amazon Kindle
Bobbing Along Issue 1
No comments:
Post a Comment