Notts County have handed the coaching reins to Ian Burchnall today after Neal Ardley’s departure.
The 38-year-old Burchnall has had an unusual journey to Meadow Lane, his management career started at the University of Leeds when he was 22, and his most recent job was at Ostersund in Sweden.
He replaced the now Brighton boss Graham Potter at Ostersund. Burchnall started well winning six of his first seven games – County fans will be hoping for a similar vein of form at Meadow Lane in the coming weeks.
Burchnall said: “I try to put out on the pitch what I think a supporter would like to see. We want to be very offensive, and play attacking and positive football.”
He shares his offensive philosophy with owners Alex and Chris Reedtz who said: “Ian is someone we’ve been really impressed with, he is also someone who looks at the game in the same way as us.”
Burchnall was quick to brush aside any suggestion that his lack of National League experience was going to be an issue, “It’s 22 players, on one pitch, football is football.”
The owners reinforced this point: “We don’t see it as a gamble that Ian hasn’t managed in the National League before.”
For the last nine years Burchnall has been managing a variety of clubs in Scandinavia and believes that the experience he has gained abroad will help him. “You gain lots of experience from every club you’re at and there’s plenty that I have learnt that I can bring to County,” Burchnall said.
The Magpies currently sit sixth in the National League with two games in hand on both Wrexham and Stockport who sit above them in the table. Notts’s recent form hasn’t been poor which is why the decision to sack Ardley came as a bit of surprise.
“It was a decision we had to think very carefully about,” said the owners. “It’s been a very difficult decision to make because we have had such a good relationship with Neal, but we feel like we have made the right decision for the club.”
They met with Ardley at Meadow Lane yesterday where they informed him of their decision.
They were keen to emphasise that their decision was made with a view towards the long-term and naming a short-term goal was something they refused to be drawn into. It is clear though that promotion is what the owners desire, and they believe Burchnall is the man to provide that. While there were many candidates he was the only one they interviewed for the position.
Burchnall, however, was clear what his goals are, “The objective is to gain promotion.”
There is still 17 games left in the league season, so while Burchnall will be keen to get off to a fast start, if he doesn’t he will still have time to make up the necessary ground.
The background of County’s owners is well known, owning a football analysis company called Football Radar. But they were clear that not all their decisions are based on data, “We do use data, but it’s not just that. Finding a player isn’t a mathematical equation,” they said.
Burchnall was very clear that he is very happy with the quality of his squad and that we are unlikely to see any new additions anytime soon.
On the immediate horizon though, is a visit from AFC Hornchurch in an FA Trophy semi-final tie, that in normal times would have had Meadow Lane jumping. Hornchurch, who play in the Isthmian Premier League, travel north with the prospect of a date at Wembley on the line. Notts are big favourites going into this one playing a team two leagues below who haven’t played any league football since November 3.
Supporters await not only Saturday, but the future with a sense of hope and inquisition. County belong in the Football League, hopefully Burchnall can guide them back there.
By Alex Brinton