John Reed’s appointment as Ossett Town manager is a safe and sensible decision
Once as John Reed applied for the Ossett Town manager’s job he was always going to be leading contender and he has beaten off stiff competition to get the nod.
Reed’s pedigree as a Non-League Football manager is well-known. Apart from his last number one role, at Goole, it has been success, success and more success.
From league glory with Harrogate Town, Hatfield Main and in his first spell at Goole, Reed has won almost everything including the FA Vase with Bridlington in 1993. Then there is the ‘great escape’ with Stalybridge Celtic in 2005 which is arguably his greatest achievement because of how doomed they were.
Ossett have clearly bought into Reed’s impressive CV and he has obviously impressed during the interview. But because of his experience, it is a sensible and safe decision that certainly in a short term outlook will prove a wise one. He knows the Division very well. He’s a stable hand and since Ossett want to keep their side together, Reed is experienced enough to know he does not need to make many changes.
The last thing the club’s committee wanted is the team been broke apart.
Whether the club can reach the play-offs is another matter. It is a tough order and one that requires an awful amount of luck, but Reed has performed miracles before – ask Stalybridge.
Looking long term, it will probably turn out to be a good decision because in Reed, Ossett have a manager who was desperate to get back into the game. He was hurt by how his return to Goole in July 2012 worked out and ended. His stint as a coach at Scarborough Athletic finished in November as he was unhappy with the amount of input he was having.
Even with all the success he will feel he has a point to prove because of recent episodes and this will surely help Ossett.