John Reed will be back, according to Paul Sykes
AFC Emley captain Paul Sykes expects his former gaffer John Reed to get another job in Non-League football, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Reed quit his position as a coach at Evo Stik Division One South side Scarborough Athletic this week, claiming that he did have enough input.
Sykes played under Reed at Harrogate Town and then Stalybridge Celtic where Reed inspired the ‘great escape’ from relegation in 2005 and he believes his former manager will be back.
“There has always got to be somewhere for John,” he told Sports Performer.
“Everybody leaves football at some stage, but what he’s got is invaluable to anybody and any club.
“With his knowledge, it would be a shame not to see him get another bite of the cherry somewhere.
“He would bring knowledge, enthusiasm and belief. Wherever he went, he made people feel like Premier League players.
“Whilst I’m sure he will have been at a game, he will have missed not been involved today (Saturday).
“I enjoyed working with John. His banter in the dressing room was great and his knowledge of the game is second to none.
“Everybody knows John in Non-League football. Players know him and he always has a smile on his face.
“He was great for picking people up after a defeat. He told everyone how it was, but for banging the drum and getting everyone motivated he is one of the best I have ever worked under.”
Paul Sykes played under John Reed when he achieved “the impossible job” at Stalybridge
Reed was appointed as a coach under manager Rudy Funk at Scarborough in the summer following the club’s promotion.
It was the first time in over 20 years that Reed had taken a backroom role. Previously he had led Bridlington Town, Harrogate, Hatfield Main and Goole AFC to unprecedented heights and Sykes admits Reed could have struggled to adapt.
“Yes (when he took the Scarborough job) I was a bit surprised because I always saw John as a manager,” he said.
“Having played under him at Harrogate and Stalybridge for a few years, he’s a leader and he’s got the experience.
“It is a bit strange him being a number two, but the experience he offers is invaluable to any club.
“(Adjusting to the coach role) could have been a factor. Once you have been the boss you’re used to calling the shots so it could have been difficult.
“He’s a very strong character and a popular guy in the dressing room so with his experience, taking a backward step would have been difficult.”
Sykes played under Reed at Harrogate before later moving to Stalybridge. Reed went onto lead Harrogate to the Conference North and then sensationally left his Wetherby Road post to take over Stalybridge in January 2005.
The appointment was a huge shock as Stalybridge were sitting doomed at the bottom of the Conference North table. Reed achieved “the impossible job” with seven wins out of the final 19 matches to secure safety, against the odds and Sykes ranks that as his favourite memory of working under Reed.
He said: “He came in on January 13th, my birthday, and turned up on the Thursday night and said ‘look you’re relegated and everybody in the league knows you’re relegated except me, him and hopefully you lot. Anybody who thinks we’re relegated feel free to walk away’.
“He brought a couple of players in and installed a belief. From him coming in with Mark Atkins, the form was second to Southport who won the league.
“It went to the wire because we were so far behind. I think we were 16 points adrift at one point. We beat Bradford Park Avenue in his first official game and it was tough to start with.
“I think it went down to the final home game when we beat Hucknall who were due to play in the Trophy final.
“It was the impossible job and he did the impossible job. I would put it near the top of his achievements. When he won what was the UniBond First with Harrogate Town, he had taken them to their highest ever position but financial backing from Bill Fotherby.
“With Stalybridge he took a team that were the whipping boys as we were bottom of the league and kept us up.
“The camaraderie he installed was fantastic and it was done with all the same players that there before he came, except for three players. That shows his management skills.”