After a poor run of results PNE’s new Chairman, Peter Ridsdale, told Phil Brown his time was up yesterday, 14th December, only 11 months after he replaced Darren Ferguson. PNE have had a string of management changes with Alan Irvine and Paul Simpson following Billy Davies. Phil Brown is an optimistic and charismatic manager and it is with regret that this has happened, yet results aren’t good.
A win at Hartlepool at the end of November was the first league win since the end of September when PNE were well established in the top 6 of the league. Since then poor results have continued although injuries seemed to fog the issue and PNE are clinging onto the top half of the table.
Now PNE are in the hands of Paul Unsworth and Graham Alexander who will be given a chance to prove themselves. With four games up to new year and then a two week break it could be that decisions will need to be made before the transfer window closes if PNE have any money to spend. Rumours abound that there are clubs after certain players, which in some ways is a good thing, if PNE can hold onto them.
The season is no-where near over and an automatic promotion place is still possible, although in reality a play-off place might be optimistic.