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Next Game: Banbury Away On Friday March 29th Kick-Off 3.00pm

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The View From York


Well known York supporter, UKPhil, has given Bulls News his thoughts on this morning’s appointment of Martin Foyle.

The first thing to say is that Martin Foyle is a great bloke to work with, a Manager who is driven and focussed with extensive contacts within the game due to his own successful playing career and his time in management.

As Manager of York City, having taken over with the club in a disasterous state on the playing side, he stabilsed the club, managed to steer City away from relegation and even managed to guide a poor side to Wembley in the FA Trophy. It was the revenue from this Final that boosted his playing budget enough to bring in some better players to build his own side and the end result was that, in the following season, City made it all the way to the Play-Off Final against Oxford United.

We lost that final and I suspect, had we won it, Martin Foyle would still be in post as Manager of York City. We didn't, and in the following season Foyle resigned and still no-one knows why. It is suspected though that he felt the sale of Richard Brodie, who had scored 37 goals in the Play-Off season, right on deadline day had ruined any chance of promotion. Coupled with a "Play-Off hangover" a 5-0 hammering at Mansfield was the final straw.

Some fans were critical of Foyle's approach to games at times, often claiming he would big up the opposition too much and almost instill fear into his own side where no fear should have been present. He tried to keep expectations down whereas, on the flip side, Gary Mills our current boss has succeeded by keeping expectation high with a "no fear" approach.

There is no doubt at all that Martin Foyle is a good Manager. His record at York speaks for itself, he knows the Conference inside out. I think if he can get Hereford United supporters behind him 100% for the off, and is given a proper chance by both board and fans, he will be able to put the Bulls in a position to challenge.

UKPhil is a longstanding fan at Bootham Crescent, not shy of giving an opinion on all things football, but most importantly, a genuine fan who tells it as it is. He works in the media department at York and covers their games for YCTV.