‘One hell of an interview’ – Fans impressed with new Blyth Spartans manager on taking dream job

‘One hell of an interview’ – Fans have been left impressed with new Blyth Spartans manager Michael Connor speaks on taking the dream job.

Well, what a week it’s been for the Northern Premier League Premier Division club, Connor comes in to replace David Stockdale.

He will take over a side sat at the bottom of the table. Tom Wade had been placed in interim charge for Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Ilkeston Town.

Connor, a lifelong Spartans supporter, now faces a huge challenge in trying keep the club up, to bring back to feel good factor.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐑 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍!

✍️ We are delighted to announce that Michael Connor has been appointed the club’s first-team manager.https://t.co/PGLieS6IUE#HowayBlyth 🟢⚪️ pic.twitter.com/tgt6dT4bXB

— Blyth Spartans (@Blyth_Spartans) November 3, 2024

CLUB STATEMENT:

Blyth Spartans are delighted to announce that Michael Connor has been appointed the club’s new First-Team Manager.

Michael has an impressive track record of dedicated involvement in football coaching in Blyth, and comes to us after achieving no fewer than six promotions with our neighbours Blyth Town during 16 years with the club.

His side won the Northern League Division 2 title last season, and he leaves the club in second place after an impressive start to their debut season in Division 1.

On his appointment, Michael said, “After 16 years at Blyth Town, I am extremely proud to have the opportunity, as a local lad, to manage Blyth Spartans. I grew up as a Spartans fan and have so many memories of standing on the terraces for the famous cup runs; Spartans are the main reason I fell in love with football.

I know this is going to be a challenge, but I am excited about the whole community relaunch of the club. There’s a real buzz about the place, and together we can make this club great again.”

Welcome to Spartans, Mick!

Fans say good riddance to outgoing owner with statement issued on Blyth Spartans’ future

‘One hell of an interview’ – As mentioned, fans were impressed with the new Blyth Spartans manager on taking the dream job…

@ConnorJobson18: One hell of an interview. Someone who gets it. Hopefully this is the much needed turning point for the club

@geoffasenna: Passion passion passion. Mick gets it

@geordiegaz83: Wow if you can find a better first interview than that I would love to see it. Let’s get Croft park rocking!! Good luck Michael 👌

@MccourtIain: Well done. Just what we need. Someone with the Blyth passion. Not many have it. It’s a rare commodity. Howay Blyth. I feel like I did when Newcastle got taken over and Ashley went. I feel it in my bones that this guy is going to be the best manager Blyth has ever had. We’ll all be there behind you. But on an off day beware. I’m from Newsham. 😂😂 Attention. All football players in the north east please form an orderly queue. Follow Big Dan, he’s from Blyth and will show you the way. Can’t wait to meet you Michael 🤞👍🙏

@davmandmount: Impressive first interview 👏👏👏

MICHAEL’S FIRST INTERVIEW:

The new manager said: It hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s happened so quickly, just immensely proud. I’m obviously a Blyth lad through and through. Went through the ranks, and from Sunday football as a manic player alliance to having an injury going into management on a Sunday morning by mistake to doing going through the leagues, doing the hard yards and made a lot of friends along the way and always dreaming of managing this great club. And for it to happen I can’t thank the the board enough to give us the opportunity but it hasn’t sunk in. You know I’m just well I think when you’re born here you know what this club’s all about and for me it’s it’s just a dream it’s a dream come true and I wake up tomorrow morning I’ll be like well the hard work’s already started so we know what we need to do. We know we need to give bring some players in to support these lads, but, I’m just, I can’t wait to get started. I’ve got a buzz about myself. I buzz about it. I woke up yesterday morning. I was like, wow. This is like it’s just a honour, you know. I kind of the news kind of broke around Blyth on Friday. I walked in to the sports club, for paint and people will shake my hand and it’s just I think maybe I’m people didn’t relate to it because I’m just a normal lad from from Blyth.

Interviewer: Yeah. And, obviously, you’ve came in this morning with your family as well. Just what can you just explain the emotions when you got the call to say that you were gonna be manager of Blyth?

Michael: I nearly crashed the van. I had to pull over and kinda take a moment. Obviously, I know some of the board really well. I know they they sort of kind of known what I’m about, where I come from, and, you know, and when I got the phone call from my pal and he just said look, we wanna have a proper formal chat with you. We want you to do the job. You’re the overall choice from the board. Could you just repeat that? Could you like kind of just say that again? And it was just, I don’t think you can describe it because I think well, being from here and coming here as a 4 or 5 year old and those nights in the eighties and night in the seventies and the eighties and watching the wonderful players to Terry Johnson’s, you know, you know, Peter Guthrie, I became a goalkeeper because of Peter Guthrie, you know, and it’s just what the FA Cup nights and the replays and everything and, you know, the bottom end where I remember coming over the tannoy, ‘can you stop throwing snowballs’, snowballs going at the goalkeeper. And it was like just, what I just have fell in love with football because of it. And I think, you know, I know a lot of people see off St. James’s Park, Newcastle, the first time I went to football. It was Blyth Spartans, you know, and it was the green white shirt. You know, Terry Johnson lived at the bottom of the street, you know, and he’s there, come and stop and told us more playing football in the street. And, and, you know, it’s just it’s it just means something. It actually means something more. And, you know, I’ve had 16 wonderful years at Blyth Town. Who I’d thank the bottom of my heart, Sandra and everybody. But when you get an opportunity like this and I I had a job for life there And, you know, and football can be fickle and everything, but I could not turn down this job. This is such a great, like, club with history that, you know, that if I and I will make this work, by the way. And when it when it does, I wanna see the fans I wanna see the fans celebrating. I want the fans going away from the ground saying, I wanna come back. I wanna buzz out the football, the way I want to see football playing, you know, high intensity pressing just at them all the time, you know, and make this ground a ground where teams don’t want to come out the dressing room again. That’s how it used to be. I remember I talked to Terry Johnson years ago and tell you, club teams didn’t want to come out the dressing room because they knew what kind of atmosphere I was going to be here, and that’s what this is about. You know, and I want to call that again, you know, and and I think being a blind lad, you you have the feel for it. You you know what the fans think. You know, I my phone’s never stopped. Everybody’s everybody’s got an opinion, which is great.

Interviewer: Yeah. Obviously, very proud day for you. And if we now talk about the football inside you, you got into Blyth Town in 2008. As you said, spent 16 years there winning 5 league titles, overall and around about 5 trophies as well. When you first went into Blyth Town, I mean, I remember it back then. It was it was really just a field. I mean, when you went into there, did you have a vision of, not personally, but where you could take…

Michael: Yeah. I had the backing of Sandra. I knew the club could be immense. We didn’t have the ground. We didn’t have the floodlights. Didn’t have the stands. And it was a park field. My Sunday team used to play there. So you’re kind of thinking, where can we go from this? Just avoided the relegation and, you know, and offered me the job and I just looked at it, and it was just it was such a big step for me as well. And, you know, I got the back end and people, like, said, look, just go and do what you need to do. 1st season finished 7th. 2nd season wasn’t great, and then we made the right signings. We came. I knew I think as you as you when you as your football manager, you grow. And when I’ve done this, I’ve done this, like, 25 years now. So you kind of get your experiences and you know what works and what doesn’t work. And I knew what I needed, and I knew I knew what could could be achieved, you know, and we went for the grants. We won the Budweiser money, which was, you know, we had and that give us money, you know, we got the ground done, which then give us opportunity, but in that time we were winning the Northern Alliance anyway year in year out. Took 3 years to get that done, but we won it every year and then we finally got that opportunity in the Northern League, and, you know, for whatever reason it didn’t work out, which I don’t wanna talk about. And because I’ve got high morals and how I see football has see clubs run. And then I took my opportunity, had a month off, with the support of Sandra, which a team that had been my reserve team, which was now the first team was in the 2nd division Northern Alliance. And I went back there. But I knew I had the infrastructure the second time around. So I knew I could sell it to players. So we we built, got got out the first 2nd division straight away, won the 1st division. Obviously, COVID hit for 2 years, and then we got promoted. And then 3 years to stabilise it where, you know, the 1st year we had no money in the league. 2nd year, we finished 6th. You know, Gav was in with us then Gavin Fell. And obviously, we did we did the records last season, which was a 104 points, which, you know, I’m immensely proud of all the players and, and and what we’ve what what we achieved. But, you know, and and we came into this season again doing really well. You know, senior cup final as well last season and we’re 2nd in the league and, you know, when I came back the first time, I promised Sandra a top 6 first division Northern League team. And I hope in time, she’ll look back and think he did what he said he said he would do, and that’s what I done. I think in life, you get one chance. And when your local team with a history of Blyth and to me it will always be the biggest non league club, pick up the phone and say we would love you to be manager. You don’t say no. You just don’t. You don’t.

Interviewer: And, let’s talk a bit a little bit about your managerial philosophy then. Like, what’s you know, for supporters that haven’t watched Blyth Town, what kind of football do you like to play? Is it front foot, back foot?

Michael: I don’t sit back. We did we had to couple of times, you’ve got obviously look at your opposition. My philosophy, high intensity football, brave, be in the front foot, Can the first pass be forward, if possible, and quick? Can we play in a way that we excite the fans? Can we play can we entertain them? But first and foremost is to win games because I want supporters and even here or go into the way games and coming away and saying, wow. And if we lose, they know there’s been no stone unturned. We’ve given everything we can give. Well, I’m just sat back and went, just keep coming, keep coming. We’ll see when we have a counter attack. I’m not that kind of manager, and I may get destroyed for that and but I’ll when I walk out this door at some point or I’ll get pushed out the door, whatever happens, I hope hopefully I leave a legacy like I’ve hopefully done a Blyth Town. And I hope the fans remember and think you know what it is. Mixed teams give it all and they give everything they could possibly give in every game. And when they go home they go, you know, I’ve got a buzz. I’ve got a buzz of watching Blyth. They wanted to win. They had intensity, you know. You’ve got a play with a smile on your face and maybe the players here, because they’ve been through so much with what with what’s went on, they haven’t done that. And I’m here to do that. I’m here to make it a happy place to be at, not just for the support and the people around it, the bar staff, everybody, but, you know, it’s just for the players to go, hey I wanna go to Blyth Spartans. I wanna be in that changing room. I wanna be on that pitch. I wanna have that buzz back. I know I’ve got the back end of the fans, and, you know, the sky is the limit for this club, you know, and it’s got the potential to be as big as it wants to be, but it takes time. And and and that and that is my job to to make that happen.

Interviewer: Yeah. And, obviously, now we’ll talk a little bit about now you’re coming to Blyth and, obviously, without naming names, have you got a coaching team lined up?

Michael: Yeah. We’re hopefully gonna announce that, later in the day or tomorrow before training on Tuesday. I’ve already got a coach lined up who would come in on Tuesday to help with the training and can and get it at a level because I think it’s for me to find out how fit this squad is, you know. I don’t know what’s been going on in the background, because they’ve had some great managers in the past. I’m here, you know, we’ve got set players to work on that. I think I’ve been completely missed off. I need to put my philosophy in place. It won’t happen overnight, but I want it to happen overnight. And just, yeah, the people who will be coming in, you know, will the players wanna play for, and that’s what it’s about.

Interviewer: Yeah. And, you spoke about players there as well. You mentioned before that you’ve hopefully got players lined up to come in as well. Are these players not just with the ability, but also with the attitude that you need to to progress?

Michael: Yeah. I’m actually looking for local lads if I can. You know, I think the the big thing for me would be to have players who have been from Blyth. You know, I know I hopefully have maybe cracked that with a couple, because I think when you get that, they know what it’s about and it maybe give that something extra. But, you know, I’m looking at the Blyth Town throughout the years, we haven’t just looked at the ability wise, we’ve looked at attitudes, the personality, and it’s such a major thing because you want that dress room to be together, you know. And and if if we can get that right in the dressing room, it’ll go up in the pitch. But, yeah, I think from a 10 past 9 yesterday morning, I thought I I think I maybe got 3 or 4 over the line. But these players here, they need the help. They need people. I know that, these young lads have done fantastically well who have been thrust into the spotlight at a big club and at a high level, and and you know others and they’ve done the shirt proud, but they need all their heads, they need people with a bit of experience around them that can kind of nurture them and bring them on. And this is what we’re gonna be about. So, yeah, it’s exciting. There’s a certain way, certain kind of player I like. And, you know, and I’m looking forward to working with these players because I think the big thing good thing for them is not one of them will know me, you know, and it’s a clean slate for them. So they’re coming here and they’re coming here on Tuesday afternoon with attitude of, you know what it is. This is a new beginning. This is where we go to a Warrington on Saturday and we go and get a result because that’s what it’s about. And if they come with that attitude and that mindset and they come with the attitude tomorrow on Tuesday of I’m gonna give a 100% of training, we won’t have any problems for the rest of the season. So you know exciting. I know what I’m inheriting. I’m inheriting some good players, players who have been at a higher level, and I need them to step up. And, you know, it’s exciting. It’s exciting. And come come Saturday, hopefully, you’ll see a team that will be well structured, will be ready ready for the fight and ready to pay for that shirt. So when they put that badge on their chest, it it means something for them. And and they will go out there and they will give everything for the fans.

Interviewer: Yeah. And, obviously, looking at the the league table, we do currently sit bottom. We have got lots of games in hand. It’s not out of our reach at all.

Michael: Not at all. Not at all. Football changes turns can turn overnight. You know, you get a couple of results and the momentum just kicks in and you suddenly become you feel unbeatable. And I think as players, these players when you’re being on a bad run, you you you sometimes you you might you play great for 20 minutes in a game then suddenly you consider a goal and you’re like, it will go again. You know, and and and that’s football, but just get that first win. And then the momentum is, you know, and it just keeps going and keeps rolling and keeps rolling, and suddenly you’re 5 or 6 games unbeaten. You know, and when in I know it was Northern Alliance Football, but you can even say Northern League football when we did right work work on like 15, 16 games unbeaten. And then you would lose 1, but you would start again because the mentality was actually we know we can beat teams. So we’ve had that 16 games, but this season, the proof that they beat Stockton away, you know, which was a wonderful result. You know? And so they know they can do it. It’s just, you know, and I’ll speak to the captain probably later in the day and find out his thoughts and but, you know, this is a clean slate. This is like a new beginning, you know, got a fantastic new board here who applied large, who just love the club, and have saved it, by the way, from administration. And they’re gonna we’re gonna be open, honest. The supporters will no doubt face their opinions to me when they say is about who should be playing, who shouldn’t be playing. But this is what I’m here for. I’m here to take all the pressure off the players, and let them go out there with a smile on their faces and enjoy it and play the football I want them to play. And if they can’t play it, and this is no disrespect, other players will come and we’ll be able to do it. Because I want a team out there that wins games of football, and that’s and that’s what it’s all about.

Interviewer: Yeah. And we’ve got a quite a a trip on, on Saturday with Warrington Rylands. Yes. You know, are you gonna be doing your your homework on…?

Michael: Well, yeah. Yeah. I’ll be making phone calls and and find out about them. This is I think for for me, I was very lucky at at Blyth Town. I had Gav. So Gav would go and watch teams beforehand, and he we would have we would have we know about them. We know star players. We know weaknesses, everything. Blyth Spartans haven’t got a scout. They haven’t got they haven’t got somebody going out watching, and I’m thinking the structure needs to be right. And I’m thinking, so I’ll be making phone calls and say, can you tell us about this team. But if you but in truth in all honesty, they know nothing about us because we’ll be a different team on Saturday. We’ll be a different kettle of fish on Saturday, and we’ll be a team that’ll give it a go. And that’s all I can ask for my players. And you know what it is? I want the fans when they come back on the bus, and I know it’s well supported, Blyth. Very well supported. I want them back on the bus, but no doubt I’ll get the text messages of 1 of I’ve wanted to with the green army and stuff, but and on their thoughts, but I just want them to go away and think I’m happy. They’ve given it yes. I wanna win, but they’ve given it a shot. They’ve they’ve they’ve went for the result.

Interviewer: So on 16th, we’ve got Matlock at home. That’s that’s your first home game in charge. Just what message would you give to the support as to to to try and gather them up to to come through the turnstiles and just what what do you want to say to the fans?

Michael: We need to win our home games, first and foremost. And at Blyth, it’s always been a ground, and I know players who have been here from opposition that they didn’t wanna come here. They don’t wanna come here on a cold Tuesday night. They don’t wanna come here on a Saturday, and I want I want the fans to be behind us. I want a crowd this packed out. I want me I want this ground to be like a fortress again. I want to hear the the Spartans roar again, and I want the positivity. I want people here in their droves coming early, using the clubhouse, coming in, and and just making a party atmosphere, and make an atmosphere that when when Matlock come up in this pitch, they’re like, I don’t want to come up to change rooms here. And you know what it is, you do as fans, if they do that, I’ll guarantee you my team on the back of that will put a performance in, and a performance that they’d be like, wow. And you know what it is? That’s all I can ask for, and we can’t do anything without the fans. And the and this is what it’s all about now. The fans own it, you know, so if we get the back end of the fans, which I know they do, you know, and they’ve had a lot of negativity and they’ve had a lot of they’ve they’ve watched with disrespect. Some struggling teams here over the last few years. Let’s turn this around. Let’s make sure when it comes to that Saturday, it’s a beginning. It’s a beginning of us pushing up that table. And they know what it is. Anything can happen this season. We’ve done it before. I’m saying we need that positivity. We need people. We need the fans back. And it you don’t and a lot of people won’t realise, when the players have that, what a difference it makes. And it makes them that inch tall on the pitch. It makes them try that little bit harder, and it makes them realise what this great club’s about. And, you know, if we get it right, wow. And I know because I work in this town. You know, I go to people’s houses, fit their carpets, fit the flooring, and I know what it means to them. I know what Saturday afternoon means to them. And I’ll be seeing that. I know the players do and everybody knows, but it means something, they leave this ground, it spoils their weekends. I’ve been at sports club, after Spartans got beat, and I know the atmosphere, and I know what a buzz it is when they win. And that’s what I want. I want this town alive again. I want people thinking Spartans are on the up. We can do it, and we will do it. And I will make that promise to the fans now. I will give every single bit of my ounce of my blood for this team, and I’ll make it good again. I’ll make everybody super proud.