Rank Our Managers

[swanseared]

Really interesting thread that got me thinking about ranking in order of what each manager had achieved. I ranked Wilkin in second due to the quality of his signings and the money he made the club from the sale of Moult. Although doing it this way puts Hughes above Ricketts, so needs to be taken with a pinch of salt!

- Morrell (FA Trophy winner and play-off finalist - left by mutual consent the following season with team in 13th)
- Wilkin (FA Trophy final runner-up sacked with Wrexham in 15th)
- Saunders (playoff semi-final - resigned to joined Doncaster with Wrexham in second place)
- Hughes (Playoff semifinal - sacked with Wrexham in 21st)
- Ricketts (resigned with Wrexham in 4th place)
- Barrow (resigned with Wrexham in 5th)
- Davies (left to join Walsall with Wrexham in 13th at year end)
- Mills (finished 10th in first season and sacked with Wrexham in 15th)
- Little (relegated to the Conference and sacked with Wrexham in 14th)

Not placed as still at the club and could still achieve something next season:

- Keates (resigned first time with Wrexham in 4th place and took the club to the bottom of the National League, its lowest point in history in December 2019)

[Ugolini]

Originally Posted by Prodigal Dragon

1. John Neal.

2. Arfon Griffiths.

3. Denis Smith.

The rest — I am afraid — refused, were pulled-up, brought down, fell or didn’t make the cut for this top handicap. Most would struggle to get in a claimer!

Smack on!!

[davewilli]

Originally Posted by Ugolini

Smack on!!

I would put Brian Flynn in at 2nd. He took over a skint football club and took us from 92nd in the league to promotion and into a very respectable Div 3 (League One) team and was instrumental in getting Coliers Park and our yourh set up so well respected. Can't put him above John Neal as he created a wonderful team and some great times.

[ruthinred]

Originally Posted by Rk11

Martin Foyle

Bingo Bango

[whead]

Originally Posted by northwalian dragon

I wasn't saying they're the results and that's the end of the discussion Just thought the stats would add something to the debate

Win percentages:

Ricketts = 54.2%
Morrell = 52.1%
Barrow = 41.7%
Saunders = 41.3%
Mills = 40.6%
Hughes = 37.9%
Wilkin = 37.7%
Little = 36.4%
Keates = 34.3%
Davies = 11.1%

Agree.

Wonder what the financial stats were like; Saunders had a lot more money to throw around under Mo$$ and Robber than anyone else on the list.

Surprised to see Hughes so high on the list - we've had to suffer some dross. Just goes to show how crucial getting the right managerial appointment is.

[Jaded]

Originally Posted by davewilli

I would put Brian Flynn in at 2nd. He took over a skint football club and took us from 92nd in the league to promotion and into a very respectable Div 3 (League One) team and was instrumental in getting Coliers Park and our yourh set up so well respected. Can't put him above John Neal as he created a wonderful team and some great times.

Not old enough to remember John or Aaron but would rank Flynn above Smith for the above reasons, yeah.

[Prodigal Dragon]

Originally Posted by davewilli

I would put Brian Flynn in at 2nd. He took over a skint football club and took us from 92nd in the league to promotion and into a very respectable Div 3 (League One) team and was instrumental in getting Coliers Park and our yourh set up so well respected. Can't put him above John Neal as he created a wonderful team and some great times.

I toyed with either Smith or Flynn in third and eventually went for Denis.

It’s interesting seeing the fans’ views on our managers from Little onwards, and I guess they do merit rating. However, none of them have been particularly good and, objectively, all have failed in their goal of promotion.

The reality is that Geoff Moss gave Saunders the largest budget — albeit it was unsustainable once he had lost interest in the club — but Saunders was too erratic to take full advantage.

Morrell was the nicest bloke but suffered because he was still one of the boys and wrongly thought he had to play on when his legs had clearly gone. But that’s what you do when you care and your budget isn’t big enough to meet your target.

Unless we unearth a new John Neal, and give them a budget and the necessary freedom, we will languish in this hell-hole for a long, long time.

[andywrex90]

Originally Posted by Funny_Old_Game

It took Saunders 3 seasons to even get us competing. And he had monster budgets compared to everyone else.

To be honest fella, you could give Keates the biggest budget in the league and we would still not get promoted .. we have never had the biggest budget in the league and never will with this set up.

[Phils-an-alki]

Morrell has to be at the top because he got us to Wembley and won something. Any lists with him not at the top is lunacy.