3.36pm - UPDATE: Martin Allen makes first Cheltenham signing - with video
MARTIN ALLEN has been confirmed as the new manager of Cheltenham Town - and has already made his first signing.
Bristol City midfielder Scott Murray has been brought in to Whaddon Road on a one-month emergency loan and will go straight into the Robins squad for tomorrow night's clash with bristol Rovers.
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Scott Murray has signed for Cheltenham Town
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Martin Allen hopes to guide the Robins to safety
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'Mad dog' Martin Allen is the new boss at Whaddon Road
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New Robins manager Martin Allen at Whaddon Road with his dog Monty
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Allen was announced at a press conference at Whaddon Road this morning
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New Robins manager Martin Allen with his dog Monty
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Martin Allen with Cheltenham Town chairman Paul Baker
Earlier, it was announced 43-year-old former Brentford and Leicester boss Allen would take over from Keith Downing, who left the club by mutual consent on Saturday after a disappointing start to the season.
He has agreed a three-year contract with the club and will take charge of the team immediately ahead of tomorrow night's game against Bristol Rovers at Whaddon Road.
The new boss took a call during the press conference from Bristol City manager Gary Johnson concerning Murray, who was on his way to sign at Whaddon Road.
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At the press conference to announce his arrival this morning, Allen - nicknamed 'mad dog' for his managerial reputation - revealed he had brought his own dog Monty with him to Gloucestershire.
He also confidently assured fans the club would be successful with him at the helm.
"It's going to go right down to the wire - whether we reach the playoffs or not," he said.
Allen becomes the sixth man to manage the Robins since their elevation to the Football League in 1999, following Steve Cotterill, Graham Allner, Bobby Gould, John Ward and most recently Downing into the Whaddon Road hotseat.
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Part of the renowned, London-based Allen clan, Martin can claim numerous family links to football.
His cousins Clive, Paul and Bradley all enjoyed successful playing careers as did his father Denis who also had a four-year spell as Cheltenham Town manager in the late 1970's.
A fiery character, Allen earned the nickname Mad Dog for his committed displays as a midfielder for Queens Park Rangers and West Ham in a 403 appearance League career spanning over 15 years.
He began his coaching career as assistant to Alan Pardew at Reading, where he helped guide the Royals to promotion to the Championship in 2002.
He was appointed as manager of Conference strugglers Barnet in March 2003 and immediately transformed the Bees into a side capable of gaining promotion back to the Football League.
His work at Underhill gained the admiration of a number of League clubs and he was appointed as manager of Brentford in March 2004.
After saving the West London club from relegation in his first season, he transformed them into a side capable of competing at the right end of the League One table.
Brentford made the play-offs in both the 2004-5 and 2005-6 seasons, and enjoyed further success in the F.A. Cup reaching the fifth round in for two consecutive years.
He left Griffin Park in the summer of 2006 after becoming disenchanted with financial turmoil at the club and took over as manager of the Milton Keynes Dons.
He guided the franchise to a play-off spot in 2007 before moving to Leicester at the end of the season.
His spell at the Walkers Stadium was short lived and he left the club after just four games of the 2007-8 season after a breakdown in his relationship with chairman Milan Mandaric.
Allen's charisma and driven personality is certain to make him a favourite with the Whaddon Road faithful.
While manager of Brentford he joined supporters on a 25-mile fund raising cycle ride and once memorably jumped - full clothed - into the Solent ahead of an F.A. Cup tie at Southampton.
He has managed at Whaddon Road once before, bringing his Brentford side to Whaddon Road for a League Cup tie in 2005.
He included his father's name on the boardroom list that night as a mark of respect to the times the pair enjoyed together when the young Martin would accompany the then Robins manager to games.
Thirty years after sitting in the Whaddon Road dugout as a child Martin Allen will follow in his father's footsteps when his Cheltenham Town side host Bristol Rovers tomorrow evening.
Cheltenham Town fans are reminded that they can pay less for tomorrow night’s big derby game with Bristol Rovers – by buying their match tickets today.
The League One clash is Martin Allen’s first in charge for the Robins and could draw the biggest crowd of the season so far to Whaddon Road.
Fans who join the new fan membership scheme today will get their ticket for the Rovers game for £2 less than they would on the gate tomorrow night.
The membership scheme also gives fans priority ahead of all non-season-ticket holders for away matches and for home cup games.
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by Richard, Cheltenham
Monday, September 15 2008, 9:40PM
“Martin "Mad Dog" Allen is just the kind of injection that the board, players and the fans of the club need. Mad Dog has emotive links through his Dad to the club and has managed similar-sized clubs (Brentford + MK Dons) to the play-offs - with Chelt's record in these, I reckon we could be challenging in 2 season's time - as long as we can stay up this season of course! Good luck to Mad Dog and the players for 2morrow's game and the rest of the season. However, 1 things is puzzling me however. How come the board suddenly had enough money to come up with a 3yr contract for Allen? No doubt Allen is on a fair few quid more than KD ever was, so where has all the money come from suddenly? I speculated the other day that maybe the board didn't trust KD with what money was available, this seems to back this up. Baker has also said that further money will be made available to Allen to strengthen the squad further - funny who things change in a couple a days eh?”
by Robinsman, Cheltenham
Monday, September 15 2008, 8:51PM
“Welcome Martin and what a coup for Paul Baker and the board. He obviously is'nt coming here for peanuts and PB and Co have come up trumps and put their money where their mouth is unlike some here who bicker and moan. Take a trip down the Golden Valley and see the mess theirclub is in , ooopppsss sorry they dont play around here anymore.
It will take time but what a start.”
by Tom, Oxford
Monday, September 15 2008, 3:15PM
“Arrrrgh I don't know how anyone is moaning! I wasn't thinking Downing should go, but to be honest I'm freshly inspired by this. Hopefully we'll get off to a winning start tomorrow night.
Haters - this negative chat is not helpful. I've stood in the stands and heard you slate off Disco et al... please give it a rest. Get behind the team or grumble quietly. We're the most successful team in England in the last 15 years and long may it continue.”
by Bill Smith, Charlton Kings
Monday, September 15 2008, 3:11PM
“What a breath of fresh air!
Cocky, confident and gets a useful player in on loan immediately.
He's got my vote so far.
Wish I wasn't going on holiday tomorrow after all!”
by Leicester & MKDons Fan, Milton Keynes
Monday, September 15 2008, 2:45PM
“good luck.. and look forward to Long ball football.”
by northern robin, up north
Monday, September 15 2008, 2:04PM
“watched the video of the press conference. How theatre was that?? stage managed or what? I can imagine martin allen telling johnson at bristol city, ring me at 10.15am and it'll make me look good.”
by Stuart, cheltenham
Monday, September 15 2008, 1:31PM
“Thank you to Keith Downing for all his hard work although i feel he was always second choce to the unavailble Mr Allen at the time.Martin Allen will kick some of those lazy backsides who dont seem to have realised the season has begun.How come martin allen can sign a player like Scott Murray just like that when KD has so many knock backs? Martin Allen knows his way around lower league football and has good contacts.Support him,the chairman for without we would still be playing that pub team down the road and most of all the players.C,mon you robins!!!”
by Craig, Cheltenham
Monday, September 15 2008, 1:30PM
“Well, yeah, give him at least one game - that would be the polite thing to do. I can't say that I believe the trend of old players being brought in will continue because of one player, especially without having seen him play, for us, yet.
And I never assume anyway, because it makes an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'.”
by chelt, bristol
Monday, September 15 2008, 1:07PM
“scott murray is a great signing, a wide player with experience is what we need, he will do a good job for us. i play in the bristol city under 18s and have seen how he can play, who would you rather have playing a player who has proved himself at a higher standerd or ashley vincen? i no who i prefer!”
by northern robin, up north
Monday, September 15 2008, 12:50PM
“so what have we learned today craig apart from the fact that neither of us can spell ???? I think it is safe to assume that the trend for bringing in ageing has beens will continue under the new regime. I shall be travelling down tomorrow night and I won't be expecting miracles overnight either. lets see what this guy is made of and give him one game before I start calling for him to be sacked eh ??”