Ayre Today, Gone Tomorrow
Billy Ayre - His year in Football
February 2000 - After disasterous 3-1 defeat at home
to Luton, Frank Burrows accepts the inevevitable and resigns.
Chairman, Steve Borley, cites dressing room unrest as reason for
departure but fails to make known his sources. Billy Ayre is appointed
caretaker boss. Echo reporter, Terry Phillips, fails to make a
connection. Ayre is promised permanent position if City beat the
drop. "I have full confidence that Ayre can pull the club
round," says Borley.
March 2000 - With City racking up the points at the rate
of one a week they finally manages 3-2 home victory against Colchester.
Philanthropic City fans offer to finance transfer of Kurt Nogan
from Preston. When player finally arrives (about six months too
late) Nogan rises to the challenge with 3 full appearances and
no goals.
Ayre recalls Robert Earnshaw from Grenock Morton with a Save Our
Season plea to the 19 year old. "I'm not expecting Earnie
to save us on his own," says Ayre. But he was really. Earnshaw
immediately injured.
April 2000 - Late season away wins at Reading and Oldham
ignite hopes that City will stay up and fears that Ayre might
be appointed full-time manager. However, classic home defeats
of the new Millenium in six-pointer games against Cambridge and
Bury more or less send City down. Opinion is unamimous, Ayre is
hopeless. 2-1 defeat at Stoke and 4-1 massacre at Gillingham put
City out of their misery.
May 2000 - No sign yet of Ayre's resignation or sacking.
News filters through that Ayre is considering new 2 year contract
and will be confirmed as City's 22nd post-war manager! "Billy
Ayre has vast experience at this level," says City supremo,
Steve Borley.
June 2000 - Ayre is told to set about building a team.
Series of half-hearted signings follow, all overshadowed by take
over talks with Sam Hamman. Ayre is rumoured to have money to
spend on players and change left over to spend on sweets.
July 2000 - Hamman takes over the club in all but name.
Vows to give Ayre a chance to prove himself.
August 2000- On eve of season, Hamman panics and appoints
Bobby Gould as manager. To relieve Ayres humiliation he is graciously
allowed to select the team against Exeter. "Billy Ayre will
still have a very important role to play at this club," Hamman
tells the press and they print it. "I looked at my watch
today and it was a quarter to one," Hamman tells the press
and they print it.
As City relinquish two goal lead against Southend, Gould is seen
to rush from seat in stands to the dugout - ignoring Ayre, he
directs the team. Draws against Blackpool, Rochdale and others
suggest Ayre hasn't a clue how to win football matches.
September 2000- Ayre mercifully takes up position as assistant
manager. After few hiccups, City start winning. Was there a connection?
Ayre's important role at the club is again stressed. Alan Cork,
Sam Hamman's football son, is appointed Gould's number 2. Ayre
is relegated to Head coach.