With Notts County flying high in League Two, manager Kevin Nolan is very much the man of the moment for overseeing the transformation of a side that was previously all but certain to slip out of the Football League.
In a recent interview with The Observer, the 35-year-old spoke about a number of topics both about himself and his club.
Pride of Nottingham has taken his quotes and neatly and concisely compiled there here for you.
Should you wish to read the full interview on the Observer website, you can do so here.
On the state of Notts County when he arrived at the club
There was so much when we came in which was just not right. We didnβt have a training ground. The lads were getting changed here and then driving 20 or 30 minutes and having to come back to get showered. The pitch had not been touched for six or seven years. Changing all that has given players the belief to go: βOh wow, this is an environment I want to thriveΒ in.ββ
On his career hopes
βI want to manage at the top level. I want to be part of big European nights, something I wasnβt able to do as a player, being in the Champions League. Itβs so difficult now, especially for English managers. We donβt get the opportunities as much now as we did, so for me itβs just about making sure I learn my trade here. Iβve got to make sure that I pick my path right, but at this moment in time I canβt think of a better place to be.
βIf we stop believing then it wonβt happen. As a young English manager weβve got to believe that thereβs still room for us at the top level.β
On the transition from player to coach
βEvery day you wake up wondering: βWhatβs the next thing for me?β You can see why people end up in divorce and depressed and not in a good place. For me thereβs a lot more to be done in that sense of looking after players. I was out of the game and thatβs why I work so hard now: some nights Iβm still here at nine oβclock because I donβt want to leave any stone unturned. I feel if I ever lose this job I know that I gave it my all.β
On his stint at Leyton Orient
"(Francesco Becchetti) should have just managed the team himself. Employing all the people he did was a disservice to football and a disservice to Leyton Orient. He wanted to tell you whoβs best to play, who should have played, who shouldnβt play and ultimately thatβs what cost me my job because I didnβt agree with what he wanted.β
On his coaching philosophy
βItβs quite funny because when Sam [Allardyce] gave his ultimate survival guide [for Premier League managers] on Sky Sports, I got a lot of cheeky texts saying: βItβs the Kevin Nolan bible!β Everyone thinks Iβm just a rigid 4-4-2 manager but I just like to stick to what I feel is best for the player. We have a system we all know but we can quite easily change to a three, or to a diamond four, because we work on it. Iβm not just a straightforward: βThis is me, I believe in it and I havenβt got a plan B, plan C.β I feel that I have got that and whether I need to use it any time this season, time will tell. I donβt feel that I have a [particular tactical] philosophy. My first and foremost is getting a set of β¦ I donβt like to call them rules β¦ but a guidance of whatβs expected when you walk into Notts County, whatβs expected of you as a player: discipline, respect, togetherness.β
On Matt Tootle's personal issues
βItβs absolutely fantastic what heβs done to raise awareness because there is a lot of people holding back and think that itβs a weakness and itβs not. The weakness is hiding it. Youβve got to try and bring it out so people can help you. When he comes in we can talk and we can try and put him at ease or try and get him back up if heβs feeling down. Itβs such a highβpressure job. No matter if youβre playing with 3,000 people going to watch it every week, itβs pressure onΒ you.β
On taking to the pitch for Notts
βAt the minute Iβm not in physical condition to play, thatβs my excuse, but I donβt think Iβd get in the team even if I was! Maybe youβll see me in that black and white shirt one day, but hopefully not. Thatβs a last resort.β
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