Alan Hardy: 'Restoring pride to Notts County my most satisfying achievement'

Alan Hardy has described restoring pride to Notts County's fans as the most satisfying achievement of his tenure at the club.

When Hardy took over at Meadow Lane in January 2017, the Magpies were looking odds-on to drop out of the Football League and potentially out of existence.

In the 16 months that have followed, not only did Notts survive relegation, but have gone on to finish fifth in the current season, giving them a chance at the playoffs.

"I’m often asked what’s been the most satisfying achievement of my 16-month tenure at the club," Hardy wrote in the Nottingham Post ahead of the semi-final first leg at Coventry City.

"Quite simply, it’s this: giving back to the fans a club they can truly be proud of once more.

"I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say we have collectively delivered fairy tale turnarounds in both our on-field and off-field fortunes.

"We now enter our first play-off campaign for 21 years. I shudder to think how many relegation campaigns we’ve had to contend with during that period.

"I see real smiles on the faces of every generation of Notts County supporter. Children, parents, and grandparents all united in their enjoyment of supporting our club.

"I know many of you felt supporting Notts had become a chore. Not anymore it isn’t.

"And wherever this play-off journey takes us over the next two weeks I want us all to enjoy it.

"Collectively, I believe we all now feel we are a club back on the up. A club which has a sense of real pride, purpose and enthusiasm."

Read Alan Hardy's full column here.

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