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Match Report: Notts County put up fight but lose at Doncaster Rovers

Notts County have stumbled to an unfortunate 3-1 defeat at the hands of Doncaster Rovers in Tuesday night's League Two clash at the Keepmoat Stadium.
The Magpies took the lead in the 20th minute when Rovers failed to deal with a corner from the left and Richard Duffy reacted quickest to prod home from close range, his third goal of the campaign.
However, the hosts equalised just before the break through James Coppinger, who was on hand to rifle Matty Blair's low cross across Adam Collin and into the far corner of the Notts net.
And not long after the restart, Rovers were in the lead as Coppinger turned provider, whipping in a cross that Mathieu Baudry headed into the top corner.
Just after the hour, Kevin Nolan's charges thought they had equalised when a Michael O'Connor corner was nodded home by Haydn Hollis, but the flag was inexplicably up to snuff out the goal.
Notts launched everything they had in attack in second-half injury time as Collin went up for a corner, but Rovers managed to break and, with the goal unguarded, substitute Andy Williams guided the ball into an empty net to seal their win.
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Joe Jones

Notts County chairman Alan Hardy "astonished" by John Sheridan sacking appeal

Notts County owner Alan Hardy has accused former manager John Sheridan and the League Managers Association of 'trying to run a coach and horses through the concept of respect in football' after appealing his dismissal for gross misconduct.
The 52-year-old was sacked by Hardy in January, just over three weeks after a verbal outburst at officials during the Magpies' 2-0 defeat by Wycombe Wanderers in mid-December, and the Notts owner admitted that Sheridan was let go due to gross misconduct rather than the side's poor form.
The Football Association handed out a five-match touchline ban and Hardy has hit out at both Sheridan - now managing at Oldham Athletic again - and the LMA for appealing his dismissal.
"I was astonished to receive notification from the LMA that Mr Sheridan has decided to appeal his dismissal," Hardy said in a statement released to Press Association Sport.
"We have sent back an extremely robust five page document re-affirming the transparent reasons behind our course of action.
"As well as being owner of Notts County, I am heavily involved in youth football, running a series of teams at Under 8s and Under 10s.
"Every week I see the influence that the professional game has on young boys and girls from as young as six years old.
"The conduct shown by Mr Sheridan towards the match officials in this instance was nothing short of scandalous. I am not prepared to tolerate any member of my staff abusing referees and officials in this manner.
"I fully appreciate that the League Managers Association have a duty of care to represent their membership.
"But surely even a professional body like the LMA realise they are being asked to defend the indefensible.
"Mr Sheridan clearly believes this 'industrial language' is used in everyday workplaces. Not in my place of work, it's not. And nor at my football club.
"The FA clearly felt that it was a case of the gravest nature.
"A five match touchline ban is one of the lengthiest and strongest punishments they have issued to any manager this season.
"For me, this is not just about John Sheridan, the LMA and Notts County.
"This case has much wider significance and repercussions for the English game as a whole.
"Over the past years, the FA have instigated a series of very admirable 'Respect' initiatives designed to improve conduct across the game.
"I'd think we'd all agree that excellent progress has been made but that much more clearly still needs to be done.
"Mr Sheridan and the LMA are effectively trying to run a coach and horses through the concept of respect in football. Potentially, they can set us back years if they continue to appeal the decision.
"Needless to say, we will be contesting any appeal by Mr Sheridan and the LMA, but I do genuinely think people should consider their actions very carefully before embarking on a course which may embarrass themselves in particular and the game of football in general."
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Joe Jones

Kevin Nolan looking to get Notts County to 50-point mark

Kevin Nolan has admitted that he is looking to get Notts County past the 50-point mark as quickly as possible.
With just 10 games to go this season, the Magpies sit on 40 points, eight ahead of the bottom two in League Two.
Nolan says he is taking it a game at a time, with a tricky visit to table-topping Doncaster Rovers awaiting on Tuesday night.
But with Notts back on form, the manager is taking the opportunity to draw up more of a mid-term goal.
"We have gone with the attitude that we will try to get to 50 points as quickly as possible and then we will reassess when we get there," he told the Nottingham Post.
"But what we are looking at right now is three points and the next game.
"My plan is just about Doncaster and what we can do to make sure we give our team the best chance of beating them.
"Everyone says 50 is the safe mark in football but you just never know in football."
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Joe Jones

Stat Attack: Doncaster Rovers vs. Notts County, Tuesday 13 March 2017

Notts County have met Doncaster Rovers 55 times over the years, with the first fixture coming on the 13th December 1930. On that occasion, an FA Cup tie, the Magpies triumphed 1-0.
Doncaster hold the most slender of advantages in the head to head - we've won 23 times, lost 24 times, and drawn 8 times.
The club was founded in 1879 and turned professional in 1885. They have spent the majority of their playing history between the third and fourth tiers of the English football league system and are one of four clubs to win the Division 3/League Two title three times, the last being in 2004.
Football League rules state that any team who wins a trophy three times can keep it. However, when Rovers tried to retain ownership of the actual Third Division trophy, the Football League claimed that Rovers could not keep the trophy because the league names had changed from Fourth to Third Division, and so they had not won that particular league three times.
The team's mascot is a brown dog known as Donny Dog, who wears the red and white Rovers jersey.
Before a scheduled appearance during the game against Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium on 4 March 2006, police prevented Andrew Liney from entering the stadium in costume, citing unspecified "police intelligence", and refused him permission to wear any part of the costume within 50 metres of the stadium. Mr Liney later received a full written apology for these unfounded allegations from the head of West Yorkshire Police.
The mascot was next portrayed by Tracy Chandler and in June 2011, she was relieved from the position after she posed in her underwear for a Sunday newspaper. Later in the same week she was reinstated back as the club's mascot.
Arguably the club's most famous fan is One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson. The 25-year-old had agreed to play in a charity game at the Keepmoat several years ago to raise money for the Bluebell Wood Charity and was offered a deal by Donny to join the club on non-contract terms after impressing in the game.
Team news
Doncaster striker Liam Mandeville has suffered an injury setback and will play no part against Notts.
Mandeville had been hoping to return to the squad for Saturday's home win against Cheltenham after being ruled out since early February with an ankle injury, but strained a thigh in training on Friday.
Boss Darren Ferguson has no new injury or suspension problems and could be tempted to name the same starting line-up.
Midfielder Gary McSheffrey is likely to start on the bench again following his recent return from a long-term knee injury, while defender Joe Wright, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair and Lee McCullough (all knee) are still out.
Notts have captain Michael O'Connor available after serving a two-match ban but Magpies manager Kevin Nolan must decide if his skipper goes straight back into midfield.
Jon Stead and Curtis Thompson will need to prove their fitness after both players missed the home win over Hartlepool at the weekend.
Striker Stead has a dead leg while midfielder Thompson has a slight hamstring niggle.
Both will be given as long as possible to make themselves available but French defender Thierry Audel may not make the matchday squad again, despite being fit.
Carl Dickinson, Alan Smith and Adam Campbell are among the other options at Nolan's disposal should he make changes.
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Joe Jones

Shola Ameobi delighted with scoring first Notts County goal

Shola Ameobi has expressed delight with getting his first goal for Notts County, and thanked manager Kevin Nolan for having faith in him.
The striker signed on a free transfer for the Magpies in early February and opened his account for the club in Saturday's 2-1 win over Hartlepool United at Meadow Lane.
"Listen, I'm playing. This is what it's all about. I'm thankful to Kevin (manager Kevin Nolan) for having the belief in me," Ameobi told the Nottingham Post.
"It's great to be back in a dressing room with people who want to work and do things the right way. I'm a striker. Goals give you confidence.
"I've never been a striker who bags loads of goals, but for me it's all about the team, all about winning.
"If I score, great, if I help the team, great. I'd rather have the three points.
"Hopefully it's the first of many goals, but like I say, the team is the main thing.
"It was a big game. The first goal was always going to be important. I thought it would come from the penalty.
"It's been a while since I've taken one. The keeper made a good save.
"We didn't let our heads down. Fortunately for me the chance came and I put it away.
"The manager told us not to get down at the break. He made sure we went out with all guns blazing.
"Jorge (Grant) put me in and I'm delighted to get the goal. It's been a while coming but I'm delighted."
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Joe Jones

Meet the Fans: Notts County vs. Hartlepool United, Saturday 11 March 2017

Pride of Nottingham were at Meadow Lane for Notts County's 2-1 victory over Hartlepool United on Saturday March 11.
The Magpies took the lead via Shola Ameobi, who scored his first goal for the club and made amends for missing a penalty earlier in the match.
Loanee Jorge Grant then struck a wonderful long-range effort to put Notts two up, ensuring that Haydn Hollis's unfortunate own goal proved little more than a consolation for the visitors.
Before the game, PON spoke to several fans to ask them several questions, including whether manager Kevin Nolan should play, thoughts on thoughts on Alan Hardy's season ticket renewal price freeze, opinions on the new pitch and a prospective new scoreboard, and of course the score prediction.
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Chris

Match highlights: Notts County 2-1 Hartlepool United, Saturday 11 March 2017

Shola Ameobi's first Notts County goal and a Jorge Grant stunner helped boss Kevin Nolan keep his unbeaten home record intact as the Magpies beat fellow strugglers Hartlepool United 2-1 at Meadow Lane on Saturday.
The former Newcastle United striker saw a penalty saved in the first half, but he went on to make amends by opening the scoring shortly after the restart, and the lead was doubled through loanee Grant's strike from outside the box.
Despite Haydn Hollis's unfortunate own goal, Notts held out for all three points.
Here are the highlights from the game so you can relive these moments.
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Joe Jones

Kevin Nolan hails "spirit and togetherness" of Notts County players

Kevin Nolan has hailed Notts County's great character, spirit and togetherness as they claimed another three points in a 2-1 win over Hartlepool United.
The Magpies went two goals up through Shola Ameobi - who had earlier missed a penalty - and Jorge Grant, while Haydn Hollis's unfortunate own goal proved not to make a difference to the points haul in the end.
Nolan told the official Notts site: "The lads showed great character, great spirit, great togetherness - everything you want when you’re down at the bottom. I’m proud and delighted for them.
"I thought we dominated, but when we missed the penalty it got a bit jittery. It was just about calming them down at half-time and getting them to think clearly again."
The manager also singled Grant out for praise after bagging his fourth goal in seven appearances, a ferocious curling strike from outside the box which sailed into the top of the Pools net.
Nolan went on: "Jorge has been fantastic. The lad's delighted be to here. I'm delighted to have him. Hopefully we keep him for a bit longer.
"We'd definitely like to have him beyond the end of the season. He should be playing week in, week out.
"When he gets that football he blossoms and then he can move up. Hopefully we're the club that gives him that chance to blossom.
"It was a first class strike. I'm delighted for him."
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Joe Jones

Match Report: Jorge Grant rocket helps Notts County overcome Hartlepool United

Notts County have rebuilt an eight-point gap between themselves and League Two's bottom two with a 2-1 victory over Hartlepool United at Meadow Lane.
The Magpies were given a chance to take the lead after 28 minutes as Lewis Hawkins handled the ball to gift the hosts a penalty, but Shola Ameobi's weak effort from the spot was pushed onto the post by Pools goalkeeper Joe Fryer.
However, the veteran striker made amends for his miss just after the restart, Jorge Grant slipping him clean through on goal, and the 35-year-old bore down on goal, picked his spot and slotted a low finish underneath Fryer.
Grant then went from provider to scorer in spectacular fashion as he controlled a clearance from a corner just outside the box, lined himself up and curled a wonderful shot above everyone and right into the top of the visitors' net.
Hartlepool made it a nervy finish when they halved the deficit 12 minutes from time, Nathan Thomas forcing a goalline clearance from Richard Duffy, only for the ball to rebound off the unfortunate Haydn Hollis and into the Notts goal.
Nonetheless, Kevin Nolan's charges succeeded in holding their opponents at bay and were able to celebrate the final whistle under a lengthy standing ovation by the Black and White Army as their unbeaten home run under the new gaffer continues.
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Joe Jones

Stat Attack: Notts County vs. Hartlepool United, Saturday 11 March 2017

Notts County and Hartlepool United have met 32 times over the years. The first meeting was on 21 September 1959 at Victoria Park, and the Magpies won 4-2.
We've played them twice this season so far - the League Two meeting on 20 August and a FL Trophy tie 11 days later, which we both won 2-1.
The head-to-head record stands at 15 wins for Notts, 12 defeats, and 5 draws, and we have won each of the last four meetings.
In 1905, the amateur team West Hartlepool won the FA Amateur Cup which at the time was considered second only to the FA Cup. Partly as a result of this the opportunity for a professional team arose in 1908, when West Hartlepool Rugby Club went bust leaving their stadium Victoria Ground vacant.
The stadium was bought and the current club was founded under the name ‘Hartlepools United Football Athletic Company’, representing both the town of West Hartlepool and the original settlement of Old Hartlepool.
The new team joined the professional North-Eastern league and West Hartlepool F.C. lost some of their players to the new professional side. West Hartlepool managed to continue for a few seasons, but it was not long before they broke up leaving Hartlepools United as the only team in town.
In 1968 the "s" and the "United" were dropped from the team name of "Hartlepools United". This was in connection with West Hartlepool being absorbed along with the old smaller town of Hartlepool and the village of Hart into one new borough named "Hartlepool". The appendage of "United" was finally restored in 1977.
Brian Clough was invited to manage Hartlepools in 1965. His reaction was: "I don't fancy the place," but he took the job anyway and stayed for two seasons alongside Peter Taylor.
Under Cyril Knowles' management the club won promotion to the Third Division in 1990, but Hartlepool's greatest moment occurred in 2005 when they narrowly missed promotion to The Championship.
According to local folklore, the term “Monkey Hangers”, which Hartlepudlians are sometimes called, originates from an incident in which a monkey was hanged in the town.
During the Napoleonic Wars, a French ship of the type chasse marée was wrecked off the coast of Hartlepool. The only survivor was a monkey, allegedly wearing a French uniform to provide amusement for the crew.
On finding the monkey, some locals decided to hold an impromptu trial on the beach; since the monkey was unable to answer their questions and because they had seen neither a monkey nor a Frenchman before, they concluded that the monkey was in fact a French spy. Being found guilty the animal was duly sentenced to death and hanged on the beach.
An alternative theory is put forward alongside the above on the "This Is Hartlepool" town guide, stating: "Then there are some who point to a much darker interpretation of the yarn. They say that the creature that was hanged might not have been a monkey at all; it could have been a young boy. After all, the term powder-monkey was commonly used in those times for the children employed on warships to prime the cannon with gunpowder."
In the 2002 council election, the team's mascot "H'Angus the Monkey", aka Stuart Drummond, was elected mayor of Hartlepool as an independent, under the slogan "free bananas for schoolchildren".
In recent years the most visible fan of the club has been Jeff Stelling, presenter of Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports. The rock star Meat Loaf, Janick Gers of the metal band Iron Maiden, MP Peter Mandelson, and film director Ridley Scott are also fans of the club.
Team news
Notts County boss Kevin Nolan is considering handing himself a debut against fellow Hartlepool United on Saturday.
The former Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham midfielder has yet to play since taking over at Meadow Lane in January but is weighing up the possibility after the 3-0 defeat at Stevenage.
With captain Michael O'Connor still suspended, Nolan could come into the middle of the park while another change might see Richard Duffy restored in defence after he was left on the bench on his return from a ban last weekend.
Matt Tootle, Carl Dickinson, Alan Smith and Jonathan Forte are also options for Nolan.
Hartlepool boss Dave Jones is set to recall midfielder Nicky Deverdics from his loan spell at Dover amid an injury crisis.
Jones has a series of players suffering from niggles and knocks with full-back Sean Kavanagh having returned to parent club Fulham this week for an assessment of the hamstring problem he sustained in the 3-1 victory over Exeter last Saturday.
Striker Billy Paynter remains on the sidelines as he undergoes a course of injections he hopes will mean he does not have to have surgery to address a persistent Achilles problem.
Full-back Carl Magnay is edging his way back from a serious knee injury, but keeper Trevor Carson and central defender Rob Jones are still out.
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Joe Jones

Video: Kevin Nolan talks getting the Notts County job and his relationship with Alan Hardy

It's safe to say that few Notts County fans have looked back since Alan Hardy took over the club and hired Kevin Nolan as first-team manager.
Since mid-January, the Magpies have halted their freefall towards the bottom of League Two, with the now much more confident players putting in much-improved displays and rediscovering how to get points.
The atmosphere in the stands is much better too, with offers and incentives combined with the improved performances making Notts fans smile again and restoring hope that next season the club will still be in the Football League.
On Thursday night, the fabled Meadow Lane trinity of Hardy, Nolan and Sir Colin Slater were on stage at the Lifeline Quiz and spoke to the audience.
Nolan talked about how he came about getting the Notts job, his good relationship with Hardy, and how the skills and experience learned in his playing career is now filtering through to the Magpies players.
To see him discuss these things, here is the video.
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Joe Jones

Kevin Nolan: 'Notts County have come so far in last few weeks'

Kevin Nolan has urged his Notts County charges to put last week's 3-0 defeat at Stevenage behind them, think about how far the team has come in the last 10 games, and focus on "another big game" this Saturday.
The Magpies saw their five-match unbeaten run come to a halt at the Lamex Stadium last week with the heavy loss in Hertfordshire, cutting the gap between them and the bottom two to five points.
However, the manager is hopeful that Notts can bounce straight back when they host Hartlepool tomorrow.
"We had a fantastic run previous to the result last weekend, and it just shows how far we've come," Nolan told the Nottingham Post.
"Go back 10 games to when I first walked in we'd just gained a point after the first weekend and gone into the bottom two, and we were looking up at a lot of teams who weren't around us.
"It looked like a three or four-way scrap, but what we've managed to do in that time is bring a lot of teams around us into the scrap.
"We've got a cushion at the minute, but we knew we weren't safe. I kept telling you, and you didn't believe me.
"It's going to be a battle and every game is going to be tough, because every game in this league is tough.
"One bad result last week has not changed my mind. The positives out of it all was that we went five games unbeaten and that's what we've got to try and achieve again.
"The lads are working hard, they are buying into it. It was unfortunate we didn't reach our standards last week, but it wasn't all bad.
"At 3-0 it looks as if it's terrible, but we had a spell in the first half when we could've clawed a goal back and that would have changed the whole sense of the game.
"But it wasn't to be and we've got to take it on the chin, and we go again.
"It's another big game now because it's a home game. We've been fantastic at home since I've come through the door.
"I'm sure Hartlepool are going to come here and show us respect and we'll show them respect, but hopefully we're going to do enough to claim all three points."
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Joe Jones

Joe Jones: There will NEVER be a "Nottinghamshire City FC"

Thursday, just another day at Pride of Nottingham HQ, keeping tabs on the latest Notts County news from my super-plush office (dingy bedroom) and espresso machine (ASDA brand kettle and Nescafe), when I stumble upon this gem of an article.
"Could Nottingham Forest and Notts County merge?"
I spit my coffee out upon seeing these seven words. Great, that's another screen to be budgeted for. That's next week's sesh at the Beechdale out the window.
Just what is this article on about? This better be good.
Turns out it's not actual news, but an opinion piece on a football blog with probably the most unwieldy - and open to interpretation - name out there.
"It's Round and It's White". Which features the logo of a black and white football.
Righto, let's have a gander at what this "Warren Smith" has to say about my beloved Notts merging with the neighbours on the other side of the Trent.
Again, it better be good, because this is football sacrilege we're talking about.
"Clubs are often built on their strong individual identity, it’s their colours, crest and supporters which make the club what it is."
So far so good. A case of stating the obvious, mind, but he is not wrong.
"But, what about if you combine two clubs?"
Aaaaand no. Just no. This completely negates the "strong individual identity" he mentioned literally moments ago.
"An almost unthinkable prospect for most supporters – but in times of peril, could these two Nottinghamshire teams come together and go forward?"
It's not "almost unthinkable". It's "completely unthinkable". And neither club is "in peril". Sure, Forest are having some issues off the pitch, but they're - and oh god does it pain me to say this - a fairly big club with a decent history...
(cough, splutter, heave)
...so they are not in peril. And even if end up going the way of a Portsmouth or Leeds United, they are big enough to bounce back. They'll hardly go extinct - there will be buyers out there in the big wide world who will like the look of them.
And as for Notts, we may have been "in peril" several months ago, but with Alan Hardy having just taken over the club, things have stabilised a great deal. So, nothing to see here.
"Whilst club mergers are rarely heard of these days in the higher tiers of English football, we must not forget the successes that mergers have had. Newcastle United, Stoke City and Watford were all born out of multiple clubs putting aside their differences and coming together for the good of the local area."
You're talking decades ago, potentially the as far back 19th century, when football was a fledgling sport.
And though mergers may happen in the lower leagues (Hayes and Yeading is one I can think of), football is a lot more unstable there. Doing this anywhere in the professional game will be met with the same opposition as when Wimbledon became MK Dons.
Then there's a load of tosh in the article, which isn't worth commenting on, but here is the climax, which needs addressing:
"It’s often said in football cliché law, that nobody is bigger than the club. Well here’s a new one. No club is bigger than the city. The cities were here long before football; and the clubs have to pay the cities taxes, wages; just like any other business. Nottingham needs a good football club, now – before the rest of the country (and potentially world) forget the debt of gratitude owed to Nottingham. It’s that why the two clubs should put differences aside and come together, for the good of the city."
A football club brings a hell of a lot of revenue and attention to a city. When you think of Blackburn, what's the first thing that comes to mind? It ain't the textile sector, I'll tell you that.
And when Leicester City won the title last year, how much exposure did that give the city? Global, I'm telling you. The whole world was talking about this modest city in the East Midlands.
Nottingham does not "need" a "good football club". No city is entitled to a "good football club" because of its history or stature, and certainly does not warrant ripping up two clubs and gluing them together cut-and-shut style because of this petty sense of entitlement.
Neither Bristol nor Birmingham have top-flight clubs at the moment - should they just "merge together for the good of the city?" And then what? Do they get a bye to the Premier League?
I'll tell you what would happen - fans of both clubs would stay the hell away. And without fans, the clubs would go nowhere.
Franchising might work in the United States, where a club can be uprooted and moved elsewhere, or two clubs merged together, for the sake of "business".
But this isn't America. This is England. A football club is ingrained in a fan's very being. It's part of them. Uprooting that is like taking out a vital organ. Most fans would rather their club reborn in the 10th tier of the league pyramid as a phoenix club (witness AFC Wimbledon) than lose it for good.
So in conclusion, no. Forest and Notts will never merge. If this article was part of some college assignment, then I hope it's not read by a tutor who likes football.
And if you wrote it to bait fans, well then, shame on you.
Oh, and one more thing.
"Nottinghamshire City FC"? Really?
I could eat a bowl of alphabet pasta, leave it a couple of hours, and come up with a better name looking at the contents of my toilet bowl.
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Joe Jones

Alan Hardy on Notts County ownership: 'I feel I am still dreaming'

Notts County owner Alan Hardy has admitted that he still has to pinch himself to check he isn't dreaming.
Hardy, a Nottinghamshire businessman and staunch Magpies fan, took over at Meadow Lane in January from the previous owners, and has led the club upwards in a short space of time.
Successfully overcoming a transfer embargo, bringing in reinforcements in the squad at short notice, increased gates thanks to offers and improved optimism, and arresting a freefall towards the bottom of League Two are just some of the things he has achieved in the last two months.
Writing a column for the Nottingham Post, he says the last eight weeks have been a "whirlwind", but he has learned a lot in a short space of time and continues to do so.
He wrote: "In all honesty, my time at the club so far has felt like a complete whirlwind.
"I knew I was taking on a big job but I've had to learn a huge amount in a very short space of time – and I fear I haven't yet scratched the surface.
"Thankfully I have inherited a brilliant behind-the-scenes team, led by our vastly experienced chief executive Jason Turner.
"I am delighted with the way the staff have bought into my vision and we are already seeing positive progress.
"There are still times when I have to pinch myself to check this isn't all a dream.
"Take transfer deadline day for example.Having exited our transfer embargo at the last minute - a different story altogether - we wanted to take advice on potential signings from those respected in the game.
"That's exactly how we managed to sign players like Marc Bola and Josh Clackstone, who have been integral to our recent upturn in form.
"Coming from a corporate background where it's all about minimising risk and thinking strategically, I have to say I was completely out of my comfort zone on deadline day.
"Thankfully the knowledge of people like Kev and Jason saw us through – although I expect our summer business to be carried out in a far more measured fashion."
To read the full article on the Nottingham Post, just click here.
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Joe Jones

Juventus Update: February 2017

After qualifying from the Champions League group stage and sitting top of Serie A after 19 matches, it was a great February for our Juve: only victories.
Beginning with the crunch clash against Inter, that we won 1-0 thanks to a great goal from Juan Cuadrado, we went on to earn three points in every league match in February, following the victory over the Nerazzurri with wins against Crotone, Cagliari, Palermo and Empoli.
Even the first leg of the knockout stages of the Champions League went very well, winning 2-0 at Porto thanks to goals from Marko Pjaca and Dani Alves.
Against Napoli in our home leg of the semifinals of the Italian Cup, it ended 3-1 for us Bianconeri, so we are still fighting on all three fronts.
Our manager, Massimiliano Allegri, was recently mentioned by the English media because Arsenal aren't in a good situation and need a new boss for the next season: rumors say that Allegri is the preferred candidate to replace Arsene Wenger.
Beppe Marotta, our CEO, told reporters after the Udinese draw on Sunday: “Is Allegri 100 per cent certain to stay? I think so, right now there are no impediments to that. We’re always very close with Allegri, there’s a great relationship with him. We’re happy with him, and he with us, so the problem doesn’t even arise.”
Staying on Arsenal, Juventus is reportedly interested in Alexis Sanchez, who was left on the bench for the last Gunners' game. We are willing to spend 26m pounds for him, but if he came, one of our strikers would leave.
In our last Serie A match (the first of March) we drew 1-1 against Udinese so we lost two points, but we are still top of the league with eight points more than second-placed Roma. Our player of the month for February is Paulo Dybala.
We still have away games against the Giallorossi and Napoli, so the league is open and we must not concede anything if we want to win. We have to continue like this!
Thank you to Leo from Daje Juve for this article. Follow them on Instagram by clicking here.
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PON_News

Alex West: Stevenage give Notts County vital reminder of how quickly football can change

“It’s crucial that we stay grounded, and remember that football can change ever so quickly, and live in hope, that when the road becomes bumpy, which it will, we remain strong, united and continue to pull in the same direction”, was a phrase I used in my most recent article.
Saturday proved to be a stern reminder that football can indeed change ever so quickly. Following a superb performance and result at Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday evening, Notts fans (me included) could be forgiven for predicting another battling victory on Saturday. Oh how we were wrong.
Travelling down the M1 at 10.30am with a nice cold bottle of Peroni is how my away days normally begin and Saturday was no different. There was however one major difference in the pre-match conversation I held with my companions whilst on the road – there was a sense of optimism, a sense of excitement and a sense of real belief that we would carry on our turn around in form. Something which has been lacking during the previous 6 months.
Notts never looked like replicating the performance of Tuesday night, especially after falling behind after 3 minutes. Don’t let the stats fool you, we were poor, we were second best and we were way off the pace.
The opener was real school boy defending, something that can be forgiven in the 90th minute, but not in the first three! A short corner went completely un-noticed by the slowly reacting Notts defence, and the inevitable happened. An-unchallenged cross into the box was swiftly followed by a un-challenged header into the top right hand corner of Collins’ bulging net. Wonderful start by the Pies.
I missed the header as I was still taking in the fabulous scenery and trying to figure out the starting line-up. Never mind. Onwards and upwards I thought.
Notts never really got going – at all. Most disappointingly was the lack of fight for the second ball. I don’t buy the ‘we had a long trip midweek’ line that I overheard by a few Pies fans on exiting the ground. The players weren’t tired, they’re professional footballers whose sole job role is to play football. I have no sympathy for ‘tired’ footballers. I will note however, that Kevin Nolan didn’t use this as a reason for our defeat on Saturday and took it on the chin and accepted we were poor – which was the most refreshing.
It was never going to be a walk in the park. ‘We don’t get down when we lose – and we don’t get upbeat when we win’ is the philosophy Nolan is trying to grow into his players' mindset. It has been working, hence our form and our position in the form table. However, it must be clear that the effort and performance shown on Saturday falls well below the expectation of Nolan and indeed, the fans.
Notts player ratings at Stevenage (6 as average):
Adam Collin – 5 – Frustrating but can’t be blamed for any of the goals. Very unprotected for all 3. If he has been instructed to slow the play down, then this may explain his constant hesitation to release the ball to the full backs. Don’t think he actually made a save.
Clackstone – 3 – I felt sorry for the lad. He got torn to pieces down his side and should have been replaced by Hewitt after 30 mins with Duffy coming into the middle. Fully expect a shuffle on Saturday.
Hollis – 4 – The best of the back 4 but he shouldn’t be the focal point of our defence. A decent covering centre half but not a leader. Caught way out of position for all 3 goals.
Hewitt – 4 – Godden had him at 6’s and 7’s for all 90 minutes. A better defender against big centre forwards but horribly exposed against the excellent movement of the Stevenage front two.
Bola – 4 – His worst game for us so far. Terrible distribution and looked exhausted at the 60-minute mark. An excellent wing back when we are in our attacking element but will never be a full back. Would be perfect in a 3-5-2 as a LWB.
Milsom – 5 – Missed his partner in crime and was left exposed by the lack of positional sense by Thommo and Grant.
Thompson – 5 – Lots of energy – lots of running – no impact. We missed O Connor terribly today and wouldn’t be surprised to see Tootle or Smith in the middle on Saturday to give us more balance.
Grant – 4 – Is not a ball winning midfielder which is the role he was asked to play today. Can not play in a two-man midfield and needs to be given less responsibility. Perfect for the Alan Judge role.
Yeates – 5 – Probably our best player – but be under no illusion, he was poor. Really tried to make things happen but the complete lack of movement alongside and in front of him made it difficult.
Stead – 4 – Worst performance I’ve seen from Stead. We were under pressure from the first minute and Forte would have been a better option to try and hit the channels. Missed a good chance at 0-1.
Ameobi – 4 – Missed our best two chances and clearly isn’t a goalscorer. Needed pace alongside him today to take the pressure of his hold up play.
A bad day at the office all round. Normal service will be resumed on Saturday... won't it? #12thman #COYP
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Alex West

Kevin Nolan nominated for League Two Manager of the Month award

Kevin Nolan's sensational impact since taking over at Notts County has been rewarded with a nomination for the League Two Manager of the Month award for February.
The Magpies manager claimed 11 points over the month as he led his side to a five-match unbeaten run, stopping their freefall towards relegation and putting them eight points clear of the bottom two prior to March's first fixture.
This included an impressive 2-2 draw at home to Exeter City after coming from two goals down in injury time, as well as a 1-0 win at promotion-chasing Plymouth Argyle.
Nolan told the official club website: "It's always nice to receive recognition for your hard work but I have to stress this is a nomination for my entire backroom team, not only me.
"Everyone has put in a huge effort behind the scenes to help the team turn their form around and, while we all have a huge amount of work left to do, this is another positive sign that we are moving in the right direction."
Other candidates for the gong include Stevenage boss Darren Sarll, Jim Bentley of Morecambe and Luton Town boss Nathan Jones, with the winner revealed on Friday morning.
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Joe Jones

Rutland House School for Parents: Robert Jackson's story

When Robert Jackson's second son, Oliver, was born in 2015 and was diagnosed with Down's Syndrome, his father was unsure what services were available out there to help Oliver get the best possible start in life.
A fellow parent then suggested the Rutland House School for Parents, and since then Oliver and his family have never looked back.
The SFP began life in 1978 as the Rutland House School. Originally based in Mapperley, it was part of the Scope charity network and it aimed to care for older children and young adults with cerebral palsy.
Since then the SFP has grown exponentially as it hit several milestones and added more duties and responsibilities to its mission.
In 1981, it began helping parents of young children with varying forms of motor disorder. In 1986 its new nursery opened and saw 60 families attending its various sessions.
The 1990s saw the SFP become international as professionals began training at the original premises and school were established as far afield as South Africa and Pakistan, while a network of SFPs also began forming in the UK.
By 2000 there were 40 SFP schools for parents helping hundreds of children and their families across the nation, and in 2001, it became an independent charity as it continued to grow over the years.
In 2011 SFP moved to its new premises at the Iona School on Sneinton Dale, and on 17 July 2012, its celebrated its 10th anniversary of being an independently registered charity and increased the services they offer to include supporting older children with communication difficulties; supporting transition to school; and offering outreach for families.
Since starting his journey at SFP, Oliver's development has come on significantly. They have supported him in learning a range of skills from learning to pull himself to standing, self feeding and using a cup with a straw.
SFP also gave Robert and his partner Stacey the confidence to practice the techniques used at their sessions at home. On a daily basis they sing the songs with signs they have been taught and as a result, Oliver has engaged and begun signing back.
Oliver's development has not only been noticed by his family, but also by other educational and health agencies that are involved in Oliver's care.
Due to the help, support and advice Oliver's family has been given through SFP, Robert has decided to pay the goodwill forward by fundraising for the school.
He will be running four half-marathons over the next few months, starting with Coventry on Sunday 19 March followed by Lichfield on Sunday 7 May, Ashbourne in July (date to be confirmed) and finishing with Nottingham's very own Robin Hood half-marathon on Sunday 24 September.
SFP's work has proven a godsend not only for little Oliver, but also for his family, who get the incomparable pleasure of watching their son grow, learn, prosper and have fun under the tutelage and supervision of the best possible teachers and carers. And you can't put a price on that.
And this amazing work extends to hundreds of other families across the UK, whose lives have been changed for the better thanks to the SFP.
To donate to this worthy cause, simply visit Robert's JustGiving page by clicking here.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
 
Joe Jones

Kevin Nolan admits Michael O'Connor was missed against Stevenage

Notts County manager Kevin Nolan has admitted that Michael O'Connor was missed at Stevenage, where the Magpies fell to a 3-0 defeat on Saturday.
The Lamex Stadium saw Notts' five-match unbeaten run come to a halt as Matty Godden and Jack King scored three unanswered goals between them for the hosts.
Magpies captain O'Connor did not feature as he is suspended following an accumulation of ten yellow cards, and Nolan said the absence of "one of the top players" for the club was notable.
"He was always going to be a massive miss for us especially when you are coming to teams like these (Stevenage)," he told the Nottingham Post. "Occy (O'Connor) has been one of the top players since I came in. He's been brilliant.
"But we have got good players and we just didn't turn up. It will be a learning experience for them and some of them have got to take it on the chin a bit quicker and get out of the rut they put themselves in so early in the game.
"There were a lot of players who started sloppily and it took them 10 to 15 minutes to get out of it. When you make that first mistake, it's important you don't make the second, the third and the fourth. It just seemed that we weren't at the races."
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Joe Jones

Match highlights: Stevenage 3-0 Notts County, Saturday 4 March 2017

Notts County have fallen to a 3-0 defeat at Stevenage on Saturday which puts them just five points above the bottom two in League Two.
Matty Godden's double sandwiched Jack King's strike as the hosts earned a seventh win in eight games.
The result also sees the Magpies' unbeaten run come to an abrupt end after a renaissance of sorts under Kevin Nolan.
 Notts County's official site has published the video of the highlights from the game at the Lamex Stadium, so you can see for yourself if you haven't already.
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Joe Jones

Kevin Nolan bemoans "terrible start" for Notts County at Stevenage

Kevin Nolan has bemoaned the "terrible start" Notts County made in their trip to Stevenage on Saturday, which resulted in a 3-0 defeat.
The Magpies were a goal down after just three minutes when Matty Godden pounced from close range to head in Steven Schumacher's centre.
Stevenage were nearly pegged back on several occasions but they went on to seal the win with two quickfire second-half goals at the Lamex Stadium.
Nolan told the Nottingham Post: "The lads knew what to expect. Stevenage have been on a fantastic run and you can see why.
"It was a terrible start. No matter what level you play at, the way you start a game is massively important. It was not good enough.
"We didn't deserve to win the game and I think the result is a fair reflection of that.
"It is a disappointing day all round but we go again – we cannot get too low when we lose in the same way we did not get too high when we were winning games.
"We were unbeaten in five games before today and the lads have been fantastic during that time so now we need to go on another run like that.
"We will go through this game again and I have told the players it will be a long day in the video room but once we put it to bed we will focus on Hartlepool, which is a huge game at home for us."
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Joe Jones

Match Report: Stevenage put three past Notts County

Notts County have seen their unbeaten run come to an abrupt end as they travelled to Stevenage FC on Saturday and left on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat.
It had been exactly a month ago that the Magpies lost in League Two as Accrington Stanley claimed a 2-0 win on their own turf, after which Notts three wins and two draws to ease their relegation fears.
However, the gap between Kevin Nolan's side and the bottom two has now been narrowed to just five points as Boro got off to the perfect start at the Lamex Stadium, Steve Schumacher finding Matty Godden lurking inside the box just two minutes in and nodding home from eight yards out.
The hosts then doubled their advantage on the hour as Godden flicked on a long ball into the path of captain Jack King, who finished calmly into the bottom corner, and in the 62nd minute, Ben Kennedy played Godden through to kill the game off as a contest.
Nolan subbed on Tahvon Campbell and Jonathan Forte in a bid to salvage something from the game and the former forced a brave save from Chris Day with a stinging drive, but ultimately Stevenage held out for a clean sheet and all three points.
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Joe Jones

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