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Embattled Gresley Rovers chief Frank Northwood found an outspoken ally this week in the shape of Moat Ground trainer Keith Milner.
Milner, now in his sixth season with the club, is serving under the third manger during that period – and reckons Northwood tops the lot.Milner, who came to Gresley to help out former boss David Nish “for a week or two” but ended up landing the bucket and sponge job permanently, reckons his later gaffer has no peers when it comes to dedication and an in-depth knowledge of the non-league game.
And this week he hit back at critics who were calling for Northwood’s head after the FA Cup defeat at Hinckley Town, declaring: “The fans should lay off and give Frank a chance. I honestly believe we will win the league.”
Strong words from the United Biscuits trucker who has seen Northwood put Rovers on the title road three times in as many seasons only to fall short of the ultimate goal – a place in the Beazer Homes Midland Division.
Yet Milner insists: “I agree with Frank – there’s always someone wanting to knock you however well you do. But he’s done a bloody fantastic job for this club. Before he came we were scratting about at the bottom of the league playing in front of crowds of 150 if we were lucky.
“Since then we’ve had 1,300 in the ground for a league game, we’ve been further in the FA Cup than the club has been for years and years and we’ve done consistently well in the FA Vase – and Frank’s the man who take the lion’s share of the credit.
“The man’s a fanatic. He eats, sleeps and breathes football and he does a hell of a lot fro Gresley that people don’t get to hear about.
“His main objectives is to get Gresley out of this League but he really cares about the way we do it. Every week he reminds the lads that a lot of people are paying good money to watch us play and his main concern is giving value for that money.
“People still knock him but I live at Midway and most of the folk I speak to round that way appreciate what he’s done for the club. Sure, players have come and gone while Frank’s been in charge but that’s football. Sometimes popular players get shown the door because they don’t fit into the side but that has to happen now and again.
“But when it comes to getting players Northwood’s second to none. Only this month he’s brought in two lads of tremendous quality in Martin Haskins and Tracey Norton.
“David Nish was a great bloke and a good manager but he couldn’t compare with Frank. Dave’s background was in the Football League but Frank has that vital knowledge of the non-league game and non-league players.
