Allen on a mission to plan the great escape

Brentford players face a battle to save their jobs following the appointment of Martin Allen.

Given the job only yesterday, the new manager has axed caretaker boss Garry Thompson and threatens more changes will follow.

Allen is determined to do whatever it takes to keep the club in the Second Division. He will be granted a small transfer budget to spend before this month's transfer deadline and is already planning a shake-up.

Allen said: "Brentford have lost 20 games and conceded 60 goals, so clearly something is not right. There is a little money available."

Just how much cash will depend on the Brentford directors' ability to settle compensation wrangles with both Wally Downes over his sacking and Barnet for poaching Allen. Yet the players are already aware that they must make an immediate impact on the new manager to survive at Griffin Park.

Captain Michael Dobson said: "We are playing for our livelihoods. Everyone knows they have got to prove themselves all over again. The manager has made his feelings clear - there will be changes. That has put everyone on their toes." Allen called a squad meeting-yesterday afternoon when he insisted the club's long-term focus should be Division One rather than Division Three football.

Dobson said: "He passionately wants us to stay up and, if we do, he won't settle for mid-table next season. He wants to be pushing for promotion.

"If they are going to bring in someone new, it needs to be someone like that, who is going to make his mark on the players. Sometimes you can get too comfortable." Despite a desperate run of one win in 19 league games, Brentford's players, many of whom were very close to Downes, were surprised by his sacking.

Dobson added: "We were a bit shocked with some of the club's decisions. We were not expecting him to go when he did. You would understand it more if it happened five or six games ago, or at the end of the season.

"None of us have spoken to Wally since, although he did send a good luck message which was read out before the Blackpool game." Such a sentimental approach is not likely under Allen who has a reputation as a disciplinarian.

The former West Ham midfielder will, however, attempt to lift the mood at the club by ensuring the theme from 'The Great Escape' is played as the team runs out against Rushden & Diamonds tomorrow. Allen's unconventional methods helped him become a cult hero at Barnet where he was manager for just one year.

As a team-building exercise, he once took the players rowing on the Serpentine and also organised a cinema trip to see the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Like Brentford, Barnet are struggling financially and Allen was always looking out for ways of raising extra cash.

Last month, he organised a friendly at Underhill where a team of fans paid £50 each to take on the Barnet first team. He also contributed his own money to the club's players' fund.

Despite acrimony surrounding his decision to leave, Allen will be sorely missed at Barnet after guiding them to the verge of the Nationwide Conference play-offs.

Coach Adrian Whitbread and physio Damien Doyle will be in charge for tomorrow's game with league leaders Chester, while the club search for a replacement.

Whitbread said: "There is no reason why we should not get into the play-offs - we have to put Martin to the back of our minds now."

Allen, whose father Dennis was shortlisted for the Brentford manager's job in 1973, admitted to mixed emo t ions about switching Bees.

He said: "I really enjoyed my time at Barnet, but I am delighted to be joining Brentford. Keeping-them up will be tough. They have not won for 11 games and with nine to go at least four wins are required." Goalkeeper Stuart Nelson is suspended but otherwise Allen has a fullstrength squad for his Griffin Park debut.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in