|
" As a player I wanted to do well and I want to be even better as a manager. The best thing is being out on the pitch. Being a player were the best years of my life. The second best thing is being in the dug-out. People ask me how I can do this job because of the pressures.
" Football has been in my blood for 20 years as a player and I'm enjoying being a manager now. I took a break from the game when I retired and went sailing. I missed football. The feeling when you win is fantastic as a player, and it's great to win as a manager too.
" It would have been a risk to play Craig Westcarr against Sheffield Wednesday. We thought about it and thought about it, because he has made such a good start to the season. He is one of our most threatening players going forward, either out wide or in a central attacking role, and if he gets a chance he has proved he will take it.
" Ultimately, we took the decision to leave him out and not take a risk. I would have loved to have him out there but if he had played and his hamstring went, we would be without him for three or four weeks, which would be even worse. He's got a chance of being fit for Carlisle now because we rested him. We think he will be all right. It's another challenge for us at Carlisle and we have to rise to it. "
Meanwhile Magpies midfielder John Spicer, who moved to Meadow Lane after being released by Doncaster in the summer, told the Nottingham Post :
" It's always hard when you come to a new club and there is a settled side doing well because you have got to take the shirt off the players that were already here. It's frustrating but you have got to keep at it and when your chance comes try to take it.
" Hopefully I took my chance against Sheffield Wednesday. I thought I did all right in the first half. I enjoyed it. Every time I play I try to be the best player on the pitch. It will be another tough game at Carlisle. They are up towards the top of the table, but we are confident we can go up there and win. "