Turner wins WDP Award

Hereford United manager Graham Turner has won the Blackthorn Western Daily Press Sports Personality 2008 award.

He was well ahead of his nearest rival Keith Downing.

"I sometimes think I am almost flying the flag for continuity in football clubs," said the man whose longevity in management with Hereford is only currently surpassed by Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure at Manchester United," Turner told the paper.

"It is very easy to sack managers. There is no doubt that at some time a manager deserves to be replaced, but I do think clubs chop and change managers too readily. I sometimes think we lose very good talent that way. Don't sack the manager too readily.

"I'm sure the long-suffering supporters who've spent a lot of time going round the Conference clubs and their grounds are now finding it a lot better going to the likes of Leeds, Leicester and MK Dons.

"Thank you very much for the award, it's very much appreciated. It's recognition for the club's and the players' achievements over the past 12 months. We've had a terrific time, not only last season, but the promotion from the Conference. I think it was a tremendous achievement for the club."

Last season Turner was very wary at beginning any promotion celebrations until it was certain - "at quarter to five at Brentford when we finally achieved it".

"I think you are always concerned. What we didn't particularly want was for it all to go to the end of the season. It was nice to get it over and done with as early as possible.

"Second half of the season we began to think we had a chance. We'd looked at every other side in the league and there was nothing to fear in there. We'd done quite well against most of the sides around us at the top of the table and you start having the vision that maybe this is our season.

"The open top bus tour and things like that for players and supporters who have not seen those sort of things very often was a terrific occasion.

"We need to survive now in first division football. We'd like to make sure we are playing the sort of clubs next season that we're playing this season, so we are prepared to push the boat out a little bit but within the confines of sensible financial restrictions on the club and good football governance. We have to be realistic."

Looking back Turner admits that he has taken time to make the club's finances sound.

"We said at the time when we bought the shares it would take a little bit of time, that we needed to sort the finances out, get the club on a firm footing. And we've done that. Financially we're fairly stable. I know there are a lot of clubs who are finding the going difficult in the credit crunch but we're okay.

"I think it probably does help (being chairman, director of football and manager). It's easy to get in trouble. It's easy to pay more money than you can afford. I know exactly what the scene is financially.

"When we had a period where money was that tight we signed cheques, but didn't know where the money was coming from.

"If there was no money left at the end of the month, the people who didn't get paid were the company secretary and myself."

Turner spoke about the loan system.

"Last season the loan system worked very well for us. We had some outstanding players who contributed a lot. This season that hasn't happened quite so much because players have got injured. Although we're in a little bit of a precarious position at the moment, I still think and I'm very confident we will get ourselves out of trouble.

"It was great to have someone of that standard (N'Gotty) come to the club. He was very quiet but he made defending look easy. He was absolutely immense.
"When you get players of that calibre come to the club the other players sit up and take notice."

What about the future?

"For a well-run club that's got a firm base there's no reason not to be optimistic about playing in the Championship. I take encouragement from Colchester, they had a spell in the Championship, Southend had a spell in the Championship. You take that encouragement and set your sights as high as you can.

"I'm not stupid, I'm not naive. That is a tall order to be in contention for promotion. First of all we've got to find our feet in this league and to do that we've got to survive this season."

What about his future?

"I don't know. I've said before I would like to have a go at a higher level. I'm not going to get a big club, I realise that. But maybe something I can take on.

"But at the moment I am totally committed to this club, totally committed to the cause of ensuring that we stay in the first division, ensuring that we progress as a club and ensuring the facilities in the ground are in keeping with modern-day supporter demands and making it far more comfortable for them to come and watch their football."

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