There was an interesting interview with Richard Bevan, chief executive of the League Managers Association, on BBC Five Live yesterday. Much of it was about Steve Coppell who has just resigned from Bristol City and the pressures on managers. However Bevan also made a suggestion that a few League Two managers may only be earning £30,000 per year and the average length in the job in this League is just 14 months.
Asked how much a manager towards the bottom end of League Two might earn Bevan replied:
"That will depend on experience and age and the budget.
"That may vary from £30,000 upwards," said Bevan.
The interviewer, who seemed surprised at the low level of pay, repeated his question - There are some managers in the football league that are earning, give or take, £30,000 per year?
"Correct," replied Bevan.
"One manager said to me that he's had to move every fifteen, sixteen months from one end of the country to the other," said Bevan.
"It's very difficult when you've got kids in school.
"He's never bought fitted carpets in his life.
Bevan then mentioned first-time managers.
"The reality is that 45% of first-time managers when they leave their club - the average tenure is 14 months - they do not get back into football management.
"There are guys struggling to pay mortgages, they are out of work and it's taking 16/17 months to get back into work.
"Particularily in the lower leagues, if a manager doesn't understand the commerciality, the budgets, of how a particular club is running, then they are going to struggle."
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Oxford City At Edgar Street On Tuesday 5th November At 7.45pm