fisher athletic appoint manageress

[ilikelamp]

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7894496.stm

Fisher Athletic are set to make football history when a female manager leads them out for Wednesday's Blue Square South match against Eastleigh.

Club turnstile operator Donna Powell raised £500 for the struggling club and was rewarded with becoming the first woman to manage a Conference side.

"I am confident I can do well - I already run a boys' football team," Powell told the club's website.

"I am no shrinking violet and do not suffer fools lightly."

The 27-year-old, who takes over from regular boss Dave Mehmet for one game, added: "I'll be picking the team and they'll be playing my way, none of this long ball nonsense - we'll be passing the ball on the floor, playing the game the right way.

"Sure, I'll be nervous - I realise there's a difference between kids' football and the Conference South but I see it as football is football no matter how old they are - and I know my stuff."

Fisher press officer Joe Arif added: "If Donna can turn things round, then who knows - maybe there's a permanent position in future."

The south London club have lost their last 10 matches and are a point off the bottom of the table, while Eastleigh are joint third in the league.

Eastleigh director of football David Malone said that the appointment "devalues the league".

"I'm not particularly happy about it, simply because we've got to concentrate our minds on getting three points from the game. I think what they've done is unprofessional," he told BBC Radio Solent.
Cherie Lunghi played the football manager in The Manageress
Cherie Lunghi played a female manager in TV drama The Manageress

"Fisher have done it for financial reasons, and I can partly understand that, but I don't think being manager of a Blue Square South team is a saleable commodity,"

"I don't want to sound like a grumpy old man - which I probably do - but at this stage of the season we're working extremely hard to get our side up into the Blue Square Premier, and I think the whole thing is just badly timed."

[trebor63]

They might never win a game, they might always get caught offside (whats that again?), they may well have to fit training in around celebrity dancing on ice BUT at least they'll get loads of brews the washing up will always be done and their kits will be clean and well pressed!

[Kirstendunstslovebubbles]

Already been done mate. But she's worth another look nontheless ;D

[Tubes]

if managing the under 11's makes her CV worthy of consideration to be manager of a BS South team, maybe I might apply for a few positions. Surely several years of FM and Pro Evo, combined with many a kick about in the park will have set me in good stead! ;D

[6fingeredfreaks]

"non of this long ball nonsence"
Bloody hell Coates get her in here.

[redstriper]

A chorus of "your supposed to be at home" as she takes her seat on the bench would be just perfect

[Peters Pipe]

I googled her name for images and was pleasantly surprised at the first image out of the box.....classy lady by the looks ;D

[guernseydave]

You wouldn't want to miss a penalty for the side in the last minute of extra time if she was on the blob !

GD

[Deleted]

i see Fisher are still owned by the arif's, one of the most notorious crime families in london history

and a bunch of attention seeking dick heads as well, i would say that is the reasoning behind this

[trebor63]

I wonder if she'll bring anyone off at half time

[theginsoakedboy]

They face a winding up order on March 4th. They will go out of business and all their results for the season deleted from the record if they go under, which is the likely outcome.

[serpico]

good heavens, whatever next ? ... Monkey tennis ???