In football things can change in a heartbeat, as Bristol Rovers found out against Plymouth just over a week ago. 2-0 up at half time the Gas went on to lose 3-2 against their west country rivals and it was clear that the arrival of a new manager was going to be the only thing that could save them, and on Monday it happened.
A late entry into the odds market was the name of Dave Penney whose last job in football was to take Oldham to the wrong end of League 1 seven months ago. Early Monday morning the Bristol Evening Post published an article claiming that Penney, along with former Colchester boss Geraint Williams and one other mystery candidate, was on a shortlist of three to become the next Rovers manager and, just a few hours later, it was confirmed that he was to become Paul Trollope's permanent relacement at the Memorial Stadium although there has been no mention as to the length of the contract in the press.
He spoke of his delight at joining the club, feeling that he thought the club would suit him, he told bristolrovers.co.uk:
"It is nice to get back in and get straight down to it, which is what's needed.
"I made a conscious effort that when I came out of Oldham I was going to try and choose the right football club, and I have been in the fortunate position that I could wait a bit. This felt right when I had the interview.
"The club has great tradition and I don't think it should be in the position it is in. I came and watched against Plymouth and the first half was very encouraging and there looks like there is something to build on.
"It is an exciting time for myself and something for me to get my teeth into. When you can get this club going in the right direction the fans get right behind the team."
Indeed, fans were excited to see his arrival, hoping for a change in fortunes under a man who successfully lead Doncaster Rovers to two consecutive promotions, initially taking the Yorkshire club up from the Conference via the play-offs before beating Hull to the League 2 title the following season. He kept the club in League 1 and took them on a mazy League Cup run that saw them beat two Premier League sides in Aston Villa and Manchester City before eventually being knocked out on penalties at the quarter final stage by big guns Arsenal.
After claiming he had taken Donny as far as he could he took a step back down to League 2 to take over at Darlington. In nearly three full seasons with the Quakers Penney left with a 43.2% winning record, including a loss in the 2008 play-off semi finals to Rochdale. He was eventually let go by Darlington after the club fell onto financial turmoil, resulting in administration the next season. Following his departure from Darlo Penney moved back up the footballing ladder to League 1 side Oldham Athletic. His time at Oldham was, however, fruitless as he was sacked with one game to go in the 2009/10 season with the club surviving relegation by just two points. Despite this his overall managerial record is favourable, though, and should give hope to the ailing Rovers fans.
Penney's first task was to face off with Walsall in the game that was rearranged following the Boxing Day cancellation, the Saddlers being one of only two teams below Rovers in the League 1 table, four points off of 20th placed Tranmere. They could not be caught by Walsall, not yet anyway, but the key thing was to beat one of the weakest teams in the division and start to dig themselves out of the hole they had gotten themselves into. Having had little time to view the players the new gaffer allowed Darren Patterson to set the team up one last time, but it didn't get off to the start the Gas gad hoped for.
Just five minutes in Walsall took the lead through Will Grigg and continued to dominate the half, finishing it in full control of all areas of play. Half time gave Dave Penney his first chance to stimulate the players and, along with the introduction of Jo Kuffour, it clearly worked. Rovers came out with a different formation and began to push up the pitch, using the wide areas of the pitch more and two quick goals from firstly Hoskins and then Kuffour meant there was suddenly life in the team and the optimism grew.
There was to be no third though, and without the inclusion of the season most impressive defensive performer in Byron Anthony, missing through sickness, Rovers always looked likely to concede and with seven minutes to go Walsall claimed a point thanks to a drive from former Rovers favourite Aaron Lescott.
The full back initially went to celebrate before pulling himself up, he later tweeted:
@aaronlescott "To the fans who wear disappointed with my celebration last night surely you could see that I forget where I was and as soon as I realised I calmed down and stopped celebrating . Its was a split second that's all and the ones that have said nice things much appreciated."
While some fans were displeased by Lescott's initial celebrations most will forgive him as such a late goal for his relegation threatened team, his first for Walsall, was always going to be a joyous moment.
Speaking to Rovers official website after the game Penney spoke of how he had to change the game at half time:
"We didn't start the game well, we certainly didn't play the game like I want to play it.
"It was difficult because I haven't had chance to work with them, and I don't think the system really worked for us, whereas it did last week.
"So we had to change to 4-4-2, we couldn't get any pressure on the ball and they had too much possession.
"At half time we felt we needed more strength and experience up front, so we brought Jo on and everything went great. We got our two goals, we played like I want to play and we had the tempo."
During the interview the manager also mentioned how he felt the team lacked in their general fitness levels, adding to online speculation that fitness coach Lee Southernwood had been sacked, his non-appearance at the Walsall game only stoking the fire further.
He also talked about the need to add to the squad, hoping to bring in a targetman by the end of the week:
"Every manager is looking to strengthen in the January window, and I knew I needed to strengthen after watching the second half against Plymouth.
"We have only got two real strikers in the building in Will and Jo, young Eliot can play up there and he will be a good player, but for where we are we need some experience up there, and we are going to try and add if we can.
"I would like to add a bigger one if I can to give them some strength, as Jo and Will will not be able to play week in week out with the games we have coming up. It will be important to rest and mix and match.
"Hopefully I will have someone in Thursday or Friday so they can have a training session with us and get ready for Saturday."
Possible options could include former players Jason Price, currently out of favour at Carlisle and was signed for Doncaster by Penney, and English-born Pole Pawel Abbott who is struggling to break into the first-team reckoning at Charlton Athletic. In his one season under Penney at Oldham Abbott scored 13 goals and ended up as the Latics leading marksman.
Penney ended the interview by stating the importance of keeping hold of Will Hoskins, saying:
"We want to keep him, the stats don't lie and we need to keep our best players. We need to keep a goalscorer in the building."
Penney has set out his stall already, identifying what needs to change both in terms of personell on the pitch and off of it and Rovers fans will find his attitude during interviews refreshing having been frustrated by the same old cliches that used to come out of Paul Trollope's mouth.
If the new boss can get the best out of players such as Jeff Hughes, Wayne Brown and Gary Sawyer amongst others who have shown glimpses of the talent they possess then Rovers should be able to pull away from the relegation zone, that being said, nothing in football can ever be reasonably predicted.
He has shown his ability to manage his teams to high standards in the past and, Oldham aside, has had great success on the pitch and in recuriting others. Whatever happens this season given a summer break and backing from the board Penney has the ability to take Rovers onto a promotion challenge, be it in League 1 or 2.
He has said himself that it may take three or four games to turn steady the ship and he will only be helped by the arrival of his own assistant manager, as it has been speculated that Darren Patterson will not remain in that role, though he will still be involved somehwere in the Rovers set up. There has yet to be any mention of names for the assistant manager's job but for now the presence of Patterson means that Penney will be able to split his time between the training pitch and his office while the January recruitment period is ongoing.
The next challenge for Rovers will come in the form of Carlisle United away at Brunton Park on Saturday, a side whose league form has dropped off in recent weeks, having failed to win in their last five matches, as well as a weekend FA Cup loss to League 2 side Torquay. Rovers drew their home meeting between the two earlier this season but required a stoppage time Mikkel Andersen penalty save in order to do so.
The impact Dave Penney has had on the squad and fans has rejuvinated hopes that Rovers will still be a League 1 side by the end of the season and this will only be furthered by the potential arrival of new signings by the end of January. Whatever happens in that time it is already clear that he means business.
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