Last week, Steven Schumacher received a call from his former mentor Alan Knill, who was looking for some guidance or a sounding board as a manager who has experienced what must often be a lonely route.
When Schumacher and his friend and rival, Preston manager Ryan Lowe, were players for Bury, Knill was their manager. He spent ten years bouncing around the lower leagues before Chris Wilder trusted him to be his number two at Northampton and later Sheffield United, where he returned in December.
Schumacher has a small black book of counselors he may consult when dealing with a circumstance that is very unlike from anything he has encountered since hanging up his boots. Before taking on this significant assignment at Stoke City, he enjoyed success as coach and manager at Bury and Plymouth Argyle, gaining three promotions in the process.
When things don’t work out, there will always be pressure and rumors, no matter how unfounded, but Knill is one of the few therapists on Schumacher’s contact list who are willing to assist him navigate rocky seas.
He remarked, “It’s great to have someone like that and he’s not the only one who reached out in that way.” They have all been there and have traveled this journey, therefore they all understand what I’m going through. They’re trying to offer you some guidance on how to handle it since I’m a rookie coach going through his first true test, which is adversity.
“You have to pay attention to those guys with experience; they’re genuinely trying to help.” It’s crucial that you stay focused on your goals throughout challenging circumstances, therefore I truly appreciate that. Even if it’s simple to be upbeat when you’re winning all the time, you still need to spread that message.
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