It was great ! But we wouldn't have done it without.....
The fourth manager and the ultimate boss, Steve Cotterill... when he signed up, the Pies were performing well but promotion,, nevermind becoming champions, was still not a certainty. Belief restored, he took the team on an 18 game run that not only saw just one defeat (against Port Vale) but also broke a century old record for keeping clean sheets and won the title by ten clear points.
Considered the fall-guy by many fans, the first manager of the new era seemed to be losing his way despite assembling a potential championship winning side. Home gates had dropped to 3,000 in his first season but there was no doubt about his ability to persuade quality to join the club which others then took to glory.
A mate of Sven, Hans Backe was quick to show a clean pair of heels when American money came calling. A little later he was back to persuade his favourite players to join him.
The unwilling caretaker-boss, Dave Kevan became the third manager of the season, guiding Notts to sight of the top. Remains as popular as ever with fans and squad alike.
It's probable no one will know what he knew, what he spent and what he lost but Peter Trembling became known firstly, as the face of Munto Finance. A firm believer in the dream of taking the World's Oldest Football Club onto the mass markets of the entire planet for minimal cost, he tried to continue the chase for the jackpot on his own and failed..
Ray Trew became the new owner, inheriting a legacy of debt from Munto. Ironically, his best decision was a footballing one - installing Cotterill as manager to kick-start the rush to the title.
With more integrity and honour than his paymasters, Sven stuck with the Pies until the dream in which he shared was completely dead. When he left, he waiived his right to a fee that would have finally sunk the club,
Having relaunched his career and his life, Lee Hughes answered the abuse of the morally-perfect opposition fans with humour and, more frequently, the ball in the back of their onion bag.
A record-breaking number of clean sheets for Kasper Schmeichal ensured he amply repaid the massive wages Munto had committed the club to. He always had time for the fans who were rewarded with the chance to see a real premiership quality keeper in action. When he left, he cancelled his contract, sparing the club another possible burden of expense.
Craig Westcarr - the ultimate hero and villian to fans with his leTissier knack of drifting in and out of games. This came to a head with a great hat-trick.against Hereford in March. One of his goals was a penalty which he scored after first arguing with Luke Rodgers over who should take the kick. After the game, he told local radio that he had pointed out the blood on the strikers shirt to the referee who had then ordered him off the field to get a clean one - leaving the way clear for himself to take the spotkick ! When I met him, some five minutes after the interview, still clutching the matchball, I told him I thought that was a rotten thing to do. He looked genuinely alarmed and said 'Who told you that happened' and I answered, 'You did mate - me and the rest of Nottingham' He's a funny lad and obviously scared to be on the wrong side of the Mitchell Brothers !
Hardman Sol Campbell quit after one game thus saving the club a fortune in buying out a contract he would no doubt have enforced.
