Martin Allen

For other people named Martin Allen, see Martin Allen (disambiguation).
Martin Allen

Allen in 2013
Personal information
Full name Martin James Allen
Date of birth (1965-08-14) 14 August 1965
Place of birth Reading, Berkshire, England
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Eastleigh (head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1989 Queens Park Rangers 136 (16)
1989–1995 West Ham United 190 (25)
1995–1997 Portsmouth 45 (4)
1997–1998 Southend United 5 (0)
Total 376 (45)
National team
1986–1987 England U21 2 (0)
Teams managed
2003–2004 Barnet
2004–2006 Brentford
2006–2007 Milton Keynes Dons
2007 Leicester City
2008–2009 Cheltenham Town
2011 Barnet
2011–2012 Notts County
2012 Barnet
2012–2013 Gillingham
2014–2016 Barnet
2016- Eastleigh

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Martin James Allen (born 14 August 1965) is an English former football player and current head coach of Eastleigh. He played more than 100 games as a midfielder for each Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United before finishing his playing career with Portsmouth and Southend United. Five years later, he took his first job in management, at non-league Barnet. He has since managed Brentford, Milton Keynes Dons, Leicester City, Cheltenham Town, Barnet and Notts County. He rejoined Barnet as manager on 16 April 2012 on a short term, three-match contract succeeding Lawrie Sanchez. In July 2012 he became manager of Gillingham and in the 2012–13 season led the team to the Football League Two title, earning Allen his first promotion as a manager and Gillingham's first divisional title in 49 years. He was sacked as Gillingham manager in October 2013. Allen rejoined Barnet for a fourth spell in 2014, leading the Bees back into League Two before dropping divisions to join current club Eastleigh in December 2016.

Playing career

Often referred to by his nickname of "Mad Dog", Allen began his career with Queens Park Rangers, signing professional in 1983 and spending six years at Loftus Road playing in the 1986 League Cup Final defeat against Oxford United, before a £670,000 move to West Ham United. Signed by manager Lou Macari, Allen made his debut on 26 August 1989 in a 3–2 home win against Plymouth Argyle. He scored the second goal, the other West Ham goals coming from David Kelly and Kevin Keen.[1] Under manager Billy Bonds Allen was part of the team which won promotion to the First Division in 1991 and to the Premier League in 1993.[2] Allen was frequently booked during his West Ham career and had a reputation for poor discipline.[3] He was sent off in a match on 17 January 1990 for a two-footed lunge on Derby County's Mark Patterson.[4] During a game on 30 November 1991 against Sheffield Wednesday, managed by Allen's manager at Queens Park Rangers, Trevor Francis, Allen was booked after only 20 seconds of being on the pitch for a jump tackle on Carlton Palmer which saw Palmer carried off with a suspected broken leg. Although not sent-off, West Ham manager Bonds fined Allen a week's wages.[5] During his time at Queens Park Rangers Allen had been refused permission, by manager Francis, to attend the birth of his first child as Allen would miss an important match. Allen attended the birth and was disciplined by the club.[6] Under Bonds and Harry Redknapp Allen formed a successful partnership with Peter Butler with Allen contributing 34 goals from midfield in 234 appearances. However, by 1995 team discipline was poor at West Ham and with Allen playing alongside Julian Dicks, John Moncur and Don Hutchison bookings were commonplace.[3] Allen was again dismissed in a match against Queens Park Rangers on 3 May 1995 after fouling Rufus Brevett.[7][8] He would play only five more games before being allowed to leave.[2]

Allen stayed with the Hammers until September 1995 when he made a £500,000 switch to Portsmouth after a successful loan spell at Fratton Park.[9] After three frustrating years with Pompey, which took in a brief loan stint at Southend United, he retired and began a coaching career.

Management career

Reading

Allen began his management career as an assistant manager at hometown club Reading, where he joined Alan Pardew when the Royals were in the relegation zone. The team produced championship form in their closing 20 fixtures, winning 12 and drawing 4 to secure a top 10 finish. Two years later they won promotion to Division One.

Barnet

Allen's first full manager role was at Conference side Barnet, from March 2003 to March 2004. He succeeded from Peter Shreeves, to whom he was assistant manager from March 2002. Allen built a team from scratch in pre-season of the 2003–04 campaign. The team shot straight to the top end of the table, however Allen left for Brentford with a few weeks of the season remaining in a move that disappointed many Barnet fans. Under the guidance of new manager Paul Fairclough, the Bees made the play-offs but were beaten in the semi-finals by Shrewsbury Town.

Brentford

Allen exiting the Brentford team bus at Victoria Park in 2005.

Allen took over from Wally Downes at Second Division side Brentford in March 2004.[10] He had a good run at the club, saving them from relegation to the Third Division in what remained of the 2003–04 season. In the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons he took Brentford to the play-offs with fourth and third-place finishes respectively, but they were eliminated by Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City respectively in the semi-finals on both occasions. Allen won press attention during the 2004–05 season for the success of his self-described "two bob team",[11] which was composed of ageing pros (John Salako, Andy Myers, Scott Fitzgerald and Jamie Lawrence), free transfers (Deon Burton, Chris Hargreaves, Stewart Talbot and Isaiah Rankin) and young guns who would go on to play in the Premier League (Jay Tabb, Stephen Hunt, Sam Sodje and Michael Turner). Allen took Brentford to the fifth round of the FA Cup in two consecutive years, going out to Premier League sides Southampton in the 2004–05 season (losing 3–1 in a replay, after a 2–2 draw at St Mary's) and Charlton Athletic 3–1 in the 2005–06 season. He also was in charge of one of the major giant killings in the fourth round in the 2005–06 season, beating Premier League side Sunderland 2–1.

At Brentford, he proved to be a very popular manager with the fans and an object of curiosity to opponents and media alike due to his unconventional managerial methods, which paid off due to the relative success Brentford had under him on a limited budget. He participated in a 25 mile sponsored bike ride on November 2005 to raise funds for Brentford.[12] To inspire the team, Allen swam in the Tees before a 1-0 FA Cup fourth round replay victory over Hartlepool United in February 2005 and jumped naked into the Solent before Brentford's 2-2 draw at Southampton in the following round.[13] In May 2006, Allen announced his resignation as manager of Brentford, citing lack of Board commitment to investing in the team to take it to the next level.[14] In July 2006 he completed his UEFA Pro Licence in coaching.[15] With the club struggling in League One in late 2010, there was speculation that Allen would replace Andy Scott as manager, but the reports were quashed by Brentford chief executive Andrew Mills.[16]

Milton Keynes Dons

Allen then dropped down a level to manage League Two team Milton Keynes Dons for the 2006–07 season, a club with heavy financial backing and ambitions from owner Pete Winkelman, albeit one that had been in severe decline for the past few years and had dropped from the Championship to League Two in three seasons. Allen managed to arrest the club's decline and took his team to the play-offs, but lost in the semi-finals to Shrewsbury Town.

Leicester City

In May 2007, Allen became the new manager at Championship side Leicester City,[17] after Leicester and Milton Keynes Dons had negotiated a compensation package.

In August 2007, striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink agreed contract terms with Leicester and chairman Milan Mandarić invited him to undergo a medical at Leicester.[18] But when Hasselbaink arrived in Leicester on 13 August, Allen told him that the medical was no longer going take place.[19] Six days later, Mandarić confirmed an interest in striker Derek Riordan, who was lacking first team football at Celtic. However, Allen refused to make an offer for Riordan, which further aggravated Mandarić.[20] Relations with chairman Milan Mandarić quickly deteriorated and his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 29 August 2007 after just four games in charge.[21]

After leaving Leicester, Allen declared his interest in managing Swindon Town,[22] which eventually went to Maurice Malpas.

Cheltenham Town

Allen was appointed as manager of Cheltenham Town on 15 September 2008, on a three-year contract.[23] His father, Dennis, had been manager at Whaddon Road between 1974 and 1979.[24] With financial difficulties hitting the club and an increasingly troubled dressing room atmosphere, the entire Cheltenham squad were put up for sale. Allen allowed key players to leave mid-season either on loan or for reduced prices, contributing to a run of results which left Cheltenham near the foot of the League Two table. On 20 October 2009 and amidst poor results on the pitch, Allen was suspended by Cheltenham Town and placed on gardening leave pending an internal investigation into allegations that he racially abused a nightclub bouncer.[25] In November Gloucestershire police announced that no action would be taken against Allen concerning the alleged nightclub incident. He remained on leave whilst Cheltenham Town considered his future at the club.[26] On 11 December it was announced he had left the club.[27] In January 2010 he was appointed part-time scout for Queens Park Rangers.[28]

Return to Barnet

On 23 March 2011, Allen returned to his first managerial club, Barnet, until the end of the 2010–11 season.[29] He was working on an eight-game contract but left after only three games, in which Barnet were unbeaten,[30] to take charge of Notts County.

Notts County

Allen took charge of Notts County on 11 April 2011 signing a one-year rolling contract.[30] Notts County won eight points out of the seven games Allen was in charge of at the end of the 2010–11 season, enough for them to avoid relegation. Allen was named League One Manager of the Month in September 2011 after leading the team to four wins and a draw in the league.

Allen was sacked by Notts County on 18 February 2012.[31]

Third spell at Barnet

Allen was appointed caretaker manager of Barnet on 16 April 2012 for the last three games of the 2011–12 season, replacing Lawrie Sanchez.[32] Barnet managed two wins under Allen's managership, finished 22nd and avoided relegation from League Two with a 2–1 win on 5 May 2012 on the last day of the season, against Burton Albion.[33] Following the end of the season, Allen's contract ended.[34]

Gillingham

On 5 July 2012, Allen was appointed manager of Gillingham signing a two-year contract.[35] His first match as Gillingham manager came on 14 August 2012, a 2-1 away win against Bristol City in the League Cup.[36] While at Gillingham, Allen oversaw the Kent side's best ever start to a league season.[37] He also broke the club record for most away wins in a football league season with a 1-0 win over Chesterfield, the eleventh of the season on 23 February 2013. On 6 April 2013 Gillingham secured promotion to League One, Allen's first ever promotion in his career as a manager.[38] They secured the League Two title with a 2-2 draw against AFC Wimbledon at Priestfield on 20 April.[39] On 20 May 2013, Allen was crowned League 2 Manager of the Year by the LMA for his achievements with the club.[40] Allen was sacked by Gillingham in October 2013 after sixteen months in charge. Gillingham had won just two games from eleven played on their return to League One.[41]

Fourth spell at Barnet

Allen was appointed head coach of Barnet on 19 March 2014 until the end of the 2014–15 season, marking his fourth spell at the club.[42] He coached them to the 2014-15 Football Conference championship on April 25, 2015 to secure promotion to League Two.[43] Barnet comfortably avoided relegation in their first season back in League Two, finishing 15th. However, despite the Bees starting the 2016-17 season just outside the play-off zone in 8th place, Allen made an unexpected request to terminate his contract to join National League side Eastleigh. The request was granted on 1 December 2016.[44]

Honours

Managerial honours

Brentford
Gillingham
Barnet

Family

His cousins, Paul Allen, Bradley Allen and Clive Allen, were also footballers, as was his uncle Les Allen. His father, Dennis, played for Reading, Charlton Athletic and Bournemouth. His son Charlie Allen played under his management at several clubs and now plays for Farnborough. His nephews Harry[48] and Freddie are also young footballers. Freddie is the captain of Oxford United's youth team.[49]

Business career

Having run his own soccer schools programme across 13 towns while still playing professionally. Allen, a UEFA Pro Licence holder and a graduate of the LMA's Certificate in Applied Management at Warwick University, created the company Pro FC which finds young people with the potential to become footballers. He is also non-exec director of the football charity, Coaching for Hope.[50]

Journalism

In December 2013 Allen began writing for the Daily Mail. His column, "Mad Dog on Monday", is published online via the Daily Mail's website, Mail Online Sport.[51]

Managerial statistics

[52]

As of 26 November 2016.
Team Nat From To Record
GWDLWin %
Barnet England March 2003 March 2004 47 20 17 10 42.55
Brentford England 18 March 2004 31 May 2006 124 54 36 34 43.55
Milton Keynes Dons England 21 June 2006 25 May 2007 55 28 11 16 50.91
Leicester City England 25 May 2007 29 August 2007 4 2 1 1 50.00
Cheltenham Town England 15 September 2008 11 December 2009 60 13 19 28 21.67
Barnet England 23 March 2011 11 April 2011 3 2 1 0 66.67
Notts County England 11 April 2011 18 February 2012 43 16 10 17 37.21
Barnet England 16 April 2012 11 June 2012 3 2 0 1 66.67
Gillingham England 5 July 2012 13 October 2013 64 27 17 20 42.19
Barnet England 19 March 2014 1 December 2016 135 57 35 43 42.22
Total 539 221 147 171 41.00

References

  1. ↑ "West Ham United v Plymouth Argyle, 26 August 1989". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Welcome to the Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  3. 1 2 Powles, John (2012). Seeing Red for The Claret and Blue. Hockley, Essex: SoccerData. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-905891-54-2.
  4. ↑ Powles, John (2012). Seeing Red for The Claret and Blue. Hockley, Essex: SoccerData. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-905891-54-2.
  5. ↑ Powles, John (2012). Seeing Red for The Claret and Blue. Hockley, Essex: SoccerData. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-905891-54-2.
  6. ↑ "Top 10 player and manager feuds, starring David Beckham, Roy Keane, Harry Redknapp and more". www.mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  7. ↑ Powles, John (2012). Seeing Red for The Claret and Blue. Hockley, Essex: SoccerData. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-905891-54-2.
  8. ↑ "Game played on 03 May 1995". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "Sherwood to placate Blackburn protesters — Sport". The Independent. 12 September 1995. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
  10. ↑ "Martin Allen the new Bees boss after Downes is sacked". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Football: A 'TWO-BOB' SOB STORY; Bristol City 1 Brentford 1". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Manager Allen completes bike ride". BBC Sport. 2005-11-29. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  13. ↑ Will Buckley. "Football: Martin 'Mad dog' Allen will show Soton his breeding". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "Allen resigns from Bees". Sky Sports. 2006-05-30. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  15. ↑ "The Class of 2006". The Football Association. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  16. ↑ Jacob Murtagh (22 November 2010). "Brentford play down rumours of Martin Allen return". getwestlondon. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "Allen named new Leicester manager". BBC Sport. 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  18. ↑ "Jimmy in dark over Foxes". Sky Sports. 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  19. ↑ "Hasselbaink baffled by Foxes snub". BBC Sport. 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
  20. ↑ "Riordan's Leicester hopes fade". BBC Sport. 2007-08-20. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
  21. ↑ "Allen ends brief Leicester reign". BBC Sport. 2007-08-29. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  22. ↑ "Allen to apply for Swindon post". BBC Sport. 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  23. ↑ "Martin Allen confirmed as Robins boss". Cheltenham Town F.C. 2008-09-15. Archived from the original on 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  24. ↑ "Like father, like son". Cheltenham Town F.C. 2008-09-15. Archived from the original on 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  25. ↑ Cheltenham suspend manager Martin Allen over alleged racism at nightclub www.guardian.co.uk
  26. ↑ Martin Allen in the clear over 'racism' allegations after police drop case www.guardian.co.uk
  27. ↑ "Martin Allen leaves Cheltenham despite being cleared of racial abuse". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  28. ↑ Allen scouts out a job with former club Queens Park Rangers www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk
  29. ↑ '+ dateCreated +' (2011-03-23). "Allen back as Bees boss | Football News". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
  30. 1 2 "Notts County appoint Martin Allen as manager". BBC Sport. 2011-04-11. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  31. ↑ "Notts County sack manager Martin Allen". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  32. ↑ "Lawrie Sanchez leaves Barnet with Martin Allen returning to manage the side until the end of the season". Hendon & Finchley, Barnet & Potters Bar, Edgeware & Mill Hill Times. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  33. ↑ "Burton Albion 1-2 Barnet". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  34. ↑ "Allen wants Barnet job". Eurosport. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  35. ↑ "Martin Allen appointed new Gillingham manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  36. ↑ "Bristol City 1-2 Gillingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  37. ↑ "Martin Allen has Gillingham hoping for glory". WSC.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  38. ↑ "MARTIN: "IT'S AN HISTORIC DAY"". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  39. ↑ Match Report. "MATCH REPORT". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  40. ↑ "MARTIN NAMED MANAGER OF THE YEAR". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  41. ↑ "Martin Allen: Gillingham manager sacked after 16 months". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  42. ↑ "Martin Allen Returns As Head-Coach". BARNET FC. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  43. ↑ "Barnet 2-0 Gateshead". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  44. ↑ http://www.barnetfc.com/news/article/2016-17/official-martin-allen-leaves-barnet-3445974.aspx
  45. ↑ "Burton continues impressive form". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  46. ↑ "Martin Allen: Gillingham manager sacked after 16 months". BBC Sport. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2014. Gillingham have sacked manager Martin Allen after 16 months in charge. Allen, 48, led the Gills to the League Two title last season but they had won just two of 11 league games this term.
  47. ↑ "Barnet 2-0 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015. Barnet comfortably beat Gateshead to secure the Conference title ahead of Bristol Rovers and win promotion back to the Football League.
  48. ↑ "Allen brings in nephew on loan". www.kentsportsnews.com. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  49. ↑ Allen, Martin (27 January 2014). "MAD DOG ON MONDAY: I've found the best signing of the January window... and it's NOT Mata (plus, why Collymore was right to make Twitter stand and Moyes will get time)". Mail Online. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  50. ↑ "Who are we? - Martin Allen". www.profc.net. Archived from the original on 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
  51. ↑ Allen, Martin (16 December 2013). "MAD DOG ON MONDAY: Moyes needs to get rid of RVP... Arsenal must drop Wilshere to win the title... and why Clarke knew the writing was on the wall at West Brom". Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  52. ↑ "Managerial Statistics — Martin Allen". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
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