Nigel Worthington - his 19 month reign at York City assessed

WITH one win in 17 games - and that against a ten-man Stevenage team - the case against Nigel Worthington’s continued employment as York City manager looked like a strong one.

Lesser runs have certainly signalled the death knell for many of his counterparts in the game and City’s fellow bottom-five rivals Tranmere, Hartlepool and Carlisle have also made changes already this term.

Other than online hysteria and a few unsavoury scenes following the 2-0 defeat at Dagenham a fortnight ago, however, there has not been a clamour for Worthington’s head from the terraces - home or away. City supporters seemed prepared, in the main, to show patience with the former Norwich and Northern Ireland chief. If they weren’t, their protests were never audible.

Worthington retained the full support, too, of his board who, having now appointed seven managers in their 11-year involvement at Bootham Crescent, had hoped he would be in for the long haul. His resignation, therefore, was largely as unwelcome as it was unexpected.

Despite a sorry start to the season, Worthington has proven twice previously in his Minstermen tenure that he is capable of reversing such situations.

Whereas his predecessors Billy McEwan, Martin Foyle and Gary Mills unravelled under the pressure when their teams failed to build on the momentum of successful campaigns, Worthington maintained a measured and calm approach to identifying and addressing problems and never displayed any signs of being under duress, which makes the timing of his decision to stand down all the more surprising.

Arguably, Worthington had been in more troublesome situations during his 19-month reign.

Just five win-less games into the job, it looked like his stint in charge could become one of the shortest and most ignominious in City’s history as the team showed no discernible improvement after he succeeded Mills, whose contract had been terminated following a run of 11 matches without a victory.

The astute loan signings of Adam Reed, Josh Carson and Richard Cresswell, though, helped the club collect an unlikely 14 points from their last 18 to preserve their Football League status with a 1-0 final-day triumph at Dagenham.

Worthington’s nerve was then tested again when his team welcomed 2014 with the club’s longest-ever run of games (11) without a win at the end of a calendar year.

Back then, City were sitting in an identical position to now - third-bottom and only outside the relegation zone on goal difference. But mid-season recruits Russell Penn, Keith Lowe, John McCombe and Nick Pope again strengthened the team in key areas, leading to a remarkable surge to the play-off positions after finishing the regular campaign unbeaten in 17 games.

A narrow 1-0, two-legged defeat against Fleetwood ensued but both of the above examples illustrate why Worthington might have been afforded leeway that others, in the face of his team’s current form, would not have received.

There was a belief in many circles that he could mastermind another transformation in fortunes.

Such signs were even evident at Newport on Saturday when a well-organised first half saw a team, spearheaded by a new strikeforce of loan pair Ryan Brunt and Diego de Girolamo, led 1-0 at the interval thanks to a goal from the latter.

Penn’s 46th-minute red card, though, turned the tide with Worthington’s departure coming in the wake of a subsequent 3-1 defeat.

It is hypothetical now, of course, to ponder on what the coming weeks would have brought under Worthington and there were long-established concerns that would have needed urgent remedies.

A record of three goals from open play in 14 matches this season – stretching to 16 if you go back to last term’s play-off semi-final – is rarely going to herald positive results.

The Minstermen, who never won a game they trailed in under their departed manager, have otherwise netted twice from the penalty spot, another couple of times from free-kicks and on four occasions from corners.

City must become more imaginative in their attacking play under Worthington’s successor - even the case last season when it was less of a problem due to a unique run of 14 clean sheets in 18 games.

Worthington’s summer recruits have also come under close scrutiny with the likes of Lindon Meikle, Jason Mooney and Dave Winfield having all struggled.

Following a promising start, Luke Summerfield has floundered a little over the last month, while marquee signings Jake Hyde and Anthony Straker have been surprisingly marginalised.

Their performances in coming weeks could determine how far Worthington’s transfer activity over the summer contributed to his demise.

Nigel Worthington’s managerial record at York City: Played 76, Won 23, Drawn 29, Lost 24, Goals For 79, Goals Against 76.