Dave Robertson: 'As a manager, a leader and a coach, you want the dressing room to lay down the standards and principles'

From the armed forces to working for the English Football League. Dave Robertson spoke to ExtraTime.ie about his unorthodox career path to date.

Unable to secure a football league contract as a teenager, Dave turned to the military, following in his father and grandfather's footsteps: "Football was foremost for me, but that was a secondary thing that I had in mind if things didn't work out. Call it a back-up plan, if you will, for football." 

Having a pacemaker fitted in his mid-20s led to a medical discharge from the Royal Marines in 1998, and a return to football. Robertson's first coaching role was at Peterborough United before working in the US and at Crystal Palace.

Reappearing at Peterborough, the Dagenham native stayed on as Academy Manager until Darren Ferguson's sacking in early 2015 saw Dave initially appointed as caretaker boss and then rewarded with a three-year deal, which only lasted six games into his first full season at the reins.

"It fell upon me. The chairman (Darragh MacAnthony) had fired the manager and put me in charge for one game, which we won against Bradford. Then he asked me to do it for another week, while he was interviewing people. We beat Sheffield United at Bramall Lane and then won again on the Saturday.

"I won five games and then he gave me until the end of the season. Early on in the following year, a run of bad results ended up with me losing my job. I'll always look back on my time there with fondness, knowing that I've done well for the football club."

A short stint with Southend United's under-21s preceded the Englishman taking over the Sligo Rovers hotseat ahead of the 2016 campaign. Despite a tricky beginning Robertson led the Bit O'Red to a respectable fifth-placed finish in the Premier Division, but when a second poor start ensued during his second season, the opportunity to recover again wasn't forthcoming.

"Unfortunately, that's management and sometimes people make these decisions. Given time, I think as a group, we would have been able to turn things around, as we did the previous year. We were trying to build something there long term.

“We included the Head of Youth Development Brian Dorrian to our first team, so the message was clear to allow a pathway into it. Giving opportunities to players from the local area means a real connection with supporters.

"At times, throughout the year, you're going to need to get the fans behind you and Sligo's were always brilliant at that. I'll always wish them well and I always look out for them."

For someone with an army background, you could be forgiven for assuming that pre-season under Dave would be extra hellish, but he's adamant that's just a misconception: "As a manager, a leader and a coach, you want the dressing room to lay down the standards and principles.

“Sometimes I think there's a fallacy about military leadership being very dictatorial, but I'd say I was the other way. I definitely looked for player input into the leadership programme. At Sligo, I had John Russell, who's gone on to be assistant manager at the club.

“You had Raff Cretaro, who had years of experience as a player and was well respected in the dressing room. There was also Tim Clancy, who's now the Drogheda manager and doing really well and Gavin Peers.

“By having those senior players as my leadership group, we discussed things every week, which was important. I think players should have input because ultimately, it's them who have to perform and as a manager, you've got to guide them."

To conclude, Robertson gives a little insight into what he's doing now and how he's content to let the future unfold as it sees fit: "I work for the English Football League and look after eight clubs in the northwest. It's been a good move for the family. As a manager and coach, it's important to me that my family are happy … That always plays a big part in my decisions.

“I'm working with two Championship clubs, four in League One and two more in League Two. I'm very happy in the job, but I'm always a believer in whatever the future holds, will find its way. I'm not actively looking for anything at the minute because I'm settled, but who knows what the future may bring."