Much more than just second best

The impact of an assistant manager is often overlooked yet it can help to make or break a season for a team.

Rather than viewing these figures as not being good enough to handle the pressure that management brings, they should be seen as the key link in every team for a variety of different reasons.

Whether they are tasked with planning/running/altering training sessions, providing crucial input to analyse performances and personalities, or acting as a motivator or confidant that players can rely on, they are involved in every aspect of keeping a team together.

A quick scan of some of the top teams in the Premier Division reveals a list of number two’s who each team could not do without. Liam O’Brien (Bohemians), Trevor Croly (Shamrock Rovers) and Gerry Carr (Sligo Rovers) are a few that stand out straight away.

Then there are some who lurk even further in the background, like John Devine at Sporting Fingal and Aaron Callaghan at UCD. These are experienced coaches who make a valuable contribution to the teams they are involved with.

At St Patrick’s Athletic, this position is occupied by John Gill. The former Dundalk boss has enjoyed success as a manager in his own right, but he is adapting well to being assistant to Pete Mahon.

“At times I found it quite difficult at the start, because at times I’d be jumping out of the dug-out. But we bounce ideas off each other all of the time,” Gill told Insider’s View.

“Even when it comes to substitutions, they were thought out between us. Sometimes I’ll make a suggestion or Pete will and we’ll discuss it. I think that shows we are a very good team because we take each other’s opinion onboard.

“The more good people you have the more knowledge there is. You look at some of the big clubs in England, Sir Alex Ferguson has Mike Phelan, David Moyes has Steve Round, Arsene Wenger has Pat Rice – it often takes two people at that high level.

“Pete has to deal with all of the pressure, but I try to help as much as I can. I’m active on the training pitch.”

Gill admits that he still craves that extra bit of power that comes from being the main man in the dug-out and he hopes to get back to that position again.

However, he won’t be hastily quitting his current role at Richmond Park because he knows just how important it is and he wants to help the Saints achieve something before he climbs back onto the managerial ladder.

“I’m ambitious and there is no doubt that I want to get back managing some day. Not now because I’m enjoying what I’m doing, but down the line if the right opportunity came up I’d certainly be interested,” he said.

“I’ve had to bounce back from some tough times. From what happened up in Dundalk and even at Dublin City, so at times I look at other people getting jobs that maybe they haven’t had to work hard to get and I feel a bit envious.

“But I’m enjoying the role that I’m doing at the moment. When something does come up again I will be a wiser and better manager than I was in the past.”