Sands of time run out for realist Dunn

OUT in the cold: David Dunn

THREE wins in 20 games. In those terms it’s hardly a surprise that David Dunn wasn’t retained as Athletic's manager.

The 36 year old was told yesterday that after only four months in charge his services were no longer required. Also out was Dunn’s assistant Dean Holden, a respected figure behind the scenes, and Keith Brown, acquired by close friend Dunn as first-team coach when he took over.

Speaking to Dunn afterwards, he was realistic in his self-appraisal. He fully accepts that when your job is to win football matches and you don’t manage it, the prospects of continued employment plummet.

But Dunn can fairly point to the fact that he wasn’t given the full chance to build his own team by

utilising a transfer window. The foundations have been “built on sand”, in his words last week, which is code for his belief that the current players aren’t strong enough mentally or in some cases physically.

His reign started with some promise. A host of draws was followed by a 4-2 crashing to Scunthorpe at home, before Dunn earned his first victory at Swindon thanks to a piece of Danny Philliskirk opportunism.

Another three points at Chesterfield came with Dunn bemoaning chants from the Athletic faithful he felt were unhelpful. Two weeks later there was more vitriol from supporters angry at their side’s inept display in losing 1-0 at lowly Crewe.

An FA Cup defeat after a tight clash at Sheffield United cost Athletic the chance to make a fortune in an FA Cup third-round tie at Manchester United. And though performances improved in his final month, results didn’t. Athletic are five points adrift of the League One safety line.

Clearly the decision-makers felt the time was right to fire the Blackburn legend.

While Dunn and his former colleagues take their time to assess where to go next, John Sheridan becomes the fifth permanent manager in charge of Athletic in 11 months - an extraordinary record.

Though the new man will undoubtedly be popular among supporters — and goodness knows, fans need and deserve to be brought on-side by the club — Sheridan will need to hit the ground running if Athletic are to have any chance of staving off a first relegation to the bottom division since 1969.