The chairman of Notts County’s Supporters Association has said the Magpies’ turn in fortunes is down to Alan Hardy putting ‘heart back into the club.’
Notts County extended their unbeaten run to 5 matches yesterday with a 1-0 away win at promotion chasers Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday (February 28).
Magpies boss Kevin Nolan was awarded with the EFL manager of the midweek accolade for his side’s impressive victory against second-placed Plymouth.
Notts have picked up 11 points from a possible 15 helping them to climb to 19th in Sky Bet League 2 and eight points clear from the relegation zone.
Hardy was announced as the new owner of the club in January with the Magpies perched just one point above the relegation zone.
Notts County Supporters Association Chairman John Terrington said: “Hardy has put heart back into the club, endeavour and a willingness for the club to do well.
“The players have responded to a new chairman who cares about the club, with Hardy coming in he has the club at heart.
“The fans and players have taken that on board and are getting behind him, then we’ve brought a manager in who respects the players.”
In his first game in charge, Hardy drew a crowd of 11,328 to Meadow Lane for the East Midlands derby against Mansfield Town which ended in a 0-0 draw.
LetsTalkNotts founder Michael Riordan says Hardy and Nolan have a special relationship.
“Our recent form is amazing and Nolan has done a great job, I think its down to the fact that the relationship between Hardy and Nolan is special,” he said.
“They both get along and clearly know what they are doing, I can only thank them.
“Nolan did very well with getting it into the players heads how important we are to the football league, the players want to play for him, it’s like having a new team.”
From November up until Hardy’s takeover in January, Notts had lost all 10 of their League 2 matches.
Hardy unveiled Kevin Nolan as the new manager at Meadow Lane just a day after his takeover of the club.
John, who has followed County for 63 years, said: “Nolan has been tremendous, he’s came in and talked to the players, he’s got them understanding.
“He has the players futures at heart and he’s got through to them that it’s just not a matter of turning up on a pitch for 90 minutes of football but you’ve got to put endeavour and skill into practice, that’s what he has now turned round.
“At the start of the season we were doing that but for some unknown reason the players lost all faith in themselves and now Nolan has brought that back.”
A sigh of relief could be heard at Meadow Lane in January as their transfer embargo was finally lifted in time for deadline day.
Six players came through the doors, with one making the short journey across the Trent – 22-year-old Jorge Grant joining the Magpies on loan from Nottingham Forest.
And the attacking midfielder has wasted no time settling in at the world’s oldest professional football league club scoring three in his last four appearances.
John says it’s very important that Hardy and Nolan are choosing to play younger players.
“Over the last 3 or 4 years the only players Notts have signed are players in their thirties that other clubs don’t want, we’ve signed nobody under the age of 25.
“These youngsters such as Jorge Grant have come in have got a lot to prove, they’re playing for their futures, I think that youthful enthusiasm has spread through the team.
“If we can hold on to the nucleus of players that have been brought in I think we have a good chance next year of being up there.”
County’s success even grabbed the attention of Nottingham star and Magpie Jake Bugg who tweeted to thank the club for helping him celebrate his 23rd birthday with three points.
