Is Terry Fenwick the worst manager ever?
In this week's Knowledge: the worst manager ever, nearest Champions League finalists ever and is Sicknote the most injured player ever - the sequel. Send your questions and answers to knowledge@guardianunlimited.co.uk
I AM GLAD TO SEE HE HAS REVIVED HIS CAREER IN TRINI
WHO IS THE WORST MANAGER EVER?
"In light of a recent discussion about the legend that is Steve Nicol (played 20, won 4, lost 9 while in charge of Notts County in 1995), we started wondering who has the UK's worst managerial record," says James Armit.
Where else to start James, than with the legendary Mick McCarthy? At the moment, the Sunderland manager's record at the Stadium of Light stands at an astonishingly poor played nine, lost nine. "Though he didn't manage the hapless club for the whole season, he did manage to avoid scoring a single point in his tenure, and topped it off by bottoming out with the lowest points total in the top flight since the introduction of three points for a win," says a flabbergasted John Whitling.
True, John, true. But Mick's spell at Sunderland could yet improve - unlike Howard Wilkinson, whose record at the Stadium of Light was P 27, W 4, L15, D 8 - an average of 0.74 points per game. However, Wilko still comes a long way behind another of the game's gruff characters - ex-Wimbledon boss Peter Withe, who, as Wayne Ziants points out, won just once in 16 matches (one win, six draws, nine losses - an average of 0.56 points a game) while in charge of the Dons.
Meanwhile Chris Fry reckons Martin Hinshelwood, at his beloved Brighton and Hove Albion, is the worst manager of all time. "2 wins, 1 draw and 11 defeats in a row at the start of last season (an average of 0.50 points per game) before getting the boot."
But, incredibly, there is someone even worse. Step forward one Terrence Fenwick, whose reign at Northampton was little short of a disaster. "Speaking with no knowledge or authority whatsoever beyond that of a somewhat bitter Cobblers fan, I would suggest that Fenwick is worth looking at," says David Frost. "I gather he had some success in that hotbed of footballing excellence, the West Indies, but his brief tenure at Sixfields was worth a mighty two points from 21."
"Admittedly both his predecessor and successor were on the end of some hammerings either side of his reign," continues David, "but they had the knack of winning the odd game every now and then - a simple strategy that is generally sufficient in the nether regions of the Second Division to ensure survival."
Agreed, David. Agreed. We reckon Fenwick's record of P7, W0, D2, L5 at Northampton (an average of 0.28 points a game) is the most unsuccessful of any sacked manager. But if you know different, let us know...