Editing Martin Allen (section)

==Management career==

===Reading===
Allen began his management career as an assistant manager at hometown club [[Reading F.C.|Reading]], where he joined [[Alan Pardew]] when the Royals were in the relegation zone. The team produced championship form in their closing 20 fixtures, winning 12 and drawing 4 to secure a top 10 finish. Two years later they won promotion to Division One.

===Barnet===
Allen's first full manager role was at Conference side [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]], from March 2003 to March 2004. He succeeded from [[Peter Shreeves]], to whom he was assistant manager from March 2002. Allen built a team from scratch in pre-season of the [[2003-04 in English football|2003–04]] campaign. The team shot straight to the top end of the table, however Allen left for [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] with a few weeks of the season remaining in a move that disappointed many Barnet fans. Under the guidance of new manager [[Paul Fairclough]], the Bees made the play-offs but were beaten in the semi-finals by [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]].

===Brentford===
[[File:Martin Allen, football manager, February 2005.jpg|thumb|right|Allen exiting the [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] team bus at [[Victoria Park (Hartlepool)|Victoria Park]] in 2005.]]
Allen took over from [[Wally Downes]] at [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] side Brentford in March 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/472385.print/|title=Martin Allen the new Bees boss after Downes is sacked|date=19 March 2004 |access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref> He had a good run at the club, saving them from relegation to the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] in what remained of the [[2003–04 Brentford F.C. season|2003–04]] season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~522812,00.html |title=Brentford {{!}} News {{!}} Latest News {{!}} Latest News {{!}} MARTIN ALLEN: "My greatest achievement" |date=8 May 2004 |website=brentfordfc.co.uk |access-date=19 February 2018}}</ref> In the [[2004–05 Brentford F.C. season|2004–05]] and [[2005–06 Brentford F.C. season|2005–06]] seasons he took Brentford to the play-offs with fourth and third-place finishes respectively, but they were eliminated by Sheffield Wednesday and [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] respectively in the semi-finals on both occasions.<ref name="FCHD">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fchd.info/BRENTFOR.HTM |title=Football Club History Database – Brentford |website=www.fchd.info |access-date=19 February 2018}}</ref> Allen won press attention during the 2004–05 season for the success of his self-described "two bob team",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-124598058|title=Football: A 'TWO-BOB' SOB STORY; Bristol City 1 Brentford 1|access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref> which was composed of ageing pros ([[John Salako]], [[Andy Myers]], [[Scott Fitzgerald (footballer born 1969)|Scott Fitzgerald]] and [[Jamie Lawrence (footballer, born 1970)|Jamie Lawrence]]), [[Free transfer (association football)|free transfers]] ([[Deon Burton]], [[Chris Hargreaves]], [[Stewart Talbot]] and [[Isaiah Rankin]]) and young guns who would go on to play in the [[Premier League]] ([[Jay Tabb]], [[Stephen Hunt (footballer, born 1981)|Stephen Hunt]], [[Sam Sodje]] and [[Michael Turner (footballer, born 1983)|Michael Turner]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=378&teamTabs=stats&season_id=134 |title=Brentford FC Player Appearances {{!}} Past & Present {{!}} Soccer Base |website=www.soccerbase.com |access-date=19 February 2018}}</ref> Allen took Brentford to the fifth round of the [[FA Cup]] in two consecutive years, going out to Premier League sides [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] in the 2004–05 season (losing 3–1 in a replay, after a 2–2 draw at [[St Mary's Stadium|St Mary's]]) and [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] 3–1 in the 2005–06 season.<ref name="FCHD" /> He also was in charge of one of the major [[Upset (competition)|giant killings]] in the fourth round in the 2005–06 season, beating Premier League side [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] 2–1.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/4634288.stm |title=Brentford 2–1 Sunderland |date=2006 |access-date=19 February 2018 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

At Brentford, he proved to be a very popular manager with the fans and an object of curiosity to opponents and media alike due to his unconventional managerial methods, which paid off due to the relative success Brentford had under him on a limited budget. He participated in a 25-mile sponsored bike ride in November 2005 to raise funds for Brentford.<ref name="Sponsor Martin Allen">{{cite news
| title      = Manager Allen completes bike ride
| url        = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brentford/4480964.stm
| publisher  = BBC Sport
| date       = 29 November 2005
| access-date = 25 May 2007}}</ref> To inspire the team, Allen swam in the [[River Tees|Tees]] before a 1–0 FA Cup fourth round replay victory over [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] in February 2005 and jumped naked into the [[Solent River|Solent]] before Brentford's 2–2 draw at Southampton in the following round.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/feb/27/newsstory.sport8|title=Football: Martin 'Mad dog' Allen will show Soton his breeding|author=Will Buckley|work=The Guardian|date=27 February 2005 |access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref> In May 2006, Allen announced his resignation as manager of Brentford, citing lack of Board commitment to investing in the team to take it to the next level.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~835361,00.html |title=Brentford {{!}} News {{!}} Latest News {{!}} Latest News {{!}} A STATEMENT FROM BRENTFORD FC |date=2 June 2006 |website=brentfordfc.co.uk |access-date=30 October 2018}}</ref> In July 2006 he completed his [[UEFA Pro Licence]] in coaching.<ref name="class2006">{{cite news
|title       = The Class of 2006
|url         = http://www.thefa.com/GetIntoFootball/FALearning/NewsAndFeatures/2006/Pro_Licence
|date        = 3 July 2006
|newspaper   = The Football Association
|access-date  = 26 April 2012
}}</ref> With the club struggling in League One in late 2010, there was speculation that Allen would replace [[Andy Scott (footballer, born 1972)|Andy Scott]] as manager, but the reports were quashed by Brentford chief executive Andrew Mills.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/other-sport/brentford-play-down-rumours-martin-5992207|title=Brentford play down rumours of Martin Allen return|author=Jacob Murtagh|date=22 November 2010|work=getwestlondon|access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref>

===Milton Keynes Dons===
Allen then dropped down a level to manage League Two team [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] for the [[2006-07 in English football|2006–07]] season, a club with heavy financial backing and ambitions from owner [[Pete Winkelman]], albeit one that had been in severe decline for the past few years and had dropped from the [[Football League Championship|Championship]] to League Two in three seasons. Allen managed to arrest the club's decline and took his team to the play-offs, but lost in the semi-finals to Shrewsbury Town.

===Leicester City===
In May 2007, Allen became the new manager at Championship side [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]],<ref name="Allen named new Leicester manager">{{cite news| title = Allen named new Leicester manager| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/6665547.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 25 May 2007| access-date = 25 May 2007}}</ref> after Leicester and Milton Keynes Dons had negotiated a compensation package.

In August 2007, striker [[Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink]] agreed contract terms with Leicester and chairman [[Milan Mandarić]] invited him to undergo a medical at Leicester.<ref name="Jimmy in dark over Foxes">{{Cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/2661318/jimmy-in-dark-over-foxes |title=Jimmy in dark over Foxes |date=14 August 2007 |access-date=1 February 2010 |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref> But when Hasselbaink arrived in Leicester on 13 August, Allen told him that the medical was no longer going take place.<ref name="Hasselbaink baffled by Foxes snub">{{cite news| title = Hasselbaink baffled by Foxes snub| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/6946891.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 14 August 2007| access-date = 30 September 2007}}</ref> Six days later, Mandarić confirmed an interest in striker [[Derek Riordan]], who was lacking first team football at [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]. However, Allen refused to make an offer for Riordan, which further aggravated Mandarić.<ref name="Riordan's Leicester hopes fade">{{cite news| title = Riordan's Leicester hopes fade| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/6942124.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 20 August 2007| access-date = 30 September 2007}}</ref> Relations with chairman Milan Mandarić quickly deteriorated and his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 29 August 2007 after just four games in charge.<ref name="Allen ends brief Leicester reign">{{cite news| title = Allen ends brief Leicester reign| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/6969388.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 29 August 2007| access-date = 29 August 2007}}</ref>

After leaving Leicester, Allen declared his interest in managing [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]],<ref>{{cite news| title = Allen to apply for Swindon post| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/7120718.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 30 November 2007| access-date = 30 November 2007}}</ref> which eventually went to [[Maurice Malpas]].

===Cheltenham Town===
Allen was appointed as manager of [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]] on 15 September 2008, on a three-year contract.<ref name="Martin Allen confirmed as Robins boss">{{Cite news |url=http://www.ctfc.com.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10434~1392810,00.html |title=Martin Allen confirmed as Robins boss |date=15 September 2008 |access-date=15 September 2008 |publisher=Cheltenham Town F.C.}}</ref> His father, [[Dennis Allen (footballer)|Dennis]], had been manager at [[Whaddon Road]] between 1974 and 1979.<ref name="Like father, like son">{{Cite news |url=http://www.ctfc.com.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10434~1392827,00.html |title=Like father, like son |date=15 September 2008 |access-date=15 September 2008 |publisher=Cheltenham Town F.C.}}</ref> With financial difficulties hitting the club and an increasingly troubled dressing room atmosphere, the entire Cheltenham squad were put up for sale. Allen allowed key players to leave mid-season either on loan or for reduced prices, contributing to a run of results which left Cheltenham near the foot of the League Two table. On 20 October 2009 and amidst poor results on the pitch, Allen was suspended by Cheltenham Town and placed on [[gardening leave]] pending an internal investigation into allegations that he racially abused a nightclub [[Bouncer (doorman)|bouncer]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/20/martin-allen-cheltenham-league-two Cheltenham suspend manager Martin Allen over alleged racism at nightclub] www.guardian.co.uk</ref> In November [[Gloucestershire]] police announced that no action would be taken against Allen concerning the alleged nightclub incident. He remained on leave whilst Cheltenham Town considered his future at the club.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/nov/09/martin-allen-cheltenham Martin Allen in the clear over 'racism' allegations after police drop case] www.guardian.co.uk</ref> On 11 December it was announced he had left the club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/11/martin-allen-leaves-cheltenham|title=Martin Allen leaves Cheltenham despite being cleared of racial abuse|work=The Guardian|date=11 December 2009 |access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref> In January 2010 he was appointed part-time [[Scout (sport)|scout]] for Queens Park Rangers.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130505120445/http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/sport/news/Allen-scouts-job-club-Queens-Park-Rangers/article-1678389-detail/article.html Allen scouts out a job with former club Queens Park Rangers] www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk</ref>

===Return to Barnet===
On 23 March 2011, Allen returned to his first managerial club, Barnet, until the end of the 2010–11 season.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11770/6831097/allen-back-as-bees-boss |title=Allen back as Bees boss &#124; Football News |date=23 March 2011 |access-date=23 March 2011 |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref> He was working on an eight-game contract but left after only three games, in which Barnet were unbeaten,<ref name="Notts County"/> to take charge of [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]].

===Notts County===

Allen took charge of Notts County on 11 April 2011 signing a one-year rolling contract.<ref name="Notts County">{{cite news| title = Notts County appoint Martin Allen as manager| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13036140.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 11 April 2011| access-date = 11 April 2011}}</ref> Notts County won eight points out of the seven games Allen was in charge of at the end of the 2010–11 season, enough for them to avoid relegation. Allen was named League One Manager of the Month in September 2011 after leading the team to four wins and a draw in the league.

Allen was sacked by Notts County on 18 February 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Notts County sack manager Martin Allen|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17087244|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=19 February 2012}}</ref>

===Third spell at Barnet===

Allen was appointed caretaker manager of Barnet on 16 April 2012 for the last three games of the 2011–12 season, replacing [[Lawrie Sanchez]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Lawrie Sanchez leaves Barnet with Martin Allen returning to manage the side until the end of the season|url=http://www.times-series.co.uk/sport/9651446.Sanchez_leaves_Barnet_as_Allen_returns/|access-date=16 April 2012|newspaper=Hendon & Finchley, Barnet & Potters Bar, Edgeware & Mill Hill Times|date=16 April 2012}}</ref> Barnet managed two wins under Allen's managership, finished 22nd and avoided relegation from [[Football League Two|League Two]] with a 2–1 win on 5 May 2012 on the last day of the season, against [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Burton Albion 1–2 Barnet|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17878414|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=5 May 2012}}</ref> Following the end of the season, Allen's contract ended.<ref>{{cite web|title=Allen wants Barnet job|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/08052012/63/allen-wants-barnet-job.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120726222726/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/08052012/63/allen-wants-barnet-job.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 July 2012|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=14 May 2012}}</ref>

===Gillingham===
On 5 July 2012, Allen was appointed manager of [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]] signing a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=Martin Allen appointed new Gillingham manager|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18687696|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=5 July 2012}}</ref>
His first match as Gillingham manager came on 14 August 2012, a 2–1 away win against [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] in the [[2012–13 Football League Cup|League Cup]].<ref name=1stgills>{{cite news|title=Bristol City 1–2 Gillingham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19159754|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=15 August 2012}}</ref> While at Gillingham, Allen oversaw the [[Kent]] side's best ever start to a league season.<ref name="When Saturday Comes">{{cite web|title=Martin Allen has Gillingham hoping for glory|url=http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1153-october-2012/9079-martin-allen-has-gillingham-hoping-for-glory|publisher=WSC.co.uk|access-date=20 October 2012}}</ref> He also broke the club record for most away wins in a football league season with a 1–0 win over [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]], the eleventh of the season on 23 February 2013. On 6 April 2013 Gillingham secured promotion to [[Football League One|League One]], Allen's first ever promotion in his career as a manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/martin-post-chesterfield-away-feb-23-674221.aspx|title=MARTIN: "IT'S AN HISTORIC DAY"|access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref> They secured the [[2012–13 Football League Two|League Two]] title with a 2–2 draw against [[AFC Wimbledon]] at [[Priestfield Stadium|Priestfield]] on 20 April.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/fixtures-results/match-report/index.aspx?MatchId=3520268&tcmuri=185405&pageView=full#anchored|title=MATCH REPORT|author=Match Report|access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref> On 20 May 2013, Allen was crowned [[League Managers Association Awards|League 2 Manager of the Year]] by the [[League Managers Association|LMA]] for his achievements with the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/martin-wins-lma-award-829644.aspx|title=MARTIN NAMED MANAGER OF THE YEAR|access-date=26 April 2015}}</ref> Allen was sacked by Gillingham in October 2013 after sixteen months in charge. Gillingham had won just two games from eleven played on their return to League One.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24514317 | title=Martin Allen: Gillingham manager sacked after 16 months | publisher=BBC Sport | access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref>

===Fourth spell at Barnet===
Allen was appointed head coach of Barnet on 19 March 2014 until the end of the 2014–15 season, marking his fourth spell at the club.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.barnetfc.com/news/article/martin-allen-returns-as-head-coach-1431355.aspx#Jr4lr8xJum9xrLX5.99 | title=Martin Allen Returns As Head-Coach | publisher=BARNET FC | access-date=19 March 2014}}</ref> He coached them to the 2014–15 [[Football Conference]] championship on 25 April 2015 to secure promotion to League Two.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32363273 | title=Barnet 2–0 Gateshead | work=BBC Sport | access-date=25 April 2015}}</ref> Barnet comfortably avoided relegation in their first season back in League Two, finishing 15th. However, despite the Bees starting the 2016–17 season just outside the play-off zone in 8th place, Allen made an unexpected request to terminate his contract to join [[National League (division)|National League]] side [[Eastleigh F.C.|Eastleigh]]. The request was granted on 1 December 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barnetfc.com/news/article/2016-17/official-martin-allen-leaves-barnet-3445974.aspx |title=Official: Martin Allen leaves Barnet |publisher=Barnet Football Club |work=barnetfc.com |date=1 December 2016 |access-date=12 February 2018}}</ref>

===Eastleigh===
On 1 December 2016, Eastleigh had confirmed that Allen had joined up with them taking the Manager's position previously help by [[Ronnie Moore]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38172169 |title=Martin Allen: Eastleigh confirm new manager after Barnet departure |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 December 2016 |access-date=12 February 2018}}</ref> His first game incharge was in the [[FA Cup]] against [[F.C. Halifax Town|Halifax Town]] which ended 3–3.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38121079 |title=Eastleigh 3–3 Halifax Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 December 2016 |access-date=12 February 2018}}</ref> This required a replay in which Eastleigh went away to Halifax and won 2–0.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38217638 |title=Halifax Town 0–2 Eastleigh |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 December 2016 |access-date=12 February 2018}}</ref> For the third round of the FA Cup Allen and Eastleigh were drawn an away match against [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]. BBCs ''[[Football Focus]]'' interviewed Allen in the lead up to the game and he revealed he almost quit football due to health problems while suffering from stress at Barnet.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38522466 |title=I nearly quit football – Martin Allen |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 January 2017 |access-date=12 February 2018 }}</ref> Eastleigh lost their game against Brentford 5–1.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38474606 |title=Brentford 5–1 Eastleigh |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 January 2017 |access-date=12 February 2018 }}</ref> Allen was fired by Eastleigh on 22 February 2017 after only winning two of his 14 games in charge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39052423 |title=Martin Allen: Eastleigh sack manager after just 14 games in charge |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 February 2017 |access-date=12 February 2018 }}</ref>

===Fifth spell at Barnet===

On 19 March 2018, the departure of [[Graham Westley]] and the return of Allen as manager of [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] was announced.<ref name="Martin Allen named Barnet manager as Graham Westley is sacked">{{cite news| title = Martin Allen named Barnet manager as Graham Westley is sacked| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43456712| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 19 March 2018| access-date = 19 March 2018}}</ref> On 10 May 2018, it was announced that Allen had left the club, following relegation from the Football League.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Martin Allen: Manager leaves Barnet after relegation from League Two | publisher = BBC Sport | access-date = 10 May 2018 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44073272}}</ref>

===Chesterfield===

Less than a week after leaving Barnet, Allen was appointed manager of [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]], who themselves had seen relegation from the Football League at the end of the [[2017–18 in English football|2017–18]] season.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Martin Allen: Chesterfield appoint former Barnet boss as new manager | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 15 May 2018 | access-date = 16 May 2018 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44115714}}</ref> Allen was sacked on 27 December 2018, with the club sitting third bottom of the National League table.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Managerial departure announced | publisher = Chesterfield FC | date = 27 December 2018 | access-date = 27 December 2018 | url = https://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/2018/december/20181227-managerial-departure-announced/}}</ref>