When, in October 2004, then manager Gary Mills objected to the performances of his side, it seemed as though his decision to place three, albeit at that time, somewhat off-colour players – namely Mike Whitlow, Matty Gill and Welsh under-21 captain, David Pipe – on the transfer list, was perfectly justifiable.
Looking back, however, who’d have thought that those in question could turn their fortunes around quite so drastically?
It is such a radical turn-around that has made the decision of now manager Ian Richardson to take such a decision to take the trio off the list, so early into his managerial career, all the more commendable.
The trio have responded well to a proverbial kick up the rear end, turning into integral members of the squad – leaving questions over if the side will be able to cope without them, with the recent injury to Whitlow as a case of point here.
And so it makes it even more admirable that to
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Speaking to the Nottingham Evening Post earlier today, the Notts manager said "Having Mike Whitlow back has just made a massive difference to the side. He just sits at the back and organises. He marshals things."
"He may look a different player to what we saw in him earlier in the season."
"But if you show faith in people, they'll have belief in themselves. And that is what has happened with him."
"The same applies with the other two lads who had been on the transfer list. Look at David Pipe and, in particular, Matty Gill."
"Matty had taken some awful stick at times, much of it from his own supporters."
"But I slowly edged him back into the side, tried to give him his confidence back and look at him now."
"He has been a key player for us in recent weeks, as has David Pipe. All three of them have. One of the first things I did when I took over was to take them off the list. It was not a hard decision, but they have responded in the right way."
"We have not had back-to-back wins, but we have had back-to-back performances,"