Yet when Dean Brennan heard that Swindon Town wanted him at the County Ground earlier this month, the Irishman swiftly pledged his loyalty to Barnet. Why?
“A lot of people get hung up about working in the EFL,” explains Brennan, a left-winger who spent his entire playing career in Non-League with the likes of Hitchin, Stevenage, Grays and Halesowen.
“Well, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the National League whatsoever. Yeah, it’s technically NonLeague, but come on. There are 12 or 14 teams here who would easily – and I mean easily – hold their own in League Two.
“Who was the last team to come straight back down? I can’t remember one. Who are the favourites for that division next year? Probably Chesterfield.
“Stockport and Wrexham, okay they’ve had major investment. But then you look at Barrow. Pete Wild was managing Halifax in our division not so long ago. Now his team are knocking on the door of League One.
“Even Crawley, who just won the play-offs. Laurie Maguire, Danilo Orsi - half their players have played in the National League. There’s nothing in it as far as I’m concerned.
“Listen, the offer from Swindon was flattering. I have to be honest about that. It was majorly flattering for me.
“But home is where the heart is, and my heart was at Barnet. There’s a lot of stability here. It’s very professional. With the greatest of respect to Swindon, it just made sense for me to stay and finish the job I’d started.”
The job started two-and-a-half years ago, when Brennan swapped his role as Barnet’s head of football to take control of a side that had just finished rock bottom of a 22-team National League.
Denne historien er fra May 26, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 26, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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I'M READY FOR A NEW PROJECT
LEAGUE One, League Two, National League John Coleman doesn't care. He just wants to manage a club with scope for 'doing an Accrington'.
BEARNE'S DOUBLE IS A PITMEN TRIUMPH
HEDNESFORD Town marched on as this tie was settled in the first 21 minutes with a glut of goals in favour of the Pitmen.
STAG-DO SPOILED BY LIAM DOUBLE
AFC Totton and Basingstoke played out an entertaining draw at The Snows Stadium.
FOALLE'S THERE AT DEATH TO STEA IT!
A GOAL with almost the last kick of the game from Jack Foalle saw Ashton's unbeaten start to the season go up in smoke at Hurst Cross after they had hit the post in each half.
TUDORS STAY TOP THANKS TO AJAYI!
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN secured a crucial victory over Slough Town that solidifies their position at the top of National League South.
MOLS ON ROLL AS NASH GO SECOND!
CURZON ASHTON moved up to second place after doing a job on former boss Adam Lakeland and his King's Lynn Town side at the Walks.
REAL DEAL HEED KEEP PILING ON THE POINTS
GATESHEAD scored early in each half to strengthen their position at the top of the table after they stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven games.
JOSH JOY DELIGHTS DAGGERS BOSS BEN
JOSH UMERAH marked his first league start for Dagenham & Redbridge by grabbing the goal that ensured a share of the spoils at Maidenhead.
DOGGED DALE WILL NOT BE MOVED!
ROCHDALE cruised to victory with a superb first-half performance which settled the age-old debate as Dale's immovable defensive object blunted Aldershot's previously irresistible attacking force.
SPITFIRES BACK IN THE GROOVE
EASTLEIGH bounced back from their last-gasp defeat at Gateshead last weekend as they edged past lowly Tamworth in a lackluster affair at the Silverlake.
