Des Lyttle
Encyclopedia
Desmond "Des" Lyttle is an English
former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of Northern Premier League Division One South
side Hucknall Town
.
He started his career with Leicester City
, but dropped into the non-leagues with Worcester City
in 1991. A good season earned him a move to Welsh side Swansea City
, and in 1993 he moved on to Nottingham Forest
. After six years with the club, including a spell in the Premier League, he signed with Watford
. After just a season he switched to West Bromwich Albion
. In 2003 he transferred to Northampton Town
, and a year later he left the Football League for the second and final time, signing with Forest Green Rovers
. He transferred to Worcester City
in 2005, before joining Tamworth
in 2007.
In 2010 he was appointed caretaker manager
at Tamworth, before being made player-manager on a full-time basis. He resigned the following year, claiming he was being undermined by the club's directors. He was appointed manager of Hucknall Town in October 2011.
back in 1990, but after failing to make the first-team, he was released at the end of 1991.
Lyttle was picked up by Worcester City
in August 1991 on a free transfer. He spent one season with Worcester, and a number of good performances alerted bigger clubs of Lyttle's ability.
In July 1992 Lyttle joined newly promoted Second Division
outfit Swansea City
from Worcester for a fee of £12,500. He spent a full season with City, and was part of the team that defied the odds to finish fifth in their first season back in the Second Division
. Lyttle made 46 appearances for Swansea and found the net on one occasion.
for a fee of £375,000 to become one of Frank Clark's first signings, following the end of Brian Clough
's eighteen year reign. Lyttle was a member of the team that won instant promotion back to the Premier League in the 1993–94 season, finishing second in the First Division
. Lyttle and Forest surprised many by finishing in third place the following season, in their return to the Premier League.
The next two seasons for Lyttle and Forest were indifferent, in the 1995–96 season the team finished in ninth position, but the following season saw the departure of Clark. Forest were eventually relegated in bottom place at the end of the 1996–97. Lyttle stayed with Forest, despite the relegation. Forest however lost some other players, noticeably Lyttle's defensive partner, Stuart Pearce who joined Newcastle United
. Bassett still managed to guide Forest back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, although Lyttle spent a month out on loan at Port Vale
, but returned to help the club to top the First Division and win promotion as champions.
Lyttle stayed on at Forest for another crack at the Premier League, but after a dismal start to the season manager Dave Bassett
was fired in January 1999. Forest then appointed Ron Atkinson
in a bid to save the club, although he was unable to steer the club away from relegation and for the third time in seven seasons Forest were relegated as the bottom club. Lyttle vyed for the right-back berth alongside French import Thierry Bonalair
, and he left to pursue his career elsewhere at the end of the season.
on July 1999. He failed to fit in at the club however, and was often a substitute. He made only eleven appearances for the club.
for the remainder of the season, signing just two days before the transfer deadline
. He helped ensure the club's survival in the First Division
, and in turn earned himself a permanent contract in June 2000. He was a regular in the squad during the 2000–01 season, employed by manager Gary Megson
as a right wing-back, and combined well with Ruel Fox
down the right-hand side to help Albion reach the play-offs. The following season Lyttle lost his place to Slovakian Igor Bališ
, with Lyttle used mainly as a substitute during the second half of the season as Albion were promoted to the Premier League.
During 2002–03 Lyttle slipped even further down the pecking order, managing only two starts and two substitute appearances in the Premier League. Following the club's relegation back to the First Division, Lyttle was released by the club in May 2003. In all, Lyttle made 67 appearances for Albion, his only goal for the club coming in a 3–1 home defeat to Fulham
on 9 December 2000.
, and was linked to a longer stay at the club. However he joined Northampton Town
in November 2003. He spent the remainder of the 2003–04 season with Northampton, making a total of 27 appearances before leaving at the end of the season.
His next move was to Conference National
side Forest Green Rovers
in September 2004, after rejecting fellow Conference club Burton Albion
. Lyttle spent one season with Forest Green, making 36 appearances and scoring once in the FA Cup
against Bournemouth
, but was released after not being offered a new contact at the end of the 2004–05 season.
Lyttle joined Conference North
side Worcester City
for his second spell for the club, where he was the club's captain. He spent two seasons with the club but was not offered a new contract by Worcester manager Andy Preece
at the end of the 2006–07 season, due to the club's budget having been reduced. He was named the club's "Players' Player of the Year" for both of his seasons at the club.
In July 2007, it was confirmed that Lyttle had joined Conference North side Tamworth
after a successful trial period. Lyttle was part of the Tamworth promotion squad that were promoted to the Conference National at the end of the 2008–09 season. He also struck a late equalizer against high-flying Luton Town
in 2009–10, all but ending the "Hatters" chances of automatic promotion.
manager's job following the dismissal of Rob Smith; however former England international winger Andy Sinton
was instead appointed.
Following the departure of the "Lambs" manager Gary Mills and assistant Darron Gee
on 13 October 2010, Lyttle was announced as caretaker player-manager. The following day Lyttle brought in former West Bromwich Albion
and Tamworth
team mate Bob Taylor
as a coach to assist him. Despite failing to find victory in his five league games, he was appointed manager on a full-time basis on 30 November after leading the club into the Second Round of the FA Cup with wins over Grimsby Town
and Crewe Alexandra
. However with just four games remaining until the end of the season, Lyttle resigned from the club. Lyttle left his position as he felt it was untenable after claiming the club's board tried to bring in former York City
boss Martin Foyle
as an adviser for the remaining four games.
Little returned to football as manager of Hucknall Town
, replacing Tommy Brookbanks at the Northern Premier League Division One South
club on 13 October 2011.
with West Bromwich Albion
with Tamworth
|1991–92||Worcester City
||Southern League Division
|-
|1992–93||Swansea City
||Second Division
||46||1||5||0||2||0||0||0||53||1
|-
|1993–94||rowspan="5"|Nottingham Forest
||First Division
|-
|1994–95||rowspan="3"|Premier League
|-
|1995–96||33||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||33||1
|-
|1996–97||32||1||3||0||2||0||0||0||37||1
|-
|1997–98||First Division
||34||0||1||0||4||0||0||0||39||0
|-
|1998–99||Nottingham Forest
||Premier League||10||0||1||0||2||0||0||0||13||0
|-
|1998–99
||Port Vale
(loan)||First Division
||7||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||7||0
|-
|1999–2000||Watford
||Premier League||11||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||12||0
|-
|1999–2000||West Bromwich Albion
(loan)||First Division
||9||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||9||0
|-
|2000–01||rowspan="4"|West Bromwich Albion
||rowspan="2"|First Division
||42||1||1||0||4||0||0||0||47||1
|-
|2001–02||23||0||2||0||3||0||0||0||28||0
|-
|2002–03||Premier League||4||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||5||0
|-
|2003–04||First Division
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2003–04||rowspan="2"|Northampton Town
||Third Division
||27||0||5||0||0||0||0||0||32||0
|-
|2004–05||League Two
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2004–05||Forest Green Rovers
||Conference National
||36||0||2||1||0||0||0||0||38||1
|-
|2005–06||rowspan="2"|Worcester City
||rowspan="2"|Conference North
|-
|2006–07
|-
|2007–08||rowspan="4"|Tamworth
||rowspan="2"|Conference North
|-
|2008–09
|-
|2009–10
||rowspan="2"|Conference National
||21||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||21||1
|-
|2010–11
||3||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||3||0
|-
Notes
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of Northern Premier League Division One South
Northern Premier League Division One South
Division One South is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 4 of the National League System, placing it seven divisions below the Premier League...
side Hucknall Town
Hucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
.
He started his career with Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, but dropped into the non-leagues with Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
in 1991. A good season earned him a move to Welsh side Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
, and in 1993 he moved on to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. After six years with the club, including a spell in the Premier League, he signed with Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
. After just a season he switched to West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. In 2003 he transferred to Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
, and a year later he left the Football League for the second and final time, signing with Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
. He transferred to Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
in 2005, before joining Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
in 2007.
In 2010 he was appointed caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
at Tamworth, before being made player-manager on a full-time basis. He resigned the following year, claiming he was being undermined by the club's directors. He was appointed manager of Hucknall Town in October 2011.
Early career
Lyttle started his professional football career with Leicester CityLeicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
back in 1990, but after failing to make the first-team, he was released at the end of 1991.
Lyttle was picked up by Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
in August 1991 on a free transfer. He spent one season with Worcester, and a number of good performances alerted bigger clubs of Lyttle's ability.
In July 1992 Lyttle joined newly promoted Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
outfit Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
from Worcester for a fee of £12,500. He spent a full season with City, and was part of the team that defied the odds to finish fifth in their first season back in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. Lyttle made 46 appearances for Swansea and found the net on one occasion.
Nottingham Forest
Lyttle's performances for Swansea hadn't gone unnoticed and in July 1993 he was signed by relegated Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
for a fee of £375,000 to become one of Frank Clark's first signings, following the end of Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
's eighteen year reign. Lyttle was a member of the team that won instant promotion back to the Premier League in the 1993–94 season, finishing second in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. Lyttle and Forest surprised many by finishing in third place the following season, in their return to the Premier League.
The next two seasons for Lyttle and Forest were indifferent, in the 1995–96 season the team finished in ninth position, but the following season saw the departure of Clark. Forest were eventually relegated in bottom place at the end of the 1996–97. Lyttle stayed with Forest, despite the relegation. Forest however lost some other players, noticeably Lyttle's defensive partner, Stuart Pearce who joined Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. Bassett still managed to guide Forest back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, although Lyttle spent a month out on loan at Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, but returned to help the club to top the First Division and win promotion as champions.
Lyttle stayed on at Forest for another crack at the Premier League, but after a dismal start to the season manager Dave Bassett
Dave Bassett
David Bassett , also frequently known by his nickname of Harry, is an English football manager and a former player....
was fired in January 1999. Forest then appointed Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
in a bid to save the club, although he was unable to steer the club away from relegation and for the third time in seven seasons Forest were relegated as the bottom club. Lyttle vyed for the right-back berth alongside French import Thierry Bonalair
Thierry Bonalair
Thierry Bonalair is a French former footballer. He is currently chief scout for Lille.-External links:**...
, and he left to pursue his career elsewhere at the end of the season.
Watford
Lyttle then joined newly promoted Premier League outfit WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
on July 1999. He failed to fit in at the club however, and was often a substitute. He made only eleven appearances for the club.
West Bromwich Albion
In March 2000, Lyttle was sent on loan to West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
for the remainder of the season, signing just two days before the transfer deadline
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
. He helped ensure the club's survival in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, and in turn earned himself a permanent contract in June 2000. He was a regular in the squad during the 2000–01 season, employed by manager Gary Megson
Gary Megson
Gary John Megson is an English former football player and is currently manager of Sheffield Wednesday.He has previously managed Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers...
as a right wing-back, and combined well with Ruel Fox
Ruel Fox
Ruel Adrian Fox is an English former professional football player of Montserratian and Antiguan descent who played for Norwich City, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Bromwich Albion from 1986 to 2002...
down the right-hand side to help Albion reach the play-offs. The following season Lyttle lost his place to Slovakian Igor Bališ
Igor Bališ
Igor Bališ is a former Slovakian footballer who currently plays for the 4. liga club FC Horses Šúrovce. Bališ played for West Bromwich Albion in England. He has also appeared for Slovan Bratislava and Spartak Trnava, as well as the Slovakia national team.Bališ moved to Albion for £150,000 in...
, with Lyttle used mainly as a substitute during the second half of the season as Albion were promoted to the Premier League.
During 2002–03 Lyttle slipped even further down the pecking order, managing only two starts and two substitute appearances in the Premier League. Following the club's relegation back to the First Division, Lyttle was released by the club in May 2003. In all, Lyttle made 67 appearances for Albion, his only goal for the club coming in a 3–1 home defeat to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
on 9 December 2000.
Later career
He began training with A.F.C. Telford UnitedA.F.C. Telford United
A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...
, and was linked to a longer stay at the club. However he joined Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in November 2003. He spent the remainder of the 2003–04 season with Northampton, making a total of 27 appearances before leaving at the end of the season.
His next move was to Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
in September 2004, after rejecting fellow Conference club Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
. Lyttle spent one season with Forest Green, making 36 appearances and scoring once in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
against Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, but was released after not being offered a new contact at the end of the 2004–05 season.
Lyttle joined Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
for his second spell for the club, where he was the club's captain. He spent two seasons with the club but was not offered a new contract by Worcester manager Andy Preece
Andy Preece
Andrew Preece is a part-time English footballer and manager. He is currently the player-manager at Northwich Victoria.-Career:...
at the end of the 2006–07 season, due to the club's budget having been reduced. He was named the club's "Players' Player of the Year" for both of his seasons at the club.
In July 2007, it was confirmed that Lyttle had joined Conference North side Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
after a successful trial period. Lyttle was part of the Tamworth promotion squad that were promoted to the Conference National at the end of the 2008–09 season. He also struck a late equalizer against high-flying Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in 2009–10, all but ending the "Hatters" chances of automatic promotion.
Management career
In May 2010, Lyttle confirmed that he had applied for the vacant A.F.C. Telford UnitedA.F.C. Telford United
A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...
manager's job following the dismissal of Rob Smith; however former England international winger Andy Sinton
Andy Sinton
Andrew "Andy" Sinton born 19 March 1966 in Cramlington, Northumberland, is an English former professional footballer and current manager of A.F.C. Telford United...
was instead appointed.
Following the departure of the "Lambs" manager Gary Mills and assistant Darron Gee
Darron Gee
Darron G. Gee born is an English former footballer who is the assistant manager of York City.-Playing career:Gee had 12 years as a player at Hucknall Town before a serious knee injury ended his playing career....
on 13 October 2010, Lyttle was announced as caretaker player-manager. The following day Lyttle brought in former West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
team mate Bob Taylor
Bob Taylor (footballer)
Robert Taylor , better known as Bob Taylor, is an English former footballer who played as a centre forward. Known by supporters as Super Bobby Taylor, Superbob or simply Super, Taylor scored more than 250 goals in a professional career that comprised almost 750 games in 20 years...
as a coach to assist him. Despite failing to find victory in his five league games, he was appointed manager on a full-time basis on 30 November after leading the club into the Second Round of the FA Cup with wins over Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
and Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
. However with just four games remaining until the end of the season, Lyttle resigned from the club. Lyttle left his position as he felt it was untenable after claiming the club's board tried to bring in former York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
boss Martin Foyle
Martin Foyle
Martin John Foyle is an English former footballer, turned football manager. In his 20 year playing career he played 533 League games, scoring 155 goals...
as an adviser for the remaining four games.
Little returned to football as manager of Hucknall Town
Hucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
, replacing Tommy Brookbanks at the Northern Premier League Division One South
Northern Premier League Division One South
Division One South is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 4 of the National League System, placing it seven divisions below the Premier League...
club on 13 October 2011.
Honours
with Nottingham Forest- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
runner-up: 1993–94 - Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
champion: 1997–98
with West Bromwich Albion
- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
runner-up: 2001–02
with Tamworth
- Conference NorthConference NorthThe Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
champion: 2008–092008–09 in English footballThe 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
Playing career
|-|1991–92||Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
||Southern League Division
|-
|1992–93||Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
||Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
||46||1||5||0||2||0||0||0||53||1
|-
|1993–94||rowspan="5"|Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
|-
|1994–95||rowspan="3"|Premier League
|-
|1995–96||33||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||33||1
|-
|1996–97||32||1||3||0||2||0||0||0||37||1
|-
|1997–98||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||34||0||1||0||4||0||0||0||39||0
|-
|1998–99||Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
||Premier League||10||0||1||0||2||0||0||0||13||0
|-
|1998–99
1998–99 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1998–99 season was Port Vale's eighty-seventh season of football in the Football League, and fifth successive season in the First Division. It was the end of an era for the club, as manager of sixteen years John Rudge was sacked in January, and was replaced by Brian Horton...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
(loan)||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||7||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||7||0
|-
|1999–2000||Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
||Premier League||11||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||12||0
|-
|1999–2000||West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
(loan)||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||9||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||9||0
|-
|2000–01||rowspan="4"|West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
||rowspan="2"|First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||42||1||1||0||4||0||0||0||47||1
|-
|2001–02||23||0||2||0||3||0||0||0||28||0
|-
|2002–03||Premier League||4||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||5||0
|-
|2003–04||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2003–04||rowspan="2"|Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
||Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
||27||0||5||0||0||0||0||0||32||0
|-
|2004–05||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2004–05||Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||36||0||2||1||0||0||0||0||38||1
|-
|2005–06||rowspan="2"|Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
||rowspan="2"|Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
|-
|2006–07
|-
|2007–08||rowspan="4"|Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
||rowspan="2"|Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
|-
|2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
|-
|2009–10
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
||rowspan="2"|Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||21||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||21||1
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
||3||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||3||0
|-
Notes
- Table is incomplete: some season data for Worcester CityWorcester City F.C.Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
, Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C.Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, Stourport SwiftsStourport Swifts F.C.Stourport Swifts are a football team from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire and one of the oldest non-league teams in the country. The Swifts gained promotion to the Southern League Division One West in 2001 from the Midland Alliance, and currently play at Walshes Meadow in the town.In the year...
, and TamworthTamworth F.C.Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
are missing.
Management career
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W% | ||||
| Tamworth Tamworth F.C. Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system.... (caretaker) |
 |
13 October 2010 | 30 November 2010 |
||||||||
| Tamworth Tamworth F.C. Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system.... |
|
30 November 2010 | 14 April 2011 |
||||||||
| Hucknall Town Hucknall Town F.C. Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:... |
|
13 October 2011 | Present |
||||||||
| Total |
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