Management is wasted on the young

To open his new regular blog on Scottish football, Danny Law couldn't help himself penning this about a enthusiastic sexagenarian... 

'Broony! Broony! Broony!' came the chants from the small band of Motherwell supporters who had battled their way north through the relentless snow to watch their team outclass Aberdeen by three goals to nil at Pittodrie.

As he made his way back to the dressing room with that familiar gait, a content Craig Brown saluted the fans and their cheers grew louder.

Such a display of adulation was hardly surprising given Brown's recent success in turning the Fir Park club's fortunes around.

Ten points from a possible 12 during January saw the former Scotland boss deservedly rewarded with the first manager of the month award for 2010.

His predecessor, the former Stockport County boss Jim Gannon, did his utmost to fall out with everyone involved in Scottish football including players, referees, fellow managers and club officials before being handed his jotters in late December when the club went on a dire run, taking a mere three points from seven matches.

With the fresh-faced 41-year-old Gannon sent back down the road to England with his tail between his legs, Well looked to experience to steady the ship by appointing 69-year-old Brown with fellow sexagenarian Archie Knox as his trusted assistant.

The decision has made an immediate impact, with the club currently sitting fifth in the table and Brown now dreaming of turning the Lanarkshire club into the âÂÂthird force in Scottish football.âÂÂ

After the impressive win at Aberdeen, Brown sauntered into the press room and before one of the reporters present had the chance to pose a question, the Well gaffer immediately began playing down the importance of the victory.

âÂÂThings are going well for us at the moment but it won't always be like this,â he warned.

Brown: Back in business

Listening to Brown speak, you instantly sensed his enormous passion for the game remains undiminished.

Unlike other managers who loathe their post-match press duties and want them over as quickly as possible, Brown would have happily chatted away all day.

How the hacks gathered around Brown that cold afternoon wished Mr Gannon had been as talkative during his brief six-month stint north of the border; the Englishman twice ignored SPL guidelines by failing to appear at post-match press conferences.

At the moment Brown is a winner for the Motherwell fans and the media.

And what a story it would be if Brown and Knox can prove that age really is no barrier by leading the Steelmen up the table.

With Aberdeen currently toiling under Mark McGhee and Hearts readjusting to life following the departure of the charismatic Csaba Laszlo, Well certainly have the opportunity to bag themselves a place in the top six.

There is a calm confidence about Brown these days and his partnership with Archie Knox is based on a complete faith in each other's abilities.

Brown will be 70 on the first of July this year but Well have already decided to give him until the end of the following season to mould a team equipped to challenge in the top half of the table.

Ageism may be rife in other professions where a man approaching the big seven-oh may be encouraged to seek the comforts of retirement.

But football is showing there is life in the old boys yet.

Even south of the border the Premier League's most celebrated manager Sir Alex Ferguson is 68 years young, while two of the more successful English managers of recent times - Roy Hodgson and Harry Redknapp - will both have 63 candles on their next birthday cake.

Perhaps when it comes to football management, there really is no substitute for experience.

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