DANNY Scopes says he never had any doubt his former Concord Rangers co-manager Danny Cowley would go onto achieve great things in the professional game.

The two men lifted the Beach Boys from the Essex Senior League to the Ryman Premier League between 2007 and 2012, before Scopes stepped down.

Cowley continued to manage the side, helping the team to another promotion and back-to-back Essex Senior Cup titles before earning a move to Braintree Town in the National League.

A successful year in north Essex culminated in a lucrative full-time football position at Lincoln City last summer.

And Cowley, along with brother and assistant manager Nicky, inspired the Imps to an FA Cup quarter-final, the National League title, and a place in the Football League next season.

But much of this comes as little surprise to Scopes, who remains close friends with Cowley.

“I was impressed straight away,” said Scopes, after Cowley moved from Brentwood to take up the coaching position at Concord.

“I had played for a few clubs and managers and was in the twilight of my playing career, but the minute Dan came in you could see his focus.

“The way he set-up was a step above where we were at Concord and what I was used to as well.

“It opened my eyes how to do things slightly different.

“Dan wanted a plan and structure for the players. It was one of the most enjoyable pre-seasons I have ever had as players enjoy that structure.

“As that season went on I saw the promise there was. Over the next three or four seasons we kept growing and Danny kept taking the team forward.”

Cowley is renowned for working wonders with players, with Scopes impressed at how quickly the inexperienced boss was able to get to grips with football management.

The midfielder had been forced into an early retirement because of a knee injury.

But Scopes said Cowley always had a technical mind, admitting the two never argued in their five years sharing the reins at the club.

“He was very methodical,” he added.

“He knew the level we were at and what was needed to achieve success at that level, while also knowing the levels above and below. He was always a step ahead.

“We worked well together as we both had the best interests of the club at heart. I drove the mini bus to matches and he drove it back home.

“I don’t think in the five years we worked together we exchanged a cross word.

“He has done exactly what I thought he would do in all honesty. He is an excellent manager.”

 

BROTHERS CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT

Echo:

Brothers - Danny and Nicky Cowley pass on instructions

 

DANNY and Nicky Cowley can achieve anything they want in the professional game.

That is the view of Danny Scopes, who has watched the pair move seamlessly from a successful career in teaching at the FitzWimarc School, in Rayleigh, into football management in the last 12 months.

The Cowley brothers achieved their crowning glory at the end of April as they ended Lincoln City’s six-year wait to return to the Football League, in just their first season at the helm.

And Scopes says, while he believes the pair will continue to thrive in Lincolnshire, the talented duo will have opportunities to manage higher up the Football League pyramid in the years ahead.

“I can see them moving up,” he said. “Danny is working through his coaching courses and badges at the moment and is making contact with professionals and ex professionals on a regular basis now.

“Danny is learning, not just managing. He wants to make himself the all-around package. Football is very fickle and he wants to build what he has and not jump too soon.

“He and Nick are very loyal. They will want to grow what they have at Lincoln, be patient and will make the step at the right time.”

Cowley was honoured on Monday by the League Manager’s Association, winning the special achievement award after Lincoln won the league and became the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, where they were beaten by Arsenal, who will contest tomorrow’s final against Chelsea.

He was also named Manager of the Year at The Non-League Paper’s National Game awards, with former Concord midfielder Alex Woodyard named Player of the Year.

And Scopes says Cowley now commands huge respect in the game.

“Danny and Nicky will be a success up the ladder, I am sure,” he added.

“Who knows how far that will be at this time? Danny has been linked with the likes of Norwich City (in the Championship) in recent times and that shows the regard he is held in.”

 

MY ARGUMENT WITH NICKY MEANT MOVE ALMOST DIDN'T HAPPEN!

THE successful partnership between Danny Cowley and Danny Scopes could never have happened...because of a row between the latter and Danny’s brother Nicky!

The first step on Cowley’s managerial journey was at Concord Rangers in 2007, with Scopes keen to bring the Brentwood midfielder to the club in a coaching role following the end of his playing career because of injury.

And he said he was concerned a number of on-field battles with Nicky could affect the move.

“I knew Danny and Nicky from playing against them,” said Scopes. “Concord played Brentwood and I had a few run-ins against Nicky.

“We always had a few words to say to each other on the pitch and it wasn’t often anything nice!

“The next time I met Danny was when I wanted him to come and help manage the team.

“I had been appointed manager and I got a call from the chairman (Antony Smith) saying Dan had expressed an interest in the position.

“I thought I would need to clear the air with Nicky so I sat down with Danny and Nicky and we smoothed it over.

“He was assistant manager and head coach while I was player/ manager. We won the league that season and Danny and I shared the manager’s position the following season.

“He was an excellent foil for me.”

Nicky joined the club at the start of 2008 before replacing Glen Alzapiedi as assistant manager in 2014.

And Scopes is equally impressed at his development.

“Nicky is very similar to Danny and they clearly work very well together,” he said. “He was an excellent player for Concord and has proved to be equally good as a coach and assistant manager.”