The Good, The Bad & The Crazy - Peter Grant's Alloa Reign

Wednesday afternoon saw the news break from Alloa that manager, Peter Grant, was to step down from his duties at the end of the season following the side's relegation to League One just days before. The writing seemed to be on the wall for Grant and the news didn't really come as a surprise to too many supporters of the club. Despite Mulraney's persuasion tactics and attempts to get Grant to reconsider, his twenty-four month stint will come to an end against Dunfermline next Friday night. 

The last few years have been the most manic the world has seen, let alone football, and to Peter Grant's credit, he has led the team through some really troubling times well. It hasn't been the perfect spell as ultimately we have been relegated, however, his tenure at the club has had some moments to remember with exciting results, performances and players. This article will delve into his chaotic two-year spell pulling out the good, the bad and the crazy!

Peter Grant is appointed manager on July 10th 2019. 

It was late in the day when Alloa replaced Jim Goodwin with the former Scotland assistant as he arrived just six days before the beginning of the Scottish League Cup. It was an appointment that immediately raised eyebrows with Mulraney being so accustomed to giving new, young managers their first gig. Peter Grant didn't quite fit that bill but with such a high calibre in the game, many saw it as a coup that he was able to be lured to the Indodrill. He was now embarking on one of the most challenging jobs in the country, trying to keep a part-time team in the division of full-time teams.

A success story, Grant and O'Hara.

One of the first things he did was bring in Kevin O'Hara to the club, something many will consider his best signing. O'Hara always publicly praised Grant and thanked him for taking the gamble on him when many had given up on him. A player with so much raw ability had found himself out of favour at Falkirk, and East Fife, but Grant saw the potential, brought him in and brought the best out of the forward. Fourteen goals and ten assists, which resulted in him contributing to half of the whole team's goals that season, proved to be a stroke of genius from Grant. 

The season didn't start off particularly well though, and in particular, a four game losing run just before Christmas put Alloa in a precarious position. With just three wins to their name, pressure was mounting so early on in his tenure. As well as dealing with that, Grant had to firefight with injuries that seemed to be a pre-warning of something that would riddle his whole Alloa career. Both Neil Parry and Andy Graham had picked up injuries that pretty much ended their seasons. Losing players of this quality who offered so much on and off the park, was a massive blow. However, again man management and transfer dealings, which he has been accussed of being poor at, came to the fore. Robbie Deas grew from strength to strength at the back and Jamie MacDonald joined the club who was arguably the best keeper in the division at the time. 

Change in fortune as Grant wins Janaury Manger of the Month

It all turned after Christmas for Alloa as they embarked on a seven game unbeaten run, starting off with one of Grant's most complete performances in a 3-1 victory at East End Park. After a rocky start to the season, we were finally beginning to see the fruition of this new approach to playing and Grant's style was catching the eye of many. We saw O'Hara braces against both Arbroath and Queen of the South which would rocket us up from bottom spot. That never-say-die attitude, which this Alloa side are known for, was coming back and most notably in a bonkers 4-4 draw at Cappielow. 

This change in form hit a peak in the final game before the lockdown in Grant's finest Alloa performance, in my opinion. More exciting talent signed by the manager, in Scott Banks and Lee Connelly, stole the show as we swept aside Jon Robertson's men 2-0 at the Recs. The ninety minutes was a joy to watch and it is so unfortunate we were not able to watch more of what was happening with that team. The league was called early, Alloa had done enough and avoided relegation in 8th place. Although we didn't play that season to a close, that team was only going to get better and Grant's first season, in my eyes, can only be seen as a success. All of his signings worked and contributed, we played some great football towards the latter part of the season and we stayed up. Can't ask for much more.

Beginning of a crazy season. First pandemic training session. Photo from David Glencross.

The pandemic gave Alloa and Peter Grant so many mitigating circumstances to try wade through and ones that no other Alloa manager has had to deal with in the past. Of course, every club was going through the same problems, but to try stretch the part-time budget to compete with full-time is hard at the best of times, throw in the financial turmoil, it was always going to be a monumental task. The board, admirably, committed to offering new terms to all the playing staff during the pandemic. An incredible gesture but one in which tied Grant's hands in terms of recruitment from the off. Adding to that O'Hara won his move back full-time which nobody grudged, however, the real tear jerker was the early retirement of Iain Flannigan, a decision no doubt affected by Covid. Again, Peter Grant was going to have to fill two massive voids. To replace half of your goals and who I, and many, believe to be the most technical player the club has ever had, was a huge task. We saw a few signings in the summer but unlike the likes of MacDonald, most were gambles with young players coming in to challenge themselves with the step up or players who were maybe trying to shake off injury repuations. One of the factors mentioned as a cause of relegation was our inability to utilise the loan market effectively. We have always relied on those one or two stars to come into the core of the team and take us to the next level, this season we haven't got that until it was too late. On the flip side though, you have to look at the circumstances. Bigger clubs were reluctant to allow players to merge bubbles, with Celtic and Rangers having next to no players out on loan at part-time outfits. There is no doubt though that recruitment wasn't as succesful as his previous season.

Robert Thomson and Kevin Cawley celebrate victory over Inverness.

This season started similar to the last as Alloa fans were forced to wait for the first victory of the season. It was like the buses though, you wait for so long for one and two come at once. Back to back victories against Arbroath and Inverness in December looked like the point that Alloa's fortunes would change. Unfortunately though, only two victories have followed since, both against Queen of the South, sealing our place in League One. There have some questionable decisions from the manager during that time and the leaky defence, and unable to sign in that area to help in January, has cost us this season. We have never been known to make silly, individual mistakes but this season we have found ourselves having to score two or three goals every game to win. With such high standards that we have come to expect from this group of players, being twenty goals off our closest rival on goal difference, has killed us. 

Peter's S.O.S. - Inness Cameron.

Alloa did make a last gasp surge to survive and that was aided with a slight tactical change from Grant and the arrival of Inness Cameron, who has scored five goals so far for the club. Luck wasn't on the Wasps side though as last minute own goals went past Neil Parry and wrongful red cards went to the Alloa number one. This season wasn't down to these moments of misfortune but it certainly didn't help. Despite the commitment and effort never faltering, it was just a challenge too far this season. Our slump at Gayfield and Tynecastle was the nail in the coffin for me and to recover from those was virtually impossible. However, we will always have one of the club's most historic results this season to look back on. Grant guided Alloa to our first ever victory over Hearts in the cup and again, an own goal was the difference as Hibernian narrowly knocked us out in the next round. However it ended, you can't take that day against Hearts away!

Peter Grant leads the charge as Alloa beat Hearts for the first ever time. Photo from David Glencross.

I have been on Twitter in support of Peter Grant, I have been accussed of all sort of happy-clappy-ness, but I don't think that it has been a disasterous season. All things considered, to fall short isn't the worst failure in the world. I would have backed Peter Grant to be part of this inevitable rebuild in the summer, as we have seen, bar a few exceptions, that he does have an eye for a player. Our style of play is always complimented, it means nothing without points, however, much easier to play in a division below when you aren't punished for every mistake and have the freedom to play and take the games to teams. Dick Campbell and John McGlynn in recent weeks have dubbed us the best bottom side they've ever faced, I don't know how to feel about that. No, it's not great. However, it does give cause for optimism for next season, we haven't become a 'Brechin' despite some wild claims. Grant has also done what no manager in the recent past has done to any great extent by bringing through players from the academy, Williamson in particular. He always championed the academy and giving these boys a chance and has done so with the left-back, as well as Cammy O'Donnell and Liam Evans. 

Totally understand why he has taken a step back and allowed for a fresh approach, it does feel the beginning of a new era for the Wasps. Looking back on the reign as a whole, it has had some glorious moments, like the cup success and performances last season, as well as some real low points, such as Tynecastle and relegation. We've had the crazy in the world of football and from the manager himself. One thing that can't be questioned is the man's passion and commitment to the football club. He kicked every single ball with those players and worked tirelessly alongside them to help prevent the outcome we have got to. Unfortunately, we got that undesired outcome and that's football for you. Peter Grant's loss will be a new manager's gain as this team is still stacked with quality capable of competing in what will be an extremley tough division next season.

What's next for Peter, I have no idea. I am sure he will find another position in the game up here quickly, who knows, could end up at Celtic. For Alloa Athletic? The beginning of a new era. Peter played his own little part in a fantastic era for the club but now it is time to begin a new one. I have my wish-list for a new boss that will no doubt cause the same amount of debate as my Peter Grant views, but that's football, eh! Thank you for your efforts and contribution, pity it didn't work out, for now ... onwards and upwards for the Wasps.

'Sometimes you have just got to take your medicine'