NEWCASTLE, Watford, Town, Swindon and Carlisle all achieved positive results last weekend.

So what?

Well, the common denominator is that all were under the rule of caretaker managers at the time.

Have you noticed how teams always seem to achieve better whenever there’s a temporary man at the helm?

It can’t be just coincidence, nor does it follow that if the odd job man gets the post on a full-time basis that he will be successful.

My theory is that players feel comfortable with the Gerry Murphys of this world because they’ve either grown up with them as juniors, or almost regarded them as one of the lads, whereas the No1 always has to be a bit more distant.

Gerry is a splendid case in point.

A lovely man, he has nurtured so much talent for Huddersfield Town he has become a legendary figure at the club.

Hundreds of boys have benefited from Gerry’s wisdom and guidance and many have gone on to become first-team regulars either at Town or elsewhere.

Now he appears to have the midas touch whenever he gets the tap on the shoulder from the directors to ‘fill in’ until they find the next ‘right man’ for the job.

I suspect Gerry wouldn’t want to be No1. He’s enjoying this latest spell in the limelight but his heart is really in bringing youngsters through the system rather than plotting how to beat opposition.

Graham Mitchell may be different. Mitch has always had ambitions to be a manager and I’m sure his day will come.

There’s a risk with every appointment. If Arsene Wenger left Arsenal for Town there’s no guarantee he would be a success, and that’s another reason why caretaker managers are worth their weight in gold.

They present a continuity and stability factor over a short space of time, Greg Abbott being a perfect case in point at Carlisle.

They know the players whereas a new man coming in cold takes time to assess the staff – unless he happens to be called Harry Redknapp!

If a caretaker is fortunate enough to land the post full time he quickly discovers how difficult it soon becomes.

The relationship with players inevitably becomes different and the modern demands from directors, media and corporate sponsors change the landscape.

The lifetime expectancy of the backroom staff far outweighs any glory that might be achieved by stepping up the ladder.

Everton boss Moyes was right to stand his ground

DAVID MOYES spoke passionately last week about the injustice of his latest fine from the authorities.

For once I had some sympathy. I’ve often thought that the punishments dished out in football wouldn’t stand up in a court of law.

Regular readers will know how much I abhor the trend of legal eagles taking money from sporting disputes that should be settled internally.

At the same time, as Moyes was at pains to point out, disciplinary rulings should be meted out by totally impartial judges. To rub salt into the wounds he was told that his protest had been well-founded but that he would be fined anyway!

What sort of justice is that?

Independent tribunals should be exactly that, otherwise the FA system becomes a mockery.

At a time when managers and players are being asked to show more respect, Moyes was within his rights to say: “In any walk of life, if you are in charge of a group of workers, and they are being badly treated, you will stand up for them.

“My workers were badly treated at Stoke so I stood up for them.”

As Moyes added, thousands of Everton fans had travelled to the game and wouldn’t have expected to see him standing on the touchline twiddling his thumbs while the referee made a decision he later admitted to getting badly wrong.

I don’t like the trade union speak particularly, and Moyes could be in hot water again, but he was spot on and well within his rights to stand his ground.

WHEN John Sergeant’s decision to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing becomes lead item on the 10 o’clock news it confirms the world has gone completely mad.

Darren Gough, Mark Ramprakash, Matt Dawson and Kenny Logan have also become more famous for having nimble feet rather than prowess with any shape of ball, and now we have Martina Navratilova eating worms and wrestling with snakes in the jungle.

What it is to be a sportsman or woman in the twilight zone of a career these days.

Most cricketers stop facing bouncers from the likes of Brett Lee and Fidel Edwards early now to get work in the media, footballers end up presenting TV shows (Ian Wright, Gary Lineker et al) and Tiger Woods and Roger Federer could retire on the income from commercials alone.

How I wish I’d gone to those dancing classes on a Tuesday night instead of cricket nets!