Allen goes that extra mile for Robins

Have you heard the one about the manager who cycled 76 miles, from Berkshire to Cheltenham, all to raise money for transfer funds? It's a crazy notion, but when it comes to Martin Allen, it seems the more unorthodox, the better.

It’s usually players, not the manager, we expect to go that extra mile for the cause. Then again, Allen has never been the most conventional of managers. Be it his jumps into the freezing River Tees, or bike rides to raise funds for his club. Indeed, "Mad Dog" has earned his nickname, and his antics outside of the dugout do little to shed the mantle.

Of course, we shouldn't be too fooled. There is method behind the madness. After all, the bike ride raised nearly £15,000 towards the playing budget. And when it comes to matters on the pitch, Allen has a history of achieving success on a modest budget, more so at clubs with lower expectations.

His time at Brentford was no exception. After saving the Bees from relegation, Allen launched two consecutive assaults on the League One playoffs, only to go down twice at the semi-final stages. There was plenty of success in the FA Cup, too, with two consecutive appearances in the 5th round putting Brentford, and himself, on the map. It was no coincidence that when he left, the Bees went on the decline, and eventually found themselves relegated.

Allen clearly seems to thrive as the underdog. However, at Milton Keynes Dons, this was far from the case. Expectations were big, and the wage budget was even bigger. Charged with the task of achieving promotion from League Two, the Dons could only make the playoffs, eventually going down in the semi-finals to Shrewsbury.

Despite this, Allen's stock was still high. The eccentric Milan Mandaric, chairman of Leicester City, came calling for his services. Unfortunately, relations between the two quickly deteriorated, and his contract was terminated by mutual consent after just four games in charge.
It seems the bigger the club, the harder Allen finds it to cope. Now, at Cheltenham he finds himself up against it once again. And you suspect that this is how he prefers it.

True to form, during pre-season, he went against the grain. A week long trip to an army camp was hoped to raise spirits and fitness ahead of the new season. A 'night out' was also promised - though you can be sure a night camping under the stars was not what the players had in mind.

Of course, money is tight at Cheltenham. Financial problems, which nearly resulted in administration, put waste to any chances of survival last season. The squad is small and lacks depth, but the likes of Drissa Diallo and Barry Hayles will add some much needed experience, and former Tottenham youngster David Hutton will add a touch of quality.

Competing with the likes of Notts County, with all the riches at their disposal, is bound to be tough. But with Allen at the helm, they won't run out of ideas on how to narrow that gap as much as possible.