He May Be Rookie, But Boss Rusk Is No Risk For Hatters

While Simon Rusk was lifting the Conference title with Crawley Town, Stockport County were on their way out of the Football League for the first time since 1905.

- David Richardson

Ten years on, the Hatters remain in Non-League, but are making big strides towards a return to their former glories.

Meanwhile, Rusk, also a Conference title winner with Boston United in 2002, has formed a fine reputation as one of the best upcoming coaches in the game.

The 39-year-old worked his way up through the academy setup at Brighton & Hove Albion, becoming their U23 manager and led them to the highest level of development football for the first time.

The departure of County legend and manager Jim Gannon was sudden and unexpected, and their appointment of rookie Rusk came equally as a surprise – but there is no doubting he knows what NonLeague is all about.

“I love the Conference,” Rusk, a former midfielder for the likes of Peterborough United, Cambridge City, Northwich Victoria, Rushden & Diamonds and York City, told The NLP. “I think it’s got a lot of clubs with really strong history and it’s a really tough division with teams striving to get back into the Football League.

“I’ve had a broad set of football experiences, humble roots and I like to think we had to do it the hard way and it’s still the same now around the lower leagues.