Autobiography

in the 1992/93 season and the game had to
become more exciting, more showbiz and more
fan-friendly. Only this would drive the
moneymen and the sponsors in as they would
want to be linked with iconic people who
turned clubs into more exciting, dynamic
entities. So it was the right decision to appoint
Barry Fry, though I had my doubts to start
with.
I thought he must be on drugs he was so
hyper; he had so much energy and enthusiasm
that he was like a rubber ball. I remember him
saying to me, ‘Chairman, I will get you out of
this poxy division.’ And of course he was as
good as his word, only I was expecting to go
up into the Premier League rather than down
to Division Two.
We were in dire trouble struggling near the
foot of the table, when Barry arrived at St
Andrews in December 1993, but towards the
end of the season we began to win matches.
We went to play Portsmouth at Fratton Park
and beat them with a disputed goal, effectively
ending their chances of reaching the playoffs.
They were very upset with us.
When we went to Tranmere on the last day of
the season, we needed to win and for West
Bromwich Albion to lose or draw at Portsmouth
for us to stay up. It looked impossible for the
Baggies to win as they hadn’t won away from
home all season, but Portsmouth put out a
near reserve side. We were winning 2–1 at
Tranmere and I was sitting watching the game
with my earpiece in, listening to the other
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