Phil Brown is well-known for guiding Hull City to promotion to the Premier League and successfully keeping them in the top flight for one season.
Now, however, he is focused on leading Kidderminster Harriers back into the National League.
Kidderminster visits Southport today, where a win would secure the National North title and automatic promotion. Brackley are currently just behind on goal difference, with Scunthorpe two points adrift.
Only the top team automatically qualifies for promotion, while the teams ranked second through seventh enter the play-offs.
The 65-year-old manager led Hull up in 2009 and also achieved promotion to League One with Southend in 2015. His managerial career includes spells at Derby, Preston, and Barrow.
Speaking to reporters, he stated: “This will be a career highlight. It genuinely feels even more thrilling than achieving promotion to the Premier League.”
“I`ve secured two promotions as a manager, and my assistant Neil McDonald and I were also on Sam Allardyce`s coaching staff at Bolton. Yet, this achievement feels particularly special.”
“I may have experienced it all, and there`s a common misconception that success in the Premier League automatically translates to success in the lower leagues.”
“That`s completely untrue. The crucial factor is whether the club`s owners provide the necessary support; without it, you`ll inevitably face difficulties.”
“You have to adapt your approach based on the resources available, and Macca (Neil McDonald) and I have gained significant knowledge about the path to success.”
“Macca also worked with Sam at Blackburn and West Ham and has assisted me previously. Having the right backroom staff is absolutely essential.”
Remarkably, Kidderminster attracted 5,341 fans for their league match against Hereford on Monday, surpassing the 5,327 attendance for their 2022 FA Cup tie against Premier League giants West Ham.
Sam Allardyce, a native of nearby Dudley, hosted an `Evening with Sam Allardyce` event in November and subsequently attended Kidderminster`s game against Burton the following day.
Brown commented: “He visited the changing room on Saturday, delivered a team talk, and then watched the match. It was fantastic – you encounter these individuals who have connections to non-league football.”
“I previously worked with Brian Horton, a former Manchester City manager, and he spoke highly of the Harriers.”
“He told me, `Kidderminster is one of the largest non-league clubs.”
“They were previously in the EFL under Jan Molby, and if you can get them performing, there`s no reason you can`t guide them back into the Football League.“
Brown is famously remembered for singing The Beach Boys` classic `Sloop John B` to Hull fans after the club secured their Premier League status on the final day of the 2010 season.
The Geordie manager mentioned he still enjoys singing and remarked: “My daughter`s christening is in May, and I can assure you I`ll be on the microphone for most of the evening.”
While he didn`t reveal his full playlist, Brown highly recommended `Front Door Famous` by country artist Luke Combs.
He stated: “My lifelong motivation has always been to make my family proud.”
“There`s a wonderful song called Front Door Famous.”
“It makes the point that when you walk through your front door, regardless of who you are, your children run up to you and say `daddy`, and that`s truly what life is about.”
