Mad Dog leaves Barnet in the lurch as he joins Notts. County!

What can you say about Mad Dog? Probably nothing printable if a Bees fan!

The oldest League club in the country but now one of the richest, the present League Two Champions from last season Notts. County are heading for a swift return to the basement division, and have appointed Martin Allen as their new manager on a one-year rolling contract to try and stop the rot.

'Mad Dog' Allen, who becomes the club's eighth boss in 18 months, all that dosh, leaves League Two strugglers Barnet immediately where he was working on a short-term contract but has overseen a remarkable turnaround that has seen the North London club picking up seven points from the three games he's been in charge and a real shout at escaping relegation into the Blue Square Premier.

County chairman Ray Trew told www.nottscountyfc.co.uk: "Martin knows what it means to be successful at this level and has been brought in with both short-term and long-term aims. The most obvious of which is to secure our League One survival this season."

The Magpies have lost their last seven matches and slipped into the third tier relegation zone, with a 3-1 defeat at fellow relegation zoners Dagenham and Redbridge the latest at the weekend.

Chief scout Carl Heggs had been in charge of the last two games, following Paul Ince's sacking at the start of the month.

Trew continued: "Having been at Dagenham on Saturday, it was clear that action had to be taken sooner rather than later to address our current situation. I would like to thank Carl Heggs for stepping in at an incredibly difficult time and giving his all to the role of caretaker manager. But when the opportunity to sign Martin became available, we had to act quickly. I must reiterate that this is not a short-term fix, I see Martin as the man to make this position his own and to bring some much-needed stability back to the Notts County backroom team."

Meanwhile, Martin Allen told www.barnetfc.com: "It was an opportunity too good to miss."

Of course it was Mad Dog!

Anyway, Allen has history with Barnet as seven years ago he left the then Conference club to join the other Bees of Brentford, but he insists he has nothing to feel guilty for.

He continued with www.skysports.com: "Barnet are now set up to not get relegated. I've got to look after myself and my family and I've got bills to pay. County have just lost their last seven games so obviously it isn't going too well and something needs to happen. It's a tough ask. We'll see if we can put a team together, get the buzz back into Notts County and get some results."

Barnet have put former striker Guiliano Grazioli in temporary charge.

What the hard-pressed Bees fans make of that as they saw some light at the end of a very long tunnel, God only knows!

Blimey, he's an ex-Shrimpers as well!
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