Tim Flowers is pulling off miracles with Solihull Moors to rival the achievements of his old club Leicester
Ex-England keeper was No2 in the National Leaguers' great escape from relegation last term - and as boss this season is using 'power football' to plot what would be an amazing promotion
TIM FLOWERS is plotting his own miracle straight out of Leicester City's books.
The former Foxes, Blackburn and Southampton stopper has faced many challenges in his career but none more so than trying to guide Solihull Moors into the Football League.
Flowers, alongside ex-boss Mark Yates, helped pull off a remarkable great escape to keep the Midlands side in the National League last season.
Like Leicester, the Moors looked dead and buried at Christmas but Flowers’ arrival at the club sparked a run that included just four defeats in their last 21 league matches.
The 51-year-old won 11 caps for England and lifted the Premier League in 1995 but insists last term’s survival was one of his finest career achievements.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's Non-League Day inside Moors' clubhouse he said: “Last season was incredible, we were down. I came with Mark Yates around November and we were bottom with around eight points.
“We had our first training session and Mark looked at me and said: ‘What do you think?’
“I replied: ‘We are in massive trouble, mate.’ That standard was minging. If we didn’t roll more professionally, we would be down by Christmas and it would be embarrassing.
“Staying up last season is one of my greatest achievements. We somehow just managed to get over the line and that momentum has carried on.”
Yates was appointed gaffer at League Two’s Macclesfield in June - leaving Flowers to remain in charge.
He has guided them to fifth, five points off big-spending Salford at the top, although a four-game winning streak ended abruptly at Barnet last Saturday.
“To get this club into the Football League… that would be an incredible accomplishment.
“The plan is to get promoted. There is viable backing now. The new chairman knows how to build a football club and he’s got a plan.
“Expectations have gone up a bit and sometimes we have to remember where we are and where we have come from.
"Suddenly we are disappointed with not being in the top four.”
Flowers’ style of football won’t have the neutrals drooling from the mouth.
But he insists that ‘Power Football’ - as he calls it - is the most effective style to scrap their way out of the division.
He said: “When you look at teams that get promoted from this league they usually play power football. They are more direct than not.
“They are usually mob-handed at set plays and can put five or six 6ft 2in lads into the box and make it very, very difficult.
“There is usually a technical player who can deliver left and right foot and when the teams get promoted playing like that, they usually do well in League Two as well.
“As you go up the league technicality becomes more important. You get exposed playing like that – if you give it away you probably won’t see it again.
“That’s why there are not too many direct teams in the top two divisions anymore, but at our level, if you cannot deal with physicality and the ball going from A to B quickly, and compete for second balls and knock-downs, you are going to struggle badly in this league.”
While Flowers is having to build his managerial credentials from the bottom of the ladder, the likes of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have been thrown into the deep end with Derby County and Rangers.
Although he admits he had “no chance” being offered a top level club, Flowers insists he is delighted to see them being given a shot.
He added: “I was out of work twice, for 18 months both times. I was applying for things, mostly managerial roles at lower levels.
“I thought realistically at what chance do I have if I put in at a Championship club? No chance.
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“Prior to this job when I was putting in I thought I might have to put in three decent jobs to even have a prayer at that level.
“I’m delighted to see young English men getting a go. They [Lampard and Gerrard] are both inspiring people.
“If I was a player and they walked in the room, I’d want to play under them. Hopefully they are going to do massive things.
“I think those two will definitely move on, I think they’ve got all it takes.”
Tim Flowers was speaking on behalf of SportNation, Solihull Moors FC's betting partner. Start earning reward points today at www.SportNation.Bet 18+ please gamble responsibly