Martin Allen has left Barnet after just 19 days in charge to take the manager's job at Notts County. The 45-year-old was working without a contract at Underhill and has signed a one-year deal at Meadow Lane.
Allen, who becomes County's eighth manager in 18 months, replaces Paul Ince after the former England midfielder's departure earlier this month. The League One side equalled a club record of seven successive defeats by losing 3-1 at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday to slip into the relegation zone.
The County chairman, Ray Trew, said: "Having been at Dagenham, it was clear that action had to be taken. Martin knows what it means to be successful at this level and he has been brought in with both short-term and long-term aims, the most obvious of which is to secure our League One survival.
"However, 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."
Allen, who secured seven points from a possible nine during his three games at Barnet, also upset the Bees fans seven years ago when he left the then Conference club to join Brentford, but he insisted he has nothing to feel guilty for.
"Barnet are now set up to not get relegated [from League Two]," he said. "I've got to look after myself and my family and I've got bills to pay. County have 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 and get some results."
Allen's first game in charge will be at Yeovil on Tuesday night. Meanwhile the former Barnet striker Giuliano Grazioli, who was Allen's assistant, has been put in caretaker charge at Underhill.
19 days
Allen, who becomes County's eighth manager in 18 months, replaces Paul Ince after the former England midfielder's departure earlier this month. The League One side equalled a club record of seven successive defeats by losing 3-1 at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday to slip into the relegation zone.
The County chairman, Ray Trew, said: "Having been at Dagenham, it was clear that action had to be taken. Martin knows what it means to be successful at this level and he has been brought in with both short-term and long-term aims, the most obvious of which is to secure our League One survival.
"However, 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."
Allen, who secured seven points from a possible nine during his three games at Barnet, also upset the Bees fans seven years ago when he left the then Conference club to join Brentford, but he insisted he has nothing to feel guilty for.
"Barnet are now set up to not get relegated [from League Two]," he said. "I've got to look after myself and my family and I've got bills to pay. County have 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 and get some results."
Allen's first game in charge will be at Yeovil on Tuesday night. Meanwhile the former Barnet striker Giuliano Grazioli, who was Allen's assistant, has been put in caretaker charge at Underhill.
19 days
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