Jon Brady’s Hunch To Hear Eddie Odhiambo Pays Off

ONE of the surprises of the summer for me was that no full-time manager signed Eddie Odhiambo following his release by Gateshead.

After all, in the last six years the full-back had helped Oxford and Stevenage into BSBP play-offs, then the latter to the title, Newport County to ninth and the Heed to a fine eighth-place finish last term.

Before that he’d learned the Conference ropes on loan at Tamworth just before his release by Southampton, where he played youth football with Theo Walcott and Nathan Dyer.

In preparing his squad for their debut BSB North campaign, Brackley manager Jon Brady must have thought all his Christmases had come at once when a player with a CV boasting more than 200 appearances at BSBP level turned up on trial, but still at the relatively young age of 26.

?You know what the kid’ going to do because of his pedigree and he’s got a fantastic attitude,” said Brady, who has, however, modified Odhiambo’s position.

“I’m different to most managers. I sat down with him and said ‘Where’s your best position?’ because he came on trial and played right-back, but I’ve already got quality there.

?He said he’d played centre-midfield the year Newport first went up into the Conference, so I had a look and it’s been like a new lease of life for him, he loves it. Sometimes you’ve got to listen to your players.”

And judging by their start, lending an ear is helping Brady’s bunch make plenty of noise at Step 2!