Richard Dinnis

Richard Dinnis was coach of Blackburn Rovers 1970-1975, coach and manager of Newcastle United in 1975–1977. He worked as a football summariser/analyst for BBC Radio Lancashire, commentating on football games in North West England;Blackburn Rovers,Burnley,Blackpool and Preston North End.

Richard never played professional football, only ever playing amateur football.He gained a Diploma in Physical Education at Carnegie College,Leeds. He was a teacher in Darwen Lancashire teaching Physical Education . He obtained his Football Association 'A' Licence coaches badge and then was employed as reserve team coach at |Blackburn Rovers]1970-1975.]. When their manager, Gordon Lee took over as manager at Newcastle United, he appointed Dinnis as first team coach. During the 1975-76 season Dinnis was a peripheral figure. Dinnis himself always said that his main job was to support Gordon Lee. At the start of the 1976-77 season Dinnis took over the coaching duties with Lee picking and motivating the team.In 1976 Newcastle went to the League Cup Final against Manchester City with Gordon Lee as manager and Dinnis as coach.

When Gordon Lee suddenly resigned as manager in early 1977 after only 18 months in charge, the Newcastle board first offered the job to the Bolton Wanderers manager, Ian Greaves but he turned the job down. The board made a surprising attempt to involve some players in the decision over who should be the next manager. It led to one of the most controversial months in the club history and to the appointment of Dinnis as Caretaker manager until the end of the season.

Under Dinnis, the team's form was such that they found themselves with an outside chance of the League championship, but would lose four of the last five games. Nevertheless, Newcastle finished the season in fifth place in the First Division and qualified for the UEFA Cup with a win over Aston Villa in their final home game of the season on 16 May 1976. It was the clubs highest league position for 25 years and the first time they had qualified for Europe for seven years. Nine days later and after much boardroom deliberation Dinnis was offered a two-year contract as Newcastle manager.

...
Wikipedia