Scott Lindsey endures tough start as York City boss but has been through 'far worse'
FOR Scott Lindsey, there is always perspective when he is experiencing difficult – and even unpleasant – times in football.
Monday night was one of those occasions.
His first match in charge of York City did not go in the way he wanted, with his old club Crawley Town – who had sacked him just 133 days earlier – triumphing 2-0 in an EFL Cup preliminary round tie at the LNER Community Stadium.
Goals in each half from Gianmarco Di Biase and former Harrogate Town man Danilo Orsi, who netted a late penalty, saw the visitors prevail in Yorkshire's curtain-raiser for the 2026-27 campaign.
The real story is what took place in the stands of second half and particularly the South Stand.
York followers resoundingly belted out their support for title-winning manager Stuart Maynard, who was axed by the club in a bombshell development on July 26, with Lindsey named as his replacement the following day.
Chants of 'Stuart Maynard's Barmy Army,' 'Stand up if you love Maynard' and 'We want Maynard back' arrived before a 'Sacked in the morning' rendition while Lindsey looked on. Crawley's supporters had previously sung the latter refrain after their side's first-half opener.
There were also boos from home punters at the final whistle – regardless of the fact that York had played reasonably well in the second period.
There was plenty of noise to contend with for Lindsey. After the highs of promotion following a stupendous National League finale at Rochdale in late April, there is now rancour at York, which is an unhappy ship less than three-and-a-half months on.
Not the best way to prepare for a first League Two season in a decade. Lindsey, an experienced football figure at 54, says he has the tools to cope.
He told The Yorkshire Post: “I nursed my wife when she died, in a hospital bed in my living room.
“Fans singing you're getting sacked in the morning does not bother me one iota and it never will.
“I've been through far worse than that. That's just the way it is at the moment.
“I'm sure the fans are kind of against me at the moment; no problem, I understand why, I completely get it. But it isn't going to faze me one bit. I will turn up and give everything for this badge, for this club, for the fans, for the owners, everything goes in.
“Rule number one, win games of football. And then all of a sudden, it goes from singing Stuart Maynard's name to singing my name and that's kind of how it is and how it will be.
“It's part of the process of being a football manager and that's it. It's absolutely fine, and I completely get it.
“I've got no problem with it. It makes no odds to me what they sing at the moment. It is what it is.”
Defender Jeff King was due to return to training on Tuesday following an ankle issue, but midfielder Craig Hewitt is set to be out for a spell with a grade two shoulder issue.