Sacked in the Morning

Former QPR boss Gareth 'Wild Thing' Ainsworth joins Craig and Amy to talk about how music is his escape from the stresses of football. He also explains how he managed to stay Wycombe Wanderers' manager for over 10 years, what it was like managing the strongest football player in the world plus Craig Levein sings... no, he really really does.

The former Cardiff City, Middlesbrough and Ivory Coast defender joins Craig and Amy to talk about his ambitions to become a boss. Sol also talks about how (and why) he made the move from Paris to Dunfermline, why he was the cause of a fight between Neil Warnock and Nigel Pearson - plus, which of his managers does Amy decide to get on the phone for quick chat?

Former Manchester United hero Lee Sharpe joins Amy and Craig to discuss his career and the various managers he played for. From 'murderball' with Cyril Knowles to moving to Old Trafford at age 17. What was it like playing for Sir Alex Ferguson? Does he remember the first time he witnessed the hairdryer and what really happened in the dressing room after THAT moment with Eric Cantona and the fan at Crystal Palace?

The Dorking Wanderers story is incredible. Little over 20 years ago they started out playing in the 4th division of the local park leagues. Twelve promotions later they are in the National League and one promotion away from the Football League. Manager and owner Marc White joins Craig and Amy to talk about their incredible story, how they got where they are and his plans for the future.

What is Paul Merson's biggest regret of his career? The Arsenal legend reveals all to Craig and Amy plus he explains the differences between George Graham and Arsene Wenger, takes us back to his time in the Walsall dugout, and explains how Glenn Hoddle calmed his nerves when he was facing a World Cup penalty shootout. Paul also talks openly about his addictions and how when it comes to gambling football needs to take it more seriously.Details of information and support with addiction are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline

Craig and Amy bring you festive memories from some of this series' best guests including Neil Warnock, Mick McCarthy and Wrexham's Humphrey Ker, plus Amy has a very special Christmas present for Craig. But could a ghost of Christmas past jeopardise it?

The Hull City legend joins Craig and Amy to look back at his career and to talk about his favourite and least favourite managers. We hear about how three red cards in one game was the beginning of the end of his time at Aberdeen, which manager's underwear he covered in Deep Heat plus an event in the dressing room at Oxford United that left us with our jaws on the floor.

Thomas Rongen joins Craig and Amy to talk about his time coaching American Samoa, who at the time were the team last in the Fifa World Rankings. His story and the documentary of his time on the island are the inspiration for Taika Waititi's new movie Next Goal Wins. Thomas tells us about how he went about changing the fortunes of the team, what it feels like to have Academy Award-nominated actor Michael Fassbender playing him and how he got the goalie who had conceded 31 goals in one match to come out of retirement.All that plus he takes us on a must listen to wild ride through his playing career in the North American Soccer League in the late 70s and early 80s. From living with Johan Cruyff, partying with The Rolling Stones and skipping past Liza Minnelli in the Studio 54 queue!If you are suffering distress or despair, details of help and support are available - bbc.co.uk/actionline

Former Premier League referee Jeff Winter joins Craig and Amy for a look back at his career, the managers he encountered and his views on VAR. Has the fun been taken out of refereeing? How would Jeff have handled VAR and what happens if a referee has a call of nature while refereeing? All that plus a listener question takes Craig on a nostalgic trip back to a mid-season 6 a side competition that used to happen in Scotland.

He has managed more English league games than anyone else and finally Neil Warnock can add Sacked in the Morning to his CV. In a hilarious chat with Craig and Amy we cover what he does when he first takes over a club, how close he came to managing in Scotland, and whether he's finally retired, or if we can expect to see him back in the dugout soon.

The legendary Scottish footballer and manager joins Craig and Amy discuss his career. We hear what it was like playing for Jim McLean, one of the most formidable managers of his era? We look at Paul's management career and why it was so tough taking on the Dundee United job and following his announcement in 2008 that he has Parkinson's disease we hear how it affected his time in football.

THIS JUST IN! Mr Deadline Day Jim White has put pen to paper on a deal to join Sacked in the Morning in a short term move to discuss what goes on behind the scenes on Transfer Deadline Day. Which manager would phone Jim to find out which soup the reporter outside the training ground liked? What's happened to Jim's iconic yellow tie and just how close did Jim get to being on the private jet taking Gareth Bale to Madrid?

Craig Levein and Amy Irons are joined by former Manchester United first team coach Rene Meulensteen to talk about working with Sir Alex Ferguson and improving players. Rene reveals how he helped turn Cristiano Ronaldo from a winger to a goal machine, he explains why you never change players but add to their skillset and he takes us back to the Stamford Bridge bench when he and Sir Alex got the fright of their lives.

Craig and Amy are joined by Wrexham's executive director Humphrey Ker to discuss the amazing Welsh adventure he is on with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Did they ever consider a club in Scotland before settling on the Red Dragons? Why did Humphrey put his foot down over a giant inflatable Ryan Reynolds head and has he had the talk with the Hollywood superstars to tell them that if they hang around long enough they may become the villains?

Craig and Amy are joined by former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam to discuss his role as loans manager at Burnley, what it's like working with Vincent Kompany plus his own ambitions to make the move into the dugout one day. We also hear about his time with Ian Holloway at Blackpool, what it was like signing for Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool and if can he score higher than his former Scotland gaffer Craig in Amy's big quiz!

Craig and Amy are back with a new series and what a great guest to start with. Mick McCarthy has managed over 1000 games so who better to ask about handling heavy defeats. They also take a look at how the former Sunderland, Wolves and Republic of Ireland gaffer got started in management, he reveals the secret meeting with Roy Keane after the 2002 World Cup and Amy wonders if Mick can complete some of his own classic quotes.

Craig and Amy drop in to reveal the first guest of the new series and Craig has a little surprise for his co-host that catches her a little off guard!

The football season is nearly at an end so that means one thing...the Cup Final! With Celtic ready to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup Final, Craig and Amy welcome representatives of both clubs to hear about their own final experiences. Jackie McNamara tells all about his one regret despite winning a host of medals with Celtic and John Robertson is on hand to relive the feeling standing on the touchline, willing the referee to blow the whistle so he could finally get his hands on the famous trophy.

Former Dunfermline and Livingston gaffer (plus Provost of Fife no less) Jim Leishman joins Craig and Amy to look back at his career and the inspirations behind some of his best motivational team talks. You won't believe how the Bible and Martin Luther King influenced Jim 'Don Juan' Leishman in the dressing room. After listening you will never EVER want to share a car to St Tropez with two boys from Lochgelly, even if one of them is the Provost of Fife plus discover the meaning of the word 'shunky'. You will not regret listening to this episode!

Liverpool legend Steve Nicol joins Craig and Amy from his home in the States. What was the Liverpool legend's diet like as a player? Turns out not the best but did it matter? 5 league titles, 3 FA Cups and a European Cup suggests not really. We take a look back as his 10year stint as manager of New England Revolution and why he was happy to get the sack.This podcast has been edited since first publication

Is football club ownership all the Hollywood glitz and glam that the Wrexham story would have us believe? As an actor Jonathan Sayer was more at home in the West End or Broadway but when home town club Ashton United tweeted that they needed help he couldn't refuse. Now co-owner and co-chairman with his dad he takes us behind the scenes of running a non-league football team. From all the volunteers helping out, to the lengths they'd go to get a game on in the winter. Craig brings in his own experiences from helping out at Brechin City and working at Cowdenbeath plus reveals who the mystery leaker was during his time at Dundee United when the team was revealed on the internet every week.

Former Blackpool, Lincoln City and Oxford United manager Michael Appleton joins Craig and Amy to discuss his career and how injuries can impact a season. Craig reveals what it was like when he was a player and had to a pain killing injection to play in an Edinburgh derby. Michael takes us back to when he started out and just how quickly he lost his teeth on his debut plus he reveals just what happened with his knee injury and why he ended up taking his surgeon to court.

Former Brighton and Hove Albion and Sunderland manager Gus Poyet joins Craig and Amy to chat about promotions and great escapes. Just how did he pull off the unimaginable when everyone thought the Black Cats were heading for relegation to the Championship? Those with a sensitive disposition be warned, Gus and Craig play Top Trumps with some bodily function stories, plus what does the Greece national team boss think of what's currently happening at both Tottenham and Chelsea?

Liverpool legend John Aldridge joins Craig and Amy for a hilarious episode. Just how hard are the difficult conversations you need to have as a manager? We talk to John about managing Tranmere (including a certain League Cup Final incident), signing on at Anfield plus how he came to play for Jack Charlton's Republic of Ireland.

Former Celtic and Stoke City manager Lou Macari joins Amy and Craig to discuss his greatest ever signing, a fired circus clown called Neil. Also in the podcast Craig talks about the importance of the kit man, Lou takes us back to joining Celtic and what it was like under legendary manager Jock Stein, and why he chose Manchester United over Liverpool. Plus Amy puts Lou's knowledge to the test in our big quiz.

Craig and Amy hit the road and visit Livingston gaffer David Martindale. Craig and Davie have an honest discussion about the impact management has on your health. We hear about what it's like to manage with the league's lowest budget plus Davie tells us how he went from prison cell to the dugout in less than 10 years.

Amy Irons and Craig Levein are back for a new series of Sacked in the Morning and what a guest to start. Graham Arnold led the Australian men's team to their best ever World Cup performance in Qatar before finally losing to eventual winners Argentina. Graham reveals how easy it is to get Scottish-born players to play for the Socceroos, takes us back to the World Cup and his plans for playing against Lionel Messi, and tells us all about his decision to swap goalkeepers in the dying seconds of the World Cup play-off against Peru.

Amy and Craig drop in to reveal who the first guest of their new series will be plus in a game of "Never Have I Ever" a certain former Scotland manager reveals whether he has ever asked a player to cheat!

Scotland legend Paul Lambert and former England international Trevor Steven join Craig and Amy for a World Cup special recorded in front of an audience in the Drygate in Glasgow. Trevor takes us back to 1986, the Maradona Hand of God plus what it was like being managed by Bobby Robson. He also played in the 1990 World Cup and by the sounds of things he could have filled a whole podcast with his Gazza stories alone. Paul started every Scotland game of France 1998 and his abiding memory seems to be just how good the Brazilians smelled. He also reveals just how lucky he was to find himself moving from Motherwell to Borussia Dortmund.

Scotland legend Gordon Strachan and Australian international Ryan McGowan join Craig and Amy for a World Cup special recorded in front of an audience in the Drygate in Glasgow. Gordon takes us back to his two World Cups in 1982 and 1986. He tells us what it was like to line up against the Brazilians in the tunnel, to take a drugs test with a couple of Russians and why Jock Stein told him to stay in his room. Plus Ryan McGowan tells us all about making the Socceroos squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, what the manager at the time Ange Postecoglou was really like and how as a player on the fringes he found himself assisting not just one of Australia's greatest goals but one of the best the World Cup has ever seen!

Former Northern Ireland captain Martin O'Neill and ex-Scotland international Alan McInally join Craig and Amy for a World Cup special recorded in front of an audience at the Drygate in Glasgow. Alan takes us back to Italia 90 and has brought with him something that Craig hasn't seen for 32 years. Meanwhile Martin has tales of what could've been in 1982 and what happened when he didn't manage to get his hands on Eusebio's shirt.

Former Scotland captain Colin Hendry and ex Northern Ireland international Jimmy Nicholl join Craig and Amy for a World Cup special recorded in front of an audience at the Drygate in Glasgow. Colin takes us back to France in 1998 as he led Scotland out for the opening match of the World Cup against Brazil and recounts Craig Brown's famous last words. Jimmy started every match for Northern Ireland at both the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. Defeating Spain, lining up against Brazil and managing to get his hands on the famous yellow number 10 jersey along the way.

Legendary Celtic and Leicester manager Martin O'Neill joins Amy and Craig as he takes a look back over his career. Martin goes back to the start to talk about how it started at Wycombe Wanderers, he discusses his amazing time at Celtic including the one big regret of his career plus what it was like to win not one but two European Cups with Nottingham Forest.

Former Norwich gaffer Peter Grant joins Amy Irons and Craig Levein to discuss his time as both a manager and an assistant manager. Peter has managed in Scotland and England and has been an assistant at some huge clubs such as West Ham, Aston Villa, Birmingham and Scotland. So how does the role differ and which does he prefer? Craig and Peter also reminisce about the 'good old days', if days where you shared unwashed training gear, slips and baths can be described as good plus Peter recounts us with tales of the legendary Paolo Di Canio

Geoff Shreeves has been a touchline reporter for decades and on football pitches all around the world. Who better to ask just what it's like to interview a manager when they have just been hammered 5-0? He joins Craig and Amy to tell tales of a major run-in with Sir Alex Ferguson, how Gordon Strachan viewed him standing outside the dressing room and the time Brian Clough got a little too close during an interview. All that plus does he have what it takes to take the top spot in Amy's 'Big Quiz' league table?

Stevenage gaffer Steve Evans joins Craig and Amy as they discuss how you control your emotions in the technical area. Has Steve calmed down over the years? What is it like when you are supposed to be setting an example as manager but find yourself sent off? Plus Steve reveals that even his wife wasn't safe from his touchline antics on her Christmas night out. All that plus will Amy find a new leader for her 'Big Quiz' league table?

Craig Levein and Amy Irons are joined by former Inverness, Falkirk and Hibs gaffer John 'Yogi' Hughes as they discuss the importance of a good team spirit in the dressing room. Yogi explains the impact promoting a youth team coach at Inverness had on his players, he talks about the legend that is Russell Latapy and he reveals just what possessed him to streak passed the TV cameras while a player at Falkirk

Craig Levein and Amy Irons are joined by former Arsenal vice chairman and co-owner David Dein as they discuss his time at the Gunners. David reveals how if he had his way a certain Scottish manager could've arrived in London instead of Manchester, he recalls the story of how a chance meeting with Arsene Wenger in 1989 put the wheels in motion to the Frenchman becoming boss and as one of the main drivers in the creation of the Premier League he divulges just how close the Old Firm came to joining the league.

Former referee Mark Clattenburg has officiated some of the biggest games and clubs in the world so no-one knows better what it's like to try and control some of the game's biggest managers. Craig Levein tells us how referees have changed since he played the game, Mark reveals what happened when Sir Alex Ferguson tried to get him to play "Fergie Time" and Amy wants to bring in some competition to this series - who will come out on top in her 'Big Quiz'

For the first time Craig Levein and Amy Irons take the podcast on the road and in front of an audience. Recorded live at the Edinburgh Festivals they are joined by three of their favourite guests so far to share some amazing, shocking and hilarious stories of life in football management. Current Northern Ireland assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl tells tales of Millwall, Raith Rovers and Toronto. Former Real Kashmir boss David Robertson reveals what it's like to manage in India and Arbroath manager Dick Campbell is his usual legendary self.

We're back for Series 3!Amy Irons and Craig Levein drop in to tell you about a very special first episode of the new series which we recorded LIVE at the Edinburgh Festival plus Amy quizzes Craig on an old football magazine's Q and A. Can he remember who his favourite actor was in 1986?

To finish the series Craig answers your questions including - Do coaches encourage diving? What happens when players don't get on? & what is the worst game he's been involved in? Not only that but we hear all about what he did to get a 14 match ban and what it's like to hear the crowd singing "You don't know what you're doing!"

Just how did Bobby Gould mastermind the greatest FA Cup Final shock of all time? "The Gouldfather" takes us on a trip back to 1988 as Wimbledon battle the mighty Liverpool at Wembley. In a fantastic interview he recounts the characters of the Crazy Gang, how the Wimbledon chairman invented "bush tucker trials" decades before Ant & Dec and we hear how Bobby even bribed someone in an attempt to get every advantage possible.

Former Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy is a Manchester United legend, he was the last player to be signed by Sir Matt Busby and went on to rack up over 400 appearances for the Old Trafford club. Sammy joins Craig and Amy to talk about those that impacted his career the most from the promise George Best made ahead of his debut to how it all ended under Ron Atkinson. Along the way we hear about the time Tommy Docherty picked himself for a match, the unique item that Big Ron had in his dressing room and whether the Northern Ireland job came too soon.

You are minutes away from the opening game of the 1998 World Cup, you are about to send a team out to face the mighty Brazil and everyone expects you to get hammered...what do you say to cut the atmosphere and calm the boys nerves? Legendary Scotland boss Craig Brown joins Amy Irons and Craig Levein to reveal just how he had his players laughing as they got ready to line up against the World Champions. Craig also tells the tale about how he sent home a very young Duncan Ferguson for breaking rules, how a misunderstanding led to both Ally McCoist and Alan McInally thinking they were starting a game at the World Cup and how a very wily Craig stopped his players flirting on a plane to America.

Former Preston North End, Leeds United and Sunderland gaffer Simon Grayson joins Craig and Amy to discuss how you go about getting a job as a football manager. He joins us fresh from a secret zoom job interview with a foreign club and reveals how it went, we hear how it's not uncommon to be offered a job when there is still a manager in the hot seat and what happened when as a player coach at Blackpool he went to the chairman to resign. All that plus we get the inside scoop on the Sunderland documentary plus just what Billy Bremner was like as a boss.

Michael O'Neill is one of Northern Ireland's best ever managers - so how do you follow that up? Current Northern Ireland Men's Head Coach Ian Baraclough joins Craig and Amy to discuss just that plus Craig reveals the lengths they would go to to discover if a player had a Scottish granny. Ian reveals that the international door isn't closed for one Northern Ireland striker and we hear the tale of Notts County defender Gary Strodder and his pre-match ritual!

In his football career Jim Duffy has worked with some of football's best known and sometimes notorious owners and directors. From Delia Smith to Milan Mandaric and Vladimir Romanov to the Devils Advocate himself Giovanni Di Stefano. Jim joins Amy and Craig to shed some light on how best to manage up and in the process recounts some incredible stories including the owner who signed a goalie despite being told by the management they didn't want him, the owner who decided a "shaman" would decide when players should be substituted and the director who thought he could bring Edgar Davids from Juventus to Dundee!

Unfortunately due to illness we have had to take a slight pause in recording new episodes but Amy Irons is here to fill the void until we're back with some previously unheard clips including - Dick Campbell on performance analysts, Tony Pulis on Gerry Taggart, Mixu Paatelainen on Jim McLean, Ian Holloway on advice for new coaches, Harry Redknapp on why his camera kept turning off during our recording and Craig Levein tells us his very creative punishment he dished out on two young players he caught breaking the rules.

What's the pressure like when the fans, the media and the whole country expect you to win? Sven-Göran Eriksson, the man who believes he should have delivered the World Cup for England, joins Craig and Amy to discuss expectations.As a manager who had won titles across three countries, plus 10 domestic cup competitions and three European trophies, was he expected to succeed wherever he went? When he took the England job did the FA tell him he had to win the World Cup? And as manager of England's "Golden Generation" what are his regrets?All that plus we hear stories of David Beckham signing for Real Madrid and Sven's attempts to take him to Leicester City, we hear stories of 7am angry phone calls from Sir Alex Ferguson, plus who was the Queen's favourite England player and why?