If Kevin Nicholson needs any inspiration following his appointment as manager of Torquay United, he could do a lot worse than examine the achievements of the late Howard Kendall.
A number of similarities can be found between Nicholson and Kendall; namely the fact that the pair were key members of successful teams of the clubs they later became manager of.
Nicholson had been a stalwart of the Gulls side that won promotion back into the league under Paul Buckle in the 2008-09 season, and remained a key part of the teams that reached the League Two Play-offs under Buckle and Martin Ling.
Kendall was part of an Everton midfield holy trinity that also included the late Alan Ball and Colin Harvey, who helped the Toffees to win the league title in the 1969-70 campaign.
The duo also arrived as managers at the Launa Windows Stadium and Goodison Park respectively as player-managers, even though the playing side of Kendall's managerial role at Everton proved to be extremely brief.
Although Kendall would oversee one of the most successful ever eras in Everton's history, which saw the Toffees win two league titles, one FA Cup and one European Cup Winner's Cup - he did have overcome a difficult spell in at the start of his reign.
At one stage, a run of six wins in 21 league fixtures prompted Kendall to offer his resignation which was rejected by his Chairman Philip Carter, but the first of what proved to be three spells in charge at Goodison Park was changed on one moment of inspiration.
In a League Cup Quarter Final with Oxford United during the 1983-84 season, in which Everton were trailing by a goal to nil, U's defender Kevin Brock mis-timed a back pass which Adrian Heath latched on to and scored an equaliser for the Toffees.
Had Everton lost that tie, it is not inconceivable that Kendall could have lost his job.
Everton then won the replay 4-1 and went on to reach the final, which they lost to Liverpool after a replay and also won the FA Cup - the first of their trophies won during Kendall's reign - when they beat Watford 2-0 through goals from Graeme Sharp and Andy Gray.
Nicholson's reign as Gulls manager so far has seen Torquay win once in six games, including an early FA Cup exit at the hands of Basingstoke Town - who joined the list of non-league sides to lose to and beat United in the cup that includes Yeovil Town, Sutton United and Harrogate Town.
A career defining moment like the Brock back pass could be around the corner for Nicholson, but with a number of home games coming up later in the season against Welling United, FC Halifax Town, Kidderminster Harriers and Southport still to come - the Gulls fate is still very much in their hands.
