Source: Daily_Mail
Should Joe Royle have gone back to Oldham? It isn't always a good idea...
Can Joe Royle repeat his previous success at Oldham this time round?[LNB]Never go back, they say in football. The thinking is that no good can come of going back to a club where you once enjoyed success.[LNB]This is especially pertinent for managers, yet so many ignore the warning. The latest is Joe Royle, back at Oldham after a 14-year absence. Circumstances have changed quite a bit since he left in 1994.[LNB]Then, Oldham - founder members of the Premier League, no less - had been relegated from the top-flight on goal difference and had come within minutes of reaching the FA Cup final.[LNB]Now he has been charged with getting them in the League One play-offs.[LNB]He may succeed in his second spell, but many do not. Sportsmail looks at other bosses in English football who went back, with mixed results.[LNB]J[LNB]oe Royle returns as Oldham boss[LNB]Howard Kendall (Everton 1981-1987, 1990-93, and 1997-98)Howard Kendall enjoyed great success in his first spell as Everton manager[LNB]Kendall was magnificently successful in his first spell as Everton boss (despite coming under pressure for his job in early 1984). He won the FA Cup in 1984, and the league title and European Cup Winners Cup in 1985.[LNB]Everton narrowly lost out on the title and FA Cup in 1986, but bounced back to become league champions again in 1987. Kendall, frustrated by the ban on English clubs in Europe, left to join Athletic Bilbao but returned in 1990.[LNB]He was much less successful in his second spell, resigning in a row over money, and fared even worse in his third spell with the Merseysiders, with Everton only avoiding relegation on the final day of the season in 1998.[LNB] Kendall couldn't repeat his previous success when he twice returned to Everton, with the Merseysiders narrowly avoiding relegation in 1998[LNB]Kevin Keegan (Newcastle 1992-97 and 2008)The Messiah who very nearly led Newcastle to the title in 1996 was supposed to bring the good times back again when he replaced Sam Allardyce in January last year.[LNB] However, the reality was very different, as Newcastle did not win in his first nine games in charge and then just six times in 21 games.[LNB]In September last year he could take no more and as he did in January 1997, walked out on Newcastle.[LNB] A frustrated Kevin Keegan resigned as Newcastle boss again last year[LNB]Harry Redknapp (Portsmouth 2002-04 and 2005-08)You would think someone who took a side to the Premier League and kept them there would be welcomed back with open arms.[LNB]Not so 'Arry, for he left Fratton Park for Southampton, leading to vilification from Pompey fans. But on his return (after relegation with the Saints, lest we forget), he dramatically preserved Portsmouth's Premier League status and last season led them to FA Cup glory, before again jumping ship, this time to Tottenham.[LNB] Harry Redknapp won the FA Cup with Portsmouth last season[LNB]Graham Taylor (Watford 1977-87 and 1997-2001, Aston Villa 1987-90 and 2002-03)A phenomenal success with Watford in his first spell, where he took the club from the Fourth Division to the First in just five seasons and reached the 1984 FA Cup final, he also had the Midas touch in his second.[LNB]He led Watford to the Premier League in 1999 and despite relegation after just one season, remains a legend in the town.[LNB] Graham Taylor will always be welcome at Watford[LNB]His second spell at Villa, where he first managed prior to getting the England job in 1990, will be remembered less fondly by the claret-and-blue-half of Birmingham, especially as it featured two defeats to their city rivals.[LNB]Steve Bruce (Wigan 2001 and 2007-)Bruce could not really have done his reputation at Wigan any harm given that he left them after less than two months in his first spell.[LNB]But after his return in November 2007, he hauled Wigan away from the relegation zone to mid-table respectability last season, and this campaign they are eyeing a European place.[LNB]He has also unearthed gems like Wilson Palacios, Amr Zaki and Antonio Valencia.[LNB] Steve Bruce has impressively led Wigan since rejoining the club in 2007[LNB]Tony Pulis (Stoke 2002-05 and 2006-)When he arrived at the Britannia Stadium he was trying to avoid relegation to the third tier, but after achieving that aim he fell out with the club's Icelandic owners and left.[LNB] Tony Pulis could yet guide Stoke to Premier League safety[LNB]His second spell has certainly been a success, bringing top-flight football back to Stoke after a 23-year absence and giving them a fighting chance of staying in the Premier League.[LNB] Joe Royle returns to Oldham as manager John Sheridan departs[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
