John Prentice (footballer Born 1926) - Managerial Career

Managerial Career

Prentice began his managerial career at the age of 33 in April 1960, when he was appointed as manager of relegated First Division side Arbroath and took up his post for the final two games of the season. In his first full season, Arbroath finished in 12th place in the 19 team Second Division after he had controversially sold top striker Dave Easson to Raith Rovers. In his second season, after a good start to the season, they finished in 6th place. Prentice suddenly resigned as manager in September 1962. No official reason was given for his exit, but a few weeks before his departure, Arbroath Town Council had refused to allocate him a house on the grounds that his job was not considered to be that of a ‘key worker’.

In November he was appointed as manager of Clyde. In his first half-season he was unable to stop Clyde being relegated but in 1964 he guided them to promotion to the First Division as Second Division runners-up. In season 1964-65 Clyde finished seventh in the eighteen team First Division and played well the following season.

The quality of his teams performances and his management talents were recognized when, in March 1966, he was appointed as full-time manager of the national team, succeeding Jock Stein who had managed the side on a part-time basis in addition to his post at Celtic.

He spent six months in charge of the national team in 1966, and recorded a 1-1 draw with reigning World champions Brazil prior to the World Cup finals. He returned to club management with his old club Falkirk in October 1966 after defeats by England, Holland and Portugal.

He later managed Dundee, his only experience of managing in European competition but left in 1972 to return to Falkirk where he remained until 1975.