Barnet chairman admits he was wrong to overlook Martin Allen in January

Barnet chairman Anthony Kleanthous has revealed he appointed Martin Allen as the club’s manager for a fifth time after concluding he was wrong to overlook him in January.

Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Wycombe means they remain bottom of League Two, where they are seven points from safety, and led to both the sacking of Graham Westley and Allen’s latest return.

Kleanthous had considered the 52-year-old Allen in January before Allen’s insistence they were in a relegation battle – and the chairman’s that they could still pursue promotion – led to the recruitment of Westley.

They have since continued to struggle, leading to a further managerial change and the appointment of, according to Kleanthous, the “only man who can hopefully restore some belief and get the wins we need”.

“Doing nothing was not an option so here we are again, another Monday another manager, Martin is back,” Kleanthous wrote on Barnet’s official website. “His remit is simple: clear the decks, get everyone focused and win matches.

“I knew Martin was available and we met for breakfast one morning (in January).

“I should have given him the job there and then but at that time I was still thinking we could make the play-offs and he was trying to convince me we were going to be fighting relegation.

“With hindsight he was right and I was in cuckoo land but as always when it comes to Barnet, I struggle to accept anything negative and my enthusiasm gets the better of me. I should have listened to him.

“Graham (Westley), he has been absolutely great to and the team ethic has definitely improved under him. Who knows, if I had made the appointment at the start of the season we could well have been going for that promotion? However, I had to go for one last throw of the dice.”

Kleanthous – who has been the club’s chairman since 1994 but did not sack a manager before Ian Hendon in 2010, since when there have been 20 managerial changes – also dismissed suggestions he had attempted to interfere with player recruitment and selection.

“I can understand some of the upset and abuse, but have to say I am just staggered by the rubbish and lies on social media that is fed to our supporters and how some people get away with so many defamatory comments,” he added.

“Blame me for the bad managerial appointments but I do not get involved with the team selection or recruitment, and no one has run away with any money.”