Former Yeovil Town manager Graham Roberts has become the manager of an international side. The former central defender is to take on the role as coach of the Pakistan national team later this month, after they had originally offered him a consultancy role.
Roberts had already committed to support the Pakistan Football Federation as part of their participation in the Asian Games, which take place in China between November 12 and 27. Pakistan are taking their Under-23 football team to the event. Their plan was to take him on for a probationary period, with an unnamed sponsor paying his wages, but to then look at his long term position; it would now appear that they have already made their decision although there's no mention of a contract length at present.
Aside from managing Yeovil Town, Roberts has also been in charge of Carshalton Athletic, Chesham United, Slough Town, Hertford Town and Boreham Wood as well as a stint with Scottish side Clyde. However, the 51 year old's finest time in management was taking Yeovil Town to the Isthmian League title in 1997 as part of a three year spell with the Glovers between 1995 and 1998.
However, despite giving the club a record-breaking 101 points on their way to winning silverware, his relationship with the Yeovil Town board soured over his refusal to move from his London home with the club back in the Conference, and matters came to a head in February 2008, when he made national headlines for sending a fax to Newcastle United on the eve of their FA Cup match with Stevenage Borough, who Roberts had played for prior to joining the Glovers. He was suspended, and eventually departed the club 'by mutual consent' with a gagging clause put into the exit agreement. That was his cue to take on management with a number of clubs in the London and Hertfordshire area before his move up to Scotland. After he left Clyde he was reported to have set up a Sports Management Company, but to our knowledge this is his first management position since leaving the Broadwood Stadium.
Link: April 1999: A Ciderspace Tribute To Graham Roberts.
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8 October 2010 : 
