Paul Jewell's return to Grimsby Town as Bradford City manager today is a perfect illustration of how fortunes can change very quickly in football.
It is just three years since the former Bantams striker looked like being squeezed out of Valley Parade when he was pushed out on loan to Grimsby.
He spent two months at Blundell Park, scoring one goal in five games, and admits that if Grimsby had wanted to sign him, he would have left his beloved City.
"I never wanted to leave here but it looked like I had no option. They were very dark days, both for me and my family.
"I was not wanted at Bradford City, who I have always considered to be my club. I could not even get in the reserve side and didn't have any training kit."
The transformation for Jewell has been nothing short of remarkable. After being loaned to Grimsby, he returned to the City side for much of the season.
Then the following summer he joined the City coaching staff as reserve team coach before being promoted to joint first team coach with Martin Hunter.
And when Chris Kamara was sacked last January Jewell took charge of the team, initially until the end of the season, and then permanently with a two-year contract in May.
Since then Jewell has spent £3.3 million on seven new players and before today's visit to Blundell Park the Bantams were unbeaten in eight league and cup games.
However he is the first to admit his career could have been so different.
"Brian Laws was the Grimsby manager back then but I don't think he fancied me as a player.
"The writing was on the wall when I was on the bench for a goalless draw and with ten minutes left, instead of putting me on he opted to bring on a left back.
"Of course since becoming a manager myself I have seen why things like that can happen. But at the time I could not see why it was happening.
"With the situation at the time, I would probably have had to join Grimsby if Laws had been interested in me. There seemed no future for me with Bradford City.
"The people at the club were great and the players made me feel very welcome. It just didn't work out with Brian Laws.
"But now I am so glad he didn't want me. It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me as I would probably not be doing the job I am doing now."
Jewell's only goal came in a 1-0 victory at Charlton Athletic, a game which also saw the debut of Italian star Ivan Bonetti who accused Laws of striking him in the dressing room the following season.
The City boss says he feels stronger because of what happened in the 1995-96 season and says his players should use it as an example of how fortunes can fluctuate in football.
"My experience three years ago should act as a big motivation for any player who feels he is getting nowhere at a club.
"In football, everything can change so quickly. One minute you are on your way out and then, all of a sudden, you are back in favour.
"I always say that to any player who feels he is not getting a chance."
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