Alan Knill was born in Slough in 1964. He started his career at Southampton in 1982 but failed to make an appearance for the Saints. He left in 1984 for Halifax Town and he scored six times in 118 appearances before departing for a different country altogether. That might seem a bit misleading as it wasn't a sunny country or even one where you'd have an overwhelming urge to go to on holiday, his next destination was Swansea in Wales.

89 appearances for the Swans were accompanied by three goals before a switch the side he currently manages, Bury. He played more games there than anywhere else during his career, making a respectable 144 appearances at Gigg Lane, but his time at Bury ended by a transfer to Scunthorpe United in 1993. 130 appearances and eight goals was his best goals:games ratio of his career. Four seasons at Glanford Park for his penultimate club was ended as he joined Rotherham in 1997.

77 appearances and six goals were followed by him ending his professional career but it wasn't long before he was connected with the Millers again, taking over as manager in 2005, initially one a caretaker basis before being given the job on a permanent basis.

He did a decent job at first during his permanent employment. The Millers had been hit by a 10 point deduction before the season but had been on the verge of escaping the relegation zone by December. However, a terrible run of results saw him eventually get sacked on March 1^st.

He was out of football management for 11 months and 3 days before being appointed as Bury's manager and he has a decent record so far, winning 10 of his 19 games so far, losing just five matches.

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