CHERRIES assistant boss Steve Fletcher believes the arrival of Martin Allen has given added emphasis to the latest instalment of the Notts County crunch.

A colourful and controversial figure, Allen will take charge of the Magpies when Cherries renew rivalries with their adversaries at Meadow Lane on Saturday.

Allen, who is nicknamed Mad Dog, raised more than a few eyebrows when he took the reins on Monday after upping sticks at Barnet following just a month at the helm.

He was appointed after a club record-equalling seventh successive defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday had seen last season’s League Two champions slip into the relegation zone.

Speaking ahead of watching County play Yeovil at Huish Park last night, Fletcher told the Daily Echo: “We half expected an appointment after they had dropped into the relegation places but I think Martin Allen came as shock to most people. He had only just taken over at Barnet and was doing very well there.

“Notts County probably felt they needed to do something drastic to try to get things organised. For us, we know the importance of Saturday’s game and it wouldn’t have mattered whether their manager had been there for 10 years or 10 minutes.

“But knowing the type of character he is, we know he will have them fired up. We knew we would have to match them in every department anyway but probably more so now. We know they will be ready and he will certainly have them prepared for a battle.”

Renown for his unconventional managerial methods, Allen, who has an A-level in psychology, once undertook a 25-mile sponsored cycle ride to raise funds for Brentford and also jumped into both the Tees and the |Solent in an attempt to inspire his Bees players before FA Cup matches.

Fletcher, who scored his only career hat-trick against Allen’s Brentford on New Year’s Day 2005, added: “I have played against his teams for many years and you always know you are going to be in for a fierce battle.

“I have been in the dugout when he has been managing opposition teams and you end up watching him rather than the game because he is such an unpredictable character. That’s what makes him unique and that’s why Notts County have turned to him.

“Notts County will be hoping the new-manager factor works for them and it is the start of a new mini-season for both of us. We have got to be looking to capitalise on their bad run and end ours.

“That’s all it boils down to. We have got five games left to push for the play-offs.”

Asked whether he would consider jumping into the River Stour to inspire Cherries, Fletcher replied: “Not unless it reaches 100 degrees but I can’t imagine it will in April!”

Allen will be the seventh different County manager to take charge against Cherries in the past seven meetings. He will follow Ian McParland, Hans Backe, David Kevan, Steve Cotterill, Craig Short and Paul Ince.