I owe it to Buster Chapman, says Gary Setchell ahead of his 250th game in charge of King’s Lynn Town

Buster Chapman. Picture: IAN BURT (Image: Archant © 2012)

The King's Lynn Town chief today takes charge of his 250th game when the Linnets welcome Harrogate Town in the FA Trophy third qualifying round. But while he has made a huge name for himself as the man at the helm, the 39-year-old is well aware the power at The Walks really belongs to chairman Buster Chapman.

Setchell said: 'All the staff have been great. Neil (Fryatt, assistant), Joff (Jonathan Hawes, reserves boss), Ross (McNeil, former first-team coach and now reserves' assistant), Phil (Ward, physio). But the chairman is the one who has given me all of these games. He could have got rid of me at any time.

'In the 249 games there's honestly never been a raised voice. I know it's hard to believe as we're both volatile characters but if we've had a disappointing Saturday we sometimes don't speak until the Tuesday. We acknowledge the fact that we both need time to cool down. But usually, he's the first person to phone after games finding out how things have gone like the travel and the match.

'I know he's not fully hands on as such because he has other interests but he does enough for me. He doesn't interfere in the football side of things whatsoever, which is great. And I haven't got a board of directors I need to sit down in front of every three weeks. I speak to Buster if there's a problem and we sort it out. Some might say the way we work is odd but we've got a great relationship.'

Setchell took over reformed Lynn in the summer of 2010 as joint boss. Alongside Kevin Boon the pair oversaw 69 games before the former Lynn player took sole control of the reins – where he has remained ever since.

Longest-serving Lynn managers

1 Keith Rudd 445 games

2 Reg Davies 365 games

3 Len Richley 341 games

4 Gary Setchell 249 games

5 Paul Todd 229 games

*Stats provided by www.thelinnets.co.uk