Keith Alexander

Keith Alexander (born 14 November 1956 in Nottingham, England) is a football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of League Two side Macclesfield Town. His eldest son, Matt Alexander, is a FIFA licensed football agent.

Playing career
Alexander for many years plied his trade as a lower division footballer, most notably for Grimsby Town and Stockport County, before temporarily ending his playing career with Lincoln City after season 1992–93. After a short spell as Lincoln City manager, he played a few more games for Mansfield Town and Cliftonville.

Honours
Alexander won the FA Vase in 1980 with Stamford, scoring one of the goals in a 2–0 win at Wembley. He also played international football for St. Lucia in 1990.

First Spell with Lincoln City
Alexander began a short spell as manager of Lincoln in 1993, before being replaced by the then chairman John Reames after less than a year in charge. He became the first black professional football manager in the UK when he took up the position.

Lower League Management
For the best part of a decade, Alexander then managed two semi-professional teams, Ilkeston Town during 1995–2000 and Northwich Victoria during 2000–01.

Return to Lincoln City
With the appointment of his former manager at Grimsby, Alan Buckley, to the position of manager at Sincil Bank, Alexander returned to the club and filled the twin roles of Director of Football and assistant manager. The partnership ended when Lincoln ended 2001–02 precariously close to relegation to the Conference and in dire financial straits.

As one of many cost cutting measures that were made to avoid liquidation, Buckley was relieved of his duties and replaced a week later by Alexander, who accepted the role with considerably more experience than when first taking the post in 1993–94. He immediately set about reshaping a squad which had been decimated by the loss of high profile players such as Ian Hamilton, Kingsley Black and Justin Walker, who had settled the remainder of their expensive contracts with the club's administrators. Veterans David Cameron, Steve Holmes and record appearance maker Grant Brown also moved on. He managed to retain important performers such as former Tottenham Hotspur youngsters Alan Marriott and Peter Gain, Northern Ireland B international centre back Paul Morgan, Ben Sedgemore and wing-backs Mark Bailey and Stuart Bimson. He complemented their talents with the addition of centre backs Ben Futcher and Simon Weaver, midfielder Richard Butcher and strikers Simon Yeo and Dene Cropper.

Alexander oversaw a upturn in fortunes in the club, who were now owned by their Supporters Trust. He using direct tactics, and following a good season with an impressive away record they finished in the play-off places with a chance of promotion to the Second Division. However, Lincoln were defeated by A.F.C. Bournemouth in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. The 5–2 result established a new record for goals scored in a playoff final.

The 2003–04 began poorly, and in November 2003 Alexander suffered a cerebral aneurysm. Alexander had been accompanied by his assistant Gary Simpson on a scouting mission that evening but felt ill on returning home and retired to bed. His wife later called an ambulance and Alexander was rushed to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in time for potentially life saving surgery. His condition slowly improved and he returned to work in February 2004, where Simpson had been acting as caretaker manager.

Despite their poor start to the season, Lincoln's campaign improved. Veteran Stewart Bimson had moved on to Cambridge United and youngster Paul Mayo was sold to Watford for an initial £75,000, but the acquisitions of Jamie McCombe, Marcus Richardson, Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Francis Green and loanee Kevin Ellison meant that they finished in the play-off places. Lincoln were beaten by Huddersfield Town in the semi-finals.

In the close season Alexander purchased Gareth McAuley and Ciaran Toner. Toner and Marcus Richardson were later involved in a training ground fracas, and were both allowed to leave on loan with a view to a transfer. Regardless, rumours persisted that the morale of the squad was low both because of this incident and relating to the payment of bonuses. Lincoln again reached the play-off places and played Southend in the final at the Millennium Stadium.

Neither side could manage a goal in normal time, and all three strikers had to be replaced in the second half. Derek Asamoah, who was in poor form, was brought on alongside defenders Matt Bloomer and Lee Beevers. However, Southend scored twice in extra time to win.

Alexander signed a new three year contract in May 2005. During the close season Simon Yeo, Richard Butcher and Peter Gain chose to leave the club, whilst Gary Taylor-Fletcher was surprisingly released amid speculation about his conduct. Captain Paul Morgan, however, signed a new three deal which reportedly made him the highest paid player at the club.

Lincoln lost yet again in the play-offs in the 2005–06 season, this time to local rivals Grimsby Town. Alexander now has the unenviable record of being the only manager to lead a team to four consecutive play-off defeats. Shortly after the final defeat Alexander left Lincoln by mutual consent.

Peterborough United
On 30 May 2006, Alexander was named the new manager of Peterborough United replacing Steve Bleasdale, who had left at the end of April. He cited his reason for joining Peterborough as need for a new challenge. Alexander signed a 4 year contract with the club. On 15 January his contract was mutually terminated following 6 straight league defeats, despite still being 8th in the league.

Director of football at Bury
Alexander was appointed as Bury's new director of football on 9 May 2007. He was dismissed on 14 January 2008, accompanying sacked manager Chris Casper.

Macclesfield Town
Alexander was appointed manager of Macclesfield Town on 27 February 2008, signing a contract until the end of the season. He replaced Ian Brightwell who had left the club one point away from the League Two relegation zone. A run of four wins and three draws in nine games took the club away from the relegation zone, and in April 2008 Alexander was awarded a new two-year contract.