Spalding United have pulled off a real coup by enticing highly-rated Dave Frecklington to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field as their new manager
Frecklington, who led rivals Lincoln United to the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South play-offs last season, was revealed as Marcus Ebdon’s successor at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on Sunday.
The former Lincoln United, Stamford, Grantham Town, Spalding and Lincoln City (youth) player brings trusted assistant Chris Rawlinson with him to South Holland – and he’s already gunning for what would be a historic promotion.
Frecklington has revealed a three-year plan to get the Tulips promoted to Step Three and also described them as “ambitious” and “the right club” for him right now.
Having resigned his position at Lincoln last week following an impressive three-year stint, he feels that he achieved his target there despite losing 3-2 to Shaw Lane Aquaforce in the play-offs.
“It was a case of this being a fresh challenge for me,” said Frecklington. “I first heard of Spalding’s interest in me over the last week or so.
“I’d come to the end of a well-documented three-year plan with Lincoln United and decided it had to be all about myself now.
“I’d given everything to that football club for the last three years and we got to the play-offs in year three, but we fell at the final hurdle.
“I feel like, in terms of me, it was job done. We’d built the club up over the past three years and I feel left it in a good state.
“The biggest thing for me about Spalding is the ambition of the club. We’ve agreed a three-year deal here, which will involve stability first and foremost.
“Obviously I’ve got ambitions to manage at a higher level and I feel that Spalding, at the present time, is the right club to help me do that.”
One of Frecklington’s first jobs at the Sir Halley is keeping the nucleus of key players at the club.
The new boss is hopeful that the majority of the squad will follow skipper Nathan Stainfield’s lead and commit their future to the Tulips, but does admit that he already has a few irons in the fire when it comes to transfer targets.
Director of football Bob Don-Duncan, who Frecklington says has “invaluable knowledge of the club and squad” will remain too, but Spalding are looking for a new coach to join their ranks.
The new chief was also coy on any plans to raid his former club for players, citing that he’s keen not to see his old squad ripped up.
But he refused to rule the idea out completely, stating that he’ll be all business at the Sir Halley.
“The job begins now,” added Frecklington. “I’ve already got irons in the fire player-wise.
“The club hasn’t changed all that much since I was last here as a player.
“From what I’ve been told, promotion is the aim for me – whether that happens in year one or year three.
“The foundations of the team are already there, it’s just about making sure we touch the squad up in the right places.
“I’ve spoken to half of the squad already and will be speaking to the rest this week.
“I want to try and nail down the key players to the club, but obviously it’s hard to get them to commit at this early stage.
“The fact that Nathan Stainfield has signed a contract with the club is massive news. I voted for him to be in the league’s team of the year, so him staying was a massive factor for me.
“I feel like I built up a good group at Lincoln United and we had a very strong team spirit. I wouldn’t like to see that fall apart after I had left and I’m not sure how I’d feel about chasing their players.
“But at the end of the day it’s business, we’re Spalding United and they are Lincoln United.
“I’m the manager here now and we’ll be going neck and neck to try and get one over each other.
“If players want to come here and it’s the right deal for everyone then who knows, but I want to have a good look at this Spalding squad first and see where I need to improve it.”
Last week saw Spalding’s opponents for the 2016/17 season revealed, with the highlights being the arrivals of Stamford, AFC Rushden and Diamonds, Northwich Victoria and Witton Albion.
Frecklington expects them to make a tough league even harder, but he’ll worry about that when the players report back for pre-season in July.
The Tulips chief said: “For now, I’ll be speaking to the players individually and collectively.
“Obviously we’ll then let them go away and have a good break before we look to get started on the first Saturday in July.
“Before then I’ll be busy trying to get pre-season started and we’ll go from there.
“It was an even league last year, there were no ‘gimmes’ at all. With Diamonds and Stamford coming into it there are a couple of derby games for us, then you’ve got Northwich Victoria and Witton Albion who are big clubs.
“It’s going to a be a stronger league, so it’ll be tough.”
Full list of teams in Evo-Stik NPL Division One South for 2016/17: AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Basford United, Bedworth United, Belper Town, Carlton Town, Chasetown, Gresley, Kidsgrove Athletic, Leek Town, Lincoln United, Loughborough Dynamo, Market Drayton Town, Newcastle Town, Northwich Victoria, Romulus, Rugby Town, Sheffield, Shaw Lane Aquaforce, Spalding United, Stamford, Stocksbridge Park Steels and Witton Albion.
