Ian Dunn has called for a change in mentality at Pinchbeck United after sealing a return to the club as player/manager.
The former Spalding United and Holbeach United striker guided Pinchbeck to one of the best seasons in their history back in 2011/12 as they clinched a Peterborough Premier Division and PFA Senior Cup double.
His achievements didn’t go unnoticed and a move to UCL Premier Division side Boston Town as co-boss with his double-winning skipper Matt Hocking followed.
Dunn left the Poachers midway through last season and joined Holbeach as a player for the remainder of the campaign – scoring a memorable goal against his former employers in the process.
But he’s been tempted back into management with Pinchbeck, who contacted him last week over a return to Knight Street having endured a disastrous season that saw them win just four games en-route to finishing 14th in the Peterborough Premier Division.
Having mulled it over, Dunn decided that it was the right move for him – but he’s warned that challenging for trophies won’t be his first aim.
“It came a bit out of the blue really,” said Dunn. “They contacted me last week and asked if I’d be interested in giving it another go.
“We had a meeting and a couple of chats and I told them I’d have a think. I mulled it over and decided that it was the right move for me.
“They say you should never go back, but it feels like the right thing to do.
“I know what it takes to succeed at this level and I’ll be looking to get the right blend of experience and youth. Look at what Andy Lodge has done at Whittlesey United, they have the right model.
“But the first aim isn’t to get into the top six or anything like that. It’s to change the mentality at the football club.
“There’s no disrespect intended here, but to win just four league games all season isn’t good enough.
“You can get into a habit of just turning up and expecting to lose. We need to change that and get the lads feeling positive about their football.”
Dunn is also hoping to snap up an experienced assistant boss to help run things from the sideline, as he hopes to be a regular fixture on the field too.
He feels more than capable of doing at job in the Peterborough Premier Division and is looking to create a similar side that took the division by storm in his first stint as boss.
Such players as Jonny Clay, Lee Drury, Andy Law, Luke Wilson and Ollie Maltby cut their teeth in Dunn’s Pinchbeck before becoming UCL Premier Division regulars.
And, while he expects player recruitment to be a tough process, Dunn hopes to unearth a few more local gems this time around.
“A lot of those lads hadn’t played at UCL level before,” added the ex-Deeping Rangers and Bourne Town man. “But they stepped up easily after doing well with us.
“That’s something I’ll look to do again, but it’s not easy. Players won’t want to commit to any clubs too early – that’s just how it is.
“I do want to play myself too. I felt that I held my own in the UCL last year and I’m confident I’ll still be effective at this level.
“It all depends on who I can get in to be my assistant. It’s important that you have somebody on the sideline for you if you’re a player/manager.”
Dunn expects Pinchbeck to arrange up nine pre-season friendly fixtures ahead of the start of the new season, but no opponents have yet been determined.
