Holbeach United manager Seb Hayes admits that he is still hurt by the way he is perceived at former club Huntingdon Town ahead of the duo’s FA Buildbase Vase clash on Saturday.
ChromaSport UCL Premier Division side Holbeach are hot favourites to beat UCL Division outfit Huntingdon in the second round qualifying clash at Carter’s Park (3pm), as they bid to go far in the national competition.
For Hayes, it represents a chance to get one over on a side he managed with great distinction for a 15-month period from October 2013 to January 2015.
The Tigers boss guided Huntingdon to UCL Knockout Cup and Hinchingbrooke Cup glory in 2014, as well as second place in the league behind UCL Premier Division champions Spalding United – who they did the double over.
However, instead of being revered by his former club, he admits that he’s taken endless flak from people who believe he left because his budget was cut.
Speaking openly, Hayes rubbished those viewpoints – revealing that he even put his own money into the club to buy kit and equipment and drove the team mini-bus because there was nobody else to do the job.
Despite being disappointed by his treatment, he insists that the tie isn’t a romantic one for him. But Hayes does hope to knock his former side out of the Vase at Carter’s Park.
“I’m really looking forward to the game,” said the Tigers chief. “Huntingdon is a team that is very close to my heart and I had a lot of success there, both as a number two and as a manager.
“But – and I’ve never really spoken about this publicly out of respect for the club – I am disappointed by the amount of stick I got, and continue to get, after I left.
“I don’t think many people know the amount of off-the-field work I was doing there, they just presume I left because the money went.
“I don’t earn an awful lot, but I was putting my own money in to that club. I was also driving the mini-bus and working without an assistant manager or any coaches.
“Myself and one other person were essentially doing every job and it just got too much for me.
“That’s why it hurts that I continue to get so much flak from people that just don’t have any idea about the situation. I put my heart and soul into that football club.
“So, to see the club fall apart like it did was very sad. I took no pleasure from it, despite what was being said about me. I’d like nothing more than to have a decent relationship with Huntingdon.
“At the moment, I don’t – which I don’t feel is very fair and I’ll be honest, it really annoys me.
“It’s not about me on Saturday. But do I want to beat Huntingdon and shut a few people up? Of course. There’s no sentiment for me, it’s not a romantic tie.
“I have no extra motivation to beat my old club, I’m just motivated to get the win for Holbeach United.”
Hayes would love to emulate the success he had with Huntingdon at Holbeach, enthusing that it’s a “magic club” to manage.
He’s been mightily impressed by the improved fitness his side are showing this season, while also being buoyed by the bond his players are developing.
And Hayes, whose side have only lost twice all season after Wednesday night’s 4-1 UCL Cup win Sleaford Town (Lewis Leckie, Mitch Griffiths, George Zuerner and Will Bird got the goals), reckons his team can match anyone the FA Vase can throw at them on their own patch.
“Holbeach United is my club now and I love it here,” added the Holbeach supremo. “It’s a magic club to manage, it really is.
“After the game you actually want to stay. It’s great chatting to the fans and they take such pride in their club, it’s really great place to be.
“I want to bring success here and, at home, I’m confident we can beat any team at this level. There’s a great atmosphere here at the moment. The lads all get on really well and everybody is doing what is asked of them. There’s a special bond.
“I’ll be honest, I was a bit shocked last season when I took over. I’ve never been associated with such an unfit team – and it was costing us dear. This season we are scoring a lot of goals early on and late on. That’s down to hard work, improved fitness and good attitudes.
“That makes for good team spirit. Nothing emphasises that better than the last five games – we’ve had three players sent off and spent 150-odd minutes a man down on our opponents, but haven’t conceded a goal in that time.
“I’m hopeful that the good form will continue in the Vase, we want to go as far as we can in the competition.”
Dan Dougill and Charley Sanders are available to play after serving bans, but midfield duo Matt Warfield and Joe Smith are now suspended and right back Dan Jenkins is still missing.
Huntingdon come into the Vase clash in 16th place in UCL Division One, having been relegated from the top flight last term.
