New Holbeach United boss Danny Clifton has expressed his gratitude to the club for giving him the chance to take on the biggest challenge of his managerial career so far.
Clifton, a former Stamford, Blackstones, Boston Town and Wisbech Town player in his heyday, was seen as something of a leftfield choice to fill the void at Carter’s Park created by Gary Frost’s exit last Tuesday night.
With a background in youth football, Clifton has created a fine reputation for himself as both Yaxley under-18 and Reserve team manager in recent years, while also cutting his teeth with Cambridge United’s youth set-up.
He admits that he was surprised to have received the offer to take over the Tigers, but insists that he’s ready to repay the faith the club have already shown in him.
“People have been saying that appointing me was a bit of a bolt from the blue,” admitted Clifton. “Let me tell you, I was as surprised as everyone else to get the call.
“I’m very grateful to have been appointed, Holbeach are the first club at this level to have taken an interest in me and I intend to repay that faith.
“I’ve only been involved with the club for a few days, but I can already feel the warmth and support from everyone, from the chairman down to the volunteers. It’s exciting.
“Holbeach United is a club with a great set-up and it has everything going for it. Results on the pitch have spiralled out of control a bit, but it’s now my job to see what I can do about that.”
Clifton has brought Yaxley’s Daniel Dobson with him as assistant manager, while club stalwart and number one keeper Ricky Drury will also act as player/coach.
They inherit a side that couldn’t really have endured a worse first half of the Uhlsport UCL Premier Division North season and that are now on their third manager of the campaign. The Tigers are also winless in their 17 league games and are ten points from safety at the bottom of the table, having scored just four league goals so far.
Clifton admits that he must make changes to the player roster and that “the league table doesn’t lie” – but has welcomed the club’s flexible stance on what he’s at Carter’s Park to achieve.
The new boss revealed that the plans for the next two years are set in stone – whether the Tigers stay up….or are relegated to Step Six of the non-league ladder for the first time in recent history.
He added: “It’s always been at the back of my mind about taking on a job at a club of this stature. It’s going to be a great challenge for me personally.
“But it’s a very attractive job. Yes, the table doesn’t look great, but the club have been very supportive and have said that there’s no pressure on me and the team. Regardless of what happens this season, the next two years are all planned for and everything is very stable behind the scenes.
“My aim is to put a long-term strategy in place here and blood young players that have the ability to succeed at this level while also bringing in the right kind of experienced players.
“The club is in a bit of a predicament and there hasn’t really been a long-term plan; more a quick fix that hasn’t really worked. If there’s no immediate pressure on you as a manager at the start, you can plan for the future without fear – which is what I intend to do.
“All of the foundations are here to succeed, but we can’t look at the table and think nothing needs to change. There’s been a lack of direction on the pitch and what the club needs is stability.
“I’m not naïve, though. I don’t expect to be making major signings overnight and changing things straight away – it’ll take time.
“I’m fortunate to have the support of Ricky and Dan, who will both be invaluable. It’ll be more of a collective effort from us, I’d never a walk into a club and claim to be the number one. It’s just not me.”
Clifton’s Holbeach reign begins with a home game against Skegness Town on Saturday (3pm).
