Thomas back at the helm at AFC
HINCKLEY United legend Dean Thomas has dusted off his football boots as he takes interim charge of community club Hinckley AFC.
The former Notts County player turned cabaret crooner makes a return to the local sporting scene while AFC search for a permanent replacement to Carl Abbott.
Abbott announced he was moving on from the club he had managed since its inception in 2014 last week.
Applications were immediately opened for his successor but in the meantime Thomas, who guided United to a Conference North play-off final 10 years ago, has agreed to help the club.
The Bedworth born coach took charge of nearly 1,000 Knitters games during his 15-year tenure, and was their only manager.
Since retiring from football Thomas has carved out a new career as a successful lounge singer, specialising in swing and ratpack classics.
He returned to the dugout on Saturday guiding AFC to an emphatic 5-0 win away Town.
Abbott’s former assistant Paul Tomlinson assisted Thomas for Saturday’s league game but then followed Abbott to his new club to leave Thomas in sole interim charge.
On taking up the role, Thomas said: “It’s a pleasure and an honour to be asked to assist during this period.
“Hinckley AFC are the only club I would come out of retirement for, and I’m excited to get back in the dugout and try to win games.
“It’s a short term fix and Chelmsley will bridge the gap until a new manager is appointed, but the board wanted it running as professionally as possible and I will do just that.”
Speaking after his first match back at the helm Thomas said: “It’s been a good day after a turbulent week.
“It was nice that the lads all came and the one thing I wanted was a good attitude - to perform well and do the job properly.
“They stuck to the game plan and in the end it was nice that we scored five goals and kept a clean sheet.
“We scored early goals in the first half and then the third really killed them off.
“It was important that we scored at the start of the second half and we did. They were never going to come back from that.
“They kept on battling so fair play to them, but it was important we saw the game out and kept a clean sheet.
“Sometimes you can get sloppy but today we were good.
“The attitude players was great.”
Chairman Steve Jelfs said: “We’re very grateful to Dean for stepping in during this period of change at the club.
“Having someone of Dean’s calibre in interim charge will allow us the time and breathing space needed to make the right appointment for the club moving forward.”
Stepping down last week to take charge of Evo-Stick Division One South side Market Drayton Town, Abbott said the decision to leave had been a ‘heart-wrenching decision.’
In a statement on the club’s website he said: “It has been a pleasure to represent you as manager.
“I have a deep affection for this football club and the people involved, both still here and no longer with us.
“You have left a lasting impression on me and I hope we will be welcome of the at the club to support the team with you in the future.
“At a time where a little appetite for change has been voiced, I have an opportunity to move on to a club at a higher level and I feel the time is right for me to take on that challenge, allowing for fresh impetus here.
“This has been a heartwrenching decision. From the bottom of my heart I thank all associated with the club for the opportunity and support.”
Paying tribute to Abbott’s time as manager, chairman Steve Jelfs said: “I am bitterly disappointed that Abbo has decided to cal his time on his spell at the club although I fully understand and respect his reasons for doing so.
“Carl has been an immense manager for this football club. I don’t think many supporters understand the hours that he has put in behind the scenes to ensure the club puts out a team on a Saturday that plays an exciting brand of football and out supporters enjoy watching.
“He will be sorely missed and very difficult to replace.
“I’m sure he will receive a warm welcome whenever and however our paths cross again.”