Dev might not return until mid December
Maidenhead United FC: Manager will direct things from home after undergoing hip surgery
Alan Devonshire may not return to the Magpies dug out until midDecember as he convalesces from having hip surgery earlier this month. His son Lee Devonshire, the club’s chief scout, confirmed the operation was slightly more complex than the one he underwent a few years ago and thought he might have to direct the team from home for a few more weeks at least.
Speaking on Saturday Lee thought it likely the manager would miss the next few games through to Torquay on December 8, but Peters thought he'd return sooner.
Devonshire played a more active role during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bromley, calling through instructions to assistant manager Ryan Peters and coaches Aaron O’Brien and Eddie Keen throughout the game.
Chairman Peter Griffin said: “He will have been watching today’s game and been on the phone to the bench if he needed to.
But, having said that. He’s worked with Ryan (Peters) a long time and Aaron (O’Brien) and Eddie (Keen) as well. So, they know what they’re doing Dev’s influence is still there even if he’s not talking to the players directly. I imagine now that he’s improved a bit and is
comfortable at home, he’ll be able to put in some more input.”
Assistant manager Peters said he hoped Devonshire would be back alongside him sooner rather than later.
“We we’re trying to keep that as close to our chests as possible. But
we have a good system in place. Today was the first time the gaffer has been able to get on the phone to us and he did call through. We had Eddie behind us on the phone and whenever something needed to be changed it was. He was following the game on livestream
and we had some conversations with him. It’s the first time he’s been able to do a bit more.
“We hope he’s back sooner rather than later and he’s feeling a lot stronger. I think it won’t be weeks, I reckon he’ll be back sooner, but it’s a gage.”