‘Making mistakes is fine as long as you learn from them’ Director has never had doubts about investing in the club
PHIL Hodgkinson says he has never doubted his investment in Southport after arriving in September 2017.
In less than 18 months Hodgkinson has hired former Bolton and England forward Kevin Davies as club manager, sacked him six months later and reappointed Liam Watson.
Hodgkinson has also invested a large sum of his own money into the club to redevelop the Merseyrail Community Stadium and launch several local schemes.
There has also been an unprecedented turnover in playing staff as current boss Watson sought to clear the deadwood and stamp his own authority on the Conference North outfit.
“There’s a lot more to experience but I’ve learned a lot of lessons very, very quickly, which has been good, because the quicker that we learn those lessons in football then the quicker the club progresses,” Hodgkinson said recently.
“Making mistakes is fine as long as you learn from them and don’t make them again.
‘‘You’ve also got to bear in mind we’ve taken a perennially part-time football club – and part-time everywhere not just on the pitch but off it – with no non-matchday revenue, no infrastructure to do that, and we’ve gone full-time on and off the pitch simultaneously.
“The list of things we’ve got to get through and deliver and fix is unbelievable. We’ve tried to deliver as much as we can.”
Southport are now comfortably mid-table after a sticky start to Watson’s third spell as manager of the club.
After an exciting run to the FA Cup second round and an upturn in performances, Hodgkinson asserted the aim is to see Southport in the Football League.
“This is our first season as we are for me. We’ve taken on a hell of a lot. I’ve learned a lot, I’ve seen a lot and went through a lot.
“Have I ever had doubts? No. Have I been down? Very. If we lose, no matter what competition we’re in, you have to keep away from me for 24 hours!
“My wife and son are very understanding but after 24 hours of feeling down you’re back up and feeling positive again. That’s just football.
“There’s a lot more to experience and I’m confident that with everything I’ve gone through in the last 12-14 months – and most of it negative in lots of ways and lots of areas – that I can now see lots of positives to come and a lot of good times.
“The target is to get back in the Football League and get back to Wembley again. Winning a cup – a local cup. We want to win a local cup. It’s a win, it’s a trophy, it’s an honour. We won’t devalue those and Liam won’t either.”