HAK’S BACK TO PROVE A POINT
Heyrettin gets second chance with Iron
HAKAN HEYRETTIN says he has unfinished business to attend to at Braintree Town – but has pleaded to the chairman for time to turn around the club’s fortunes.
Former boss Heyrettin was placed back in caretaker charge of the struggling Iron this week after manager Brad Quinton left the club by mutual consent following the home defeat by Eastleigh last Saturday.
The Iron are rock bottom of the National League, boasting just one league win all season, but they did earn an excellent point at leaders Salford yesterday.
The former Waltham Forest, Thurrock and Grays Athletic boss, inset
left, has been handed a second chance by Cressing Road chief Lee Harding – and he’s determined to make the most of it!
Heyrettin first took over during the club's relegation season in October 2016 and steered the club to a best ever second round proper appearance in the FA Cup where they eventually bowed out at Millwall.
But despite initially turning the club’s fortunes around in the league, Heyrettin couldn’t prevent the Iron from slipping into National League South, eventually leaving the club in May 2017.
Opportunity
Under Quinton, the Iron recovered to win promotion back to the topflight at the first attempt, but with the club back in the doldrums it’s given Heyrettin the chance to answer a few critics and, with it, reclaim the job on a permanent basis.
“Of course I want the job, I feel I have a point to prove,” Hayrettin told The
NLP. “Relegation last time was not just down to me, there were financial restrictions and other factors beyond my control.
“Brad did a great job in getting the club back up but for some reason has not been able to lift them this time so unfortunately they’ve had to make the change.
“I get on very well with the chairman but I must admit I was quite surprised to get the call inviting me back. I’m grateful for the opportunity, hopefully I can help to turn things around.
“It won’t be easy, though. Not many of the players have played at this level and a number still have a lot to prove. It’s all about recruitment and spending whatever money there is wisely, but it’s also about finding survivors, fighters and players who can find a way through the tough times. That’s what this club has prided itself on over the years.”
In the meantime, the Iron say they are still “considering numerous applications for the role going forward”, but Heyrettin has pleaded to chairman Harding for enough time to set his stall.
Sad day
“While I’d love the job full-time I know every man and his dog would too, so I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” he added.
“People have to realise the limitations of the club, working with perhaps the smallest budget in the league, but it won’t be for the want of trying, I can assure you. This is a great club with great people and I’m determined to put some smiles back on some faces.”
Quinton, right, left Cressing Road just hours after crashing to a fourth straight defeat to Eastleigh last Saturday with Harding describing his departure as a “sad day for the club”. “We felt it was time for a change,” the chairman said. “Brad has done well for us as both a player and manager – being involved in three promotions in 11 years – we thank him for his contribution, he knows he will always be welcome at Cressing Road. “Yes, the club could have continued down the path we have for the first 15 matches, but we were not confident that we would turn our season around. Time will tell if a change brings an improvement in our fortunes, but we felt we at least had to try.”