BOBBY HAS GOT ROBINS ROCKIN’
Bracknell looking up under Wilkinson
BOBBY Wilkinson says he has already turned down offers to join higher-league clubs as his focus remains on Bracknell Town’s promotion push.
The former Hungerford Town and Wealdstone manager signed a five-year deal with the Robins in December and has them flying in the BetVictor Isthmian League South Central.
Wilkinson is yet to taste defeat in his nine league games in charge, winning seven, which has moved Bracknell to the cusp of the play-offs.
“It’s been an unbelievable achievement to come in on December 11 and be half way through February and not lost a game,” he told The NLP. “People are starting to notice us now, I tried to keep us under the radar but when you’re on that sort of run people sit up. It’s getting more and more difficult. We’re trying to change the players’ mind-sets now that they have to raise their game even more.
Credit
“We are going to get beat eventually; we can’t win every single game. I’m just proud we’ve steadied the ship for Bracknell, everyone’s enjoying their football and we’re having a serious go at making the play-offs.
“They were leaking goals for fun and we’ve now kept six clean sheets in a row. Three of the back four are still playing that were there. To turn it around has been a credit to the club and the chairman [Kayne Steinborn-Busse]
for backing me.”
Wilkinson led Wealdstone to the National League South play-off semi-final last season after a successful seven-year spell at Hungerford where he won two promotions, but decided to drop to Step 4 to join Bracknell’s ambitious project of climbing through the Pyramid – and his instant impact is already attracting interest elsewhere in Non-League.
“This could have really backfired on me,” he said. “I could have dropped down, not won any games, people don’t realise this could have really stalled my career had we lost nine out of nine.
“It’s ended up working so far but don’t get me wrong, football can change in seven days.
“When I was out of work, there wasn’t a lot of job offers, two or three, but I didn’t fancy them. Since I’ve been in work and winning games lots of offers are coming again now in higher league, lots of people wanting to speak to me.
“I’m never going to say never if the right job comes up but I’ll be open and honest with the chairman, that’s what he’s asked from me and I’ll stick by that and do the right things for the football club.
“I’ve spoken to a couple but decided I’m going to stay where I am. It’s going to take a lot for me to actually leave. I’m loving it here.”