HUGO GETS THE NOD TO STOP THE ROOKS’ ROT
THE APPOINTMENT of Hugo Langton was ten years in the making as Lewes chairman Stuart Fuller finally put in his SOS call.
The Rooks have found themselves in the BetVictor Isthmian League Premier division relegation zone after a torrid run of just two wins in ten matches.
Last weekend’s
6-1 home defeat to Cheshunt – their fifth consecutive loss – prompted the club to make a change with Langton stepping in to takeover from Ross Standen and Tony Coade, who had replaced Darren Freeman following his resignation in October.
“I’ve been to the club a lot in the past as an opponent and the place always seems to be unique and well-supported, a very good structure,” Langton, who was working as Welling United’s first team coach until Bradley Quinton’s appointment last month, told The NLP.
“I’ve known the chairman Stuart Fuller now for pretty much ten years and I said to him, one day I’d love to manage your football club. We agreed, without knowing when it would be or if it would ever be. At the weekend he reached out to me and we talked things through. I’m delighted the time for me to manage Lewes has come.”
Langton has also held roles at Horsham, Hastings United, Bromley and Eastbourne Borough – and was quick to make his mark this week, seeing his side hold high-flying Hornchurch to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday night in what was his 499th game of his management and coaching career.
“I went in on Monday night and went straight into the changing room to tell them exactly what I expect from them,” he added. “I went in at 100 miles per hour if I’m honest, which made them sit up a bit straighter.
“We trained for an hour or so and I gave them every ounce of energy, and they responded. I reminded them of the good players that they are, that even though they’ve won one game at home all season over 500 people turned up last Saturday to watch them and still believe in them.
“I reminded them of why they play football and that they’re lucky enough to earn a few quid to play.
“I’m looking at strengthening a little bit with two or three players, nothing too drastic. There’s some really good players there but they’ve just lost their way a little.
“The most important thing is to win and for the club stays in the division. I’ve been quite open and said I can’t come in and perform a miracle in a very quick space of time, but I can do things which people will see a difference in, which I think we saw on Wednesday.”