DANNY IS SUCH A GOOD SPORT
Eastbourne boss keeps fans in picture
DANNY Bloor believes NonLeague clubs have a responsibility to look after their community now more than ever – just like he has been doing at Eastbourne Borough.
The manager has been keeping fans entertained and informed through his weekly updates on the Sports’ YouTube channel during lockdown.
Bloor, 50, was appointed in November following the sudden departure of Lee Bradbury amid financial problems with the club needing to make up a £40,000 shortfall.
Player departures were inevitable as striker Elliott Romain left for Dartford, winger Nicky Wheeler to Dorking Wanderers and Crawley signed towering defender Emmanuel Adebowale.
It was not what an underperforming side needed but Bloor was able to steady the ship, losing just five times in 17 matches to solidify their position in the bottom half of National League South.
“The boys responded and the pinnacle was the last game we played beating Maidstone 3-0,” Bloor told The NLP. “You could say we drew too many but it’s better than losing.
Committed
“There’s no secret to success of anything in life, it’s hard work and that’s certainly what we got the boys doing and they became very committed.
“When we went in the training seemed to be fragmented. We said straight away training would be Tuesday and Thursday evening at Priory Lane. They got that in their mindset. I think I gave them one night off in the period I was there, they get paid to train and play.
“With the squad that was assembled at the start of the season, to a degree I feel they underachieved.”
Bloor, below, has been helped in the Boro dugout by player-assistant and the popular former Crawley Town midfielder Sergio Torres, who he is tipping to have just as successful a career on the sidelines.
“It’s fantastic working with Sergio,” he said. “He’s always been a friend of mine but his coaching ability will one day see him working in the Football League. I don’t think he’ll be a manager because he’s too nice! But I see him set for a career in coaching at a higher level.”
Eastbourne had already been realigning their finances before the pandemic struck, having come unstuck when expected investment didn’t materialise.
Careful
The Sports are not known for these types of surprises and Bloor believes the club will be even more careful in the future.
“We’ve been reducing the budget every week since I took over, we were ahead of the game, in a way, which will be an advantage to us,” he said. “I think it’s incredibly difficult for the club. We have a thriving bar which hasn’t been open. What the club won’t do again is overstretch themselves.
“For a lot of clubs at all levels, I think expectations will be survival and not necessarily success.
“But the only club I’m worried about is Eastbourne Borough and I know we’ll be fine.
“It’s been nice during this time for us to be able to support the fans because they are normally supporting the team. I’ve enjoyed that, it’s been such an unusual time in our lives and I think we’ll all change a lot as individuals.
“Whether it’s Slough, Welling, Dartford or Eastbourne, we are pillars of the community and I think it’s really important now we look after our community.”