DOS HAS A MASTER PLAN FOR HAWK JAMIE
PAUL DOSWELL says the decision to move upstairs while fans’ favourite Jamie Collins takes over manager duties at Havant & Waterlooville was six months in the making.
Doswell, the former Sutton United chief, will director of football at Westleigh Park while and continuing to support Collins and his assistant Ian Baird.
“It’s a decision which we have been looking at for the last six months, and it was going to happen at the end of the season,” Doswell told the club’s website.
“We have been pushing and promoting Jamie through the ranks, and we all felt it was the right time for Jamie to come in now. It is the last 11 games, there is 25% of the season to go, to make sure we make the playoffs.”
Collins, 38, has been a part of a number of big moments in his two spells with the Hawks, including the famous FA Cup run of 2008 which culminated in a fourth round clash with Liverpool at Anfield.
He re-joined the club as a player/coach under Doswell in 2021 and has helped lift the club into play-off contention in National League South this season.
However, Wednesday night’s 2-1 home defeat to St Albans City extended tueir winless run to five matches, prompting the change at the top.
“For me, it was a no brainer,” said Collins, who also turned out for Newport County, Aldershot, Forest Green and Eastleigh.
“I have got a long affiliation with the club – it was the first Non-League team I played for. It is an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”
Stuart Munro, Hawks CEO said: “This is a very positive move for the football club. You don’t bring someone like Jamie Collins into this football club two years ago and not have a plan.”