Arnold: Chance to return to town too good to turn down
NATHAN Arnold’s next step in his football management career has brought him back to the town where he holds fond memories, with the former Grimsby Town player taking the reins at Cleethorpes Town.
Mariners supporters will have fond memories of the 35-year-old for the two years he spent at Blundell Park, which ended with a memorable goal in the 2016 National League play-off final, a goal that sent the club back on its way to the EFL after six years absence.
Arnold is now forging his own path as a football manager after hanging up his boots in 2019, with successful stints in the dugout at Bourne Town, Newark Town and Newark & Sherwood United, bringing him to Step 4 of the non-league pyramid with the Owls.
The former Town winger has inherited a strong team that made the play-offs last year in their division and sit nicely in third after Arnold triumphed in his first game as head coach at the weekend away at Brighouse Town.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind since joining because I met the players on Thursday,” Arnold told Grimsby Live.
“We had a team meeting to get straight into the first game on the Saturday, so it came around thick and fast.
“I’ve obviously not had the luxury of time like you do in pre-season to mould the squad and lay down all your expectations, your ideas, amongst other things. It was very much all about just getting the result on Saturday.
“I was really pleased with how the first meeting went as you could see, there was a focus around the group that we came out with three points in the first game, and I’ve used this week to get on the training ground and start to get to work.
“The most important thing was the desire and the character that the players showed to start off on the right foot. You look at the season they had last year getting into the play-offs; I knew I was inheriting a good side. I said to the group that not much needs changing because we’re in a good position, but I will make tweaks according to where I feel we can improve.”
The 35-year-old already has a promotion pedigree as a coach after experiencing such success at Newark Town last season.
His previous experiences make him well-equipped to jump into another promotion battle with Cleethorpes. He had only just joined his last club, Newark & Sherwood United, in the summer and was coming off the back of an impressive 13-game unbeaten run when the Owls made the approach.
Despite only just getting started with his previous employers, to return to an area he held such fond memories of and the connections he already had in and around the club made the offer “too good to turn down”.
Arnold added: “[Moving back to Grimsby] was very much at the forefront of this decision [to join Cleethorpes Town], not just the opportunity to progress my managerial career but the connections I have in and around the football club.
“I had some very good memories of living in the town for two years, and when the opportunity came around to come back, it was not only from the career aspect but also the personal side that made it too good to turn down. If we bring it all together, it is not just down to the fact that this part of the world has a special place in my heart; it is also making sure I’m attached to a club with ambition.
“That was evident in the conversation with the chairman when they approached and gave me this opportunity, and I needed to see that coming from a club that had its own project going on. I think it is important that I get my teeth into a club and have some stability.
“I think there has been an upward trajectory in the last couple of years, and I would like to put my stamp on things which I know will take a while.”