By George!
WAIT FOR LEAGUE WIN GOES ON
New Maidstone boss George Elokobi says he’s taken on a huge challenge for his first managerial job.
Elokobi, 37, is looking at a major rebuild after being appointed Hakan Hayrettin’s successor at the end of last week.
He’d been in caretaker charge since early January, leading Maidstone to the last eight of the FA Trophy but picking up only three draws from 11 National League games.
Since landing the full-time job, Stones have suffered injury-time 2-1 and 3-2 home defeats by Woking and Bromley respectively and will be relegated if they lose at home to Boreham Wood on Saturday (3pm).
But the board are looking at the bigger picture with the appointment and were impressed by Elokobi’s plans for the future, handing him a deal to the end of next season.
They interviewed a number of candidates but the former Wolves defender and ex-Stones captain stood out from the rest.
“I’m excited, but there’s work to be done in terms of where we are as a football club,” said Elokobi. “We need to put a new structure in place here that we can implement and get a squad that will be able to fully compete next season. That plan is already ongoing.
“It’s exciting times for myself. It’s challenging but I’m a man that loves a challenge.
“I’m humbled that the board have seen the vision and hopefully we can build for the future and make sure we get the winning mentality back to our football club.
“It’s important everyone understands what’s going to be happening at Maidstone going forward.
“It’s a huge challenge and we have to take it one day at a time and ensure that this new structure in place is embedded, slowly but surely, where everyone feels happy and comfortable with the new surroundings.
“We know where we are, we know what we’ve experienced in the past and we know our situation at Maidstone United and it’s to now restructure and bring back the success this football club deserves.
“The foundations have to be in place. If the foundations are solid then success will follow.” Caretaker managers normally land the permanent job on the back of strong results.
That’s not been the case for Elokobi but co-owners Terry Casey and Oliver Ash and chief executive Bill Williams are looking to the future. “Obviously, we’re all judged by results,” said Elokobi. “Let’s not run away from that.
“Every football manager is judged by how many games they win because that’s how the modern-day football era is run. “But our board here, they look at the bigger picture.
“Yes, we understand what’s been our issues this season. “There’s been lots of injuries to key players and that really does disrupt a season when you can’t have a settled squad to pick from. “It’s hard to be successful but that’s not deterred the players. They’ve given their all every single day.
“It’s important we look at how we can improve as a football club and that board has seen that in myself.
“From the outside, people might look at it and go ‘Oh, he’s inexperienced’.
“Trust me, and I say this humbly, I’m still very much learning and I’ll get better but for someone that hasn’t managed before, what I’ve come in and done with the staff and the support of the board is there for everyone to see.
“The fans have been ever so patient with us and the squad and they understand we’ll have success again.
“I’m so humbled to be the man to try and deliver that success going forward for our football club.
“I’m passionate and with that passion comes a humbleness and a willingness to learn, to listen, to acquire knowledge from the people that are experienced around myself.
“I’ve got that in terms of the board with their knowledge of the club but also the backroom staff and the playing staff. “You’re the manager but you have to listen to the players and see what their take is and then you can embed the philosophy that’s going to suit everyone. “It’s not a dictatorship, it’s very much we’re in it together so we can try and be successful.
“The passion to be successful here at Maidstone United runs through my veins. “Going into next season it’s going to take me into five years being at this football club and, believe me, I’m one of the Stones. “Regardless of what happens going forward, I hope to bring that success to this football club. “I’m working tirelessly with the staff behind the scenes and with the board to try and ensure that we bring that success back.”