‘WE NEED TO BUILD NOW FOR SUCCESS’
IT SAYS a lot about Keith Hill that as soon as Scunthorpe United suffered the heartbreak of relegation from the Football League last weekend he was already planning a rebuilding job.
Indeed, many wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place in November with the Iron bottom of League Two and facing the prospect of dropping out of the Football League after more than 70 years.
Sadly, the 52-year-old – who twice led Rochdale to promotion from the fourth tier - couldn’t save the Iron and their 3-0 Good Friday reverse at Leyton Orient ensured they would be lining up in the National League next term.
It hasn’t helped Hill’s cause that Scunthorpe have been under a transfer embargo this term as part of the agreement for them taking on a loan from the EFL last season as Covid decimated club finances. It impacted on his ability to freshen up his squad in January and the Iron have limped through the season, picking up just four wins pre-weekend.
Regrets? Hill isn’t one for turning the clock back and wishing he could have his time again.
“I think the biggest challenge of my career has been this season for a lot of different reasons,” he explained. “From a footballing aspect, taking over a squad of players that were already bottom of the league and not being able to turn their fortunes around.
“I knew what I was coming into, I knew it was a difficult situation. As much as some football friends advised me not to take up the position, having spoken to the previous chairman (Peter Swann), it was something that I really wanted to do.
“I do believe that we can build something at the football club and I have been enjoying the processes on the training pitch.
“I’m encouraged looking into the future with the introduction of our young players and we need a good recruitment drive over the summer. It’s the best time to do the recruitment, get a squad culture and environment set in stone so that we can have a successful season.”
Graveyard
Not that Hill is expecting an easy ride when the next National League campaign gets underway. Football’s fifth tier has been a graveyard for former Football League clubs down the years and getting out of it has been a task too great for many.
It doesn’t help that there are only two promotion places on offer, half the number than in the EFL’s lowest tier.
“It’s very tough,” said Hill, who has also managed Barnsley, Bolton and Tranmere.
“Every league that you play in within English football is tough. We’re not under any illusions that it’s going to be easy, we’ve got to make sure we make it easier for us to compete by recruiting, retaining and being well prepared.
“Look at the likes of Wrexham, for example. They’ve been in the National for the last 14 years, they have struggled to adapt and be successful, but this season they’re having a real go because of the financial input they’ve received.
“It’s the same with Stockport to a certain degree, but it doesn’t necessarily always mean you’ll have success.
“It’s going to be difficult for us to compete with teams like that from a financial perspective, but my previous experiences, where I’ve been really successful, is where we’ve overachieved with respect to the finances we have been able to spend.
Competitive
“I’m expecting us to go in there, be competitive and overachieve.”
If the transfer embargo gets lifted this summer, it will be a massive help.
“We do need that freedom,” explained Hill. “It’s been very difficult, more difficult than I would have expected.
“The embargo has certainly limited us, and it limited us in January in terms of necessary recruitments we couldn’t achieve. It’s been a sad season, a very difficult season but hopefully we can come out of it and give ourselves a great opportunity to be successful in the National League next season.
“I’m 100 per committed and what’s really important now is that we plan for success.
“The build over the summer has got to be nigh on perfect, but I have no reservations about taking on the challenge or continuing.
“The biggest challenge that I’ve had has been this season, trying to play out the rest of
We certainly want the to club be united. got We’ve to have an overachieving mantra next season
Keith Hill
this season being competitive, trying to create a change in culture as we go into next season. It’s not going to be easy but I’m very optimistic of future successes.”
Frustrated
Another factor that could be crucial is having a United that are united on and off the pitch. Frustrated fans lost patience with owner Peter Swann as the club’s downward spiral continued and the 56-year-old, who had taken over in 2013, stepped down as chairman at the end of March.
“The ownership situation doesn’t really concern me on my football planning,” said Hill. “It might if there is a change of ownership, it might change the dynamics if there’s a different opinion of the way the game should be played, a different opinion as to whether I should be the manager, recruitment etc, but currently I’m set on a plan of making sure that we work on a homegrown philosophy that supporters buy into.
“We are going through the process of introducing a lot of young players into the first team environment – we want to build a youthful, energetic, intelligent squad. We want that little bit of continuity
going into next season.
“We certainly want the club to be united, we want the supporters to get behind the new identity, the team, the football club. It’s their football club and I aim to give them the team they want to represent their values and the way they want the game to be played.
“It’s going to be in the National League and we need the supporters to encourage the playing team, support the new identity, buy into it. If we get the supporters to do that, we will get success. We’ve got to have an overachieving mantra next season.”