‘We will need to over achieve’
KEITH HILL says relegated Scunthorpe United will need an “overachieving mantra” if they are to conquer the National League next season and regain their proud EFL status at the first time of asking.
The 52-year-old insists he is already planning a rebuilding job at Glanford Park after Good Friday’s
3-0 reverse at Leyton Orient ensured the Iron dropped out of the Football League after more than 70 years.
Hill, who twice led Rochdale to promotion to League One, took over the United hotseat from the axed Neil Cox in November 2021 with the club under a transfer embargo as part of an agreement for them taking on a loan from the EFL last season as Covid decimated club finances.
Sadly, it proved one obstacle too many and now Hill is tasked with turning around fortunes at the North Lincolnshire club from the fifth tier for the first time in their history.
The National League has long been a graveyard for former Football League clubs down the years and Hill is experienced enough to know not to expect an easy ride.
“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.
Difficult
“Look at the likes of Wrexham, for example. They’ve been in the National League 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.
“I’m expecting us to go in there, be competitive and overachieve. We’ve got to have an overachieving mantra next season.”
In order for that to happen, Hill knows it’s imperative the transfer embargo is lifted this summer, but one thing is for sure, he is fully committed to the cause.
“We do need that freedom,” he explained. “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 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.”