JIM’S LIVING THE DREAM!
WITH the book now closed on his magical journey at Peter- borough Sports, Jimmy Dean is ready to take on the job of a lifetime at Scunthorpe United.
The 40-year-old began work as Iron boss this week as he looks to pull off the great escape and rescue the former Championship side from National League relegation.
With having just five wins to their name ahead of the weekend’s action, Dean has one hell of a challenge ahead of him at Glanford Park, but he can’t wait to get started.
“This week’s been pretty surreal, being at a club the size of Scunthorpe is my biggest honour in the game by a long way,” the former Peterborough Northern Star and Corby Town boss told The NLP. “When I was managing down in Step 6, I couldn’t dream of this. It’s slowly sinking in now and every inch of my concentration is on these 17 games we have left.
“I was at the home game against Bromley last weekend and the atmosphere was amazing. I feel for the fans because they are true football people and have had to endure so much over the past few years.”
Dean’s arrival at Glanford
Park came just days after David Hilton finally completed his takeover of the Lincolnshire club, ending months of turmoil and off-field instability.
A transfer embargo, which has dogged the Iron all season, was swiftly lifted, and a raft of new recruits have already come through the door.
Persuaded
Winger Dion Sembie-Ferris has followed Dean from Peterborough Sports, joining former Wrexham and FC Halifax target man Gerry McDonagh and 31-year-old front man Sean Shields, who arrives from Barnet.
Loan arrivals include midfielders Billy Fewster and Harvey Bunker and left-back Jake Leake from Nottingham Forest, Forest Green Rovers and Hull City respectively.
Dean has also persuaded popular former interim boss Michael Nelson to stay on as head coach – a move he believes will be the most beneficial of all.
“From the second I met Michael I knew he was one of the game’s good guys and someone I could instantly trust,” he added. “He knows the club and has built a relationship with the supporters, so he’s central to what I want to do here.
Passion
“It’s amazing to come into a situation where David has just saved the club and there is a real sense of enthusiasm and passion stretching from the dressing room all the way to the fans. I know the players will be able to give that extra 20-30% because of the renewed atmosphere around the place.”
Dean leaves Lincoln Road as the Turbines’ most successful ever manager in a remarkable seven-year spell in charge.
He led Sports to four promotions, from Step 6 to Step 2, leaving the club in a comfortable mid-table position in National League North despite having to battle against a transfer embargo for much of the current campaign.
“I don’t think any team has ever really achieved what we did, without having a lot of financial backing,” he said.
“When I first arrived in 2015, they were at a level where most people just play for fun but that’s not in my nature. I’m competitive with absolutely everything and I was desperate for three points in every game.
“We went straight up in that first year and arguably overachieved every season after, it was such a committed group who all wanted to push in the same direction.
“It’s been pretty moving reading the well wishes from people connected to Peterborough Sports, the club played a big part in my life and gave me the opportunity to move on and fulfil my dreams in management.
“I was inundated with messages on Twitter this week – I’ve had to turn all my social media off! All I want to focus on is Scunthorpe United.
“Every day I drive to work as the proudest man around, getting the chance to represent the people of Scunthorpe is such a privilege and I really want to repay the faith they have put in me.”