HEATH FANCIES BERKO BATTLE
New boss is up for Step 3 challenge
NEW boss Steve Heath reckons he is facing his ‘biggest challenge’ as he prepares to lead Berkhamsted into battle against some big-hitters in Southern Premier Central.
The 52-year-old brought the curtain down on a decade with AFC Dunstable at the end of the season and was in no great rush to return to the dugout.
The chance to take over at Berkhamsted certainly wasn’t on his radar. The club, founded in 2009, romped to the Southern Division One Central title as part of a league and cup double.
However, the boss who led the Comrades to glory, Chris Devane, resigned last weekend, with the club stating that it was ‘due to budgetary constraints’. The Hertfordshire club then moved swiftly to appoint Heath as their new manager.
He told The NLP:
“Chris had his reasons why he didn’t want to stay and I got a call from Steve (Davis, chairman). It all happened quite quickly, it was a bit unexpected, but it’s very local to me and I know a lot of the people there.
“It became apparent it would be a big challenge, probably my biggest challenge, but that’s what excited me. I’ve taken over clubs before when they haven’t been doing too well and the only way was up, but this is a bit different. I’m taking over a team who have won the league and expectation levels are high, but it is quite a big jump from Step 4 to 3.”
Indeed, the fact that Berko are set to go toe-to-toe with three clubs relegated from National League North – AFC Telford United, Kettering Town and Leamington – gives a glimpse of what they are about to come up against at the higher level.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Heath. “There are some big clubs and budgets in the league, and there will be some big crowds. We know the challenge is going to be to make ourselves competitive in that league and we have to have belief we can do that.
Hunger
“We know it’s going to be tough and we have to adjust quite quickly to the level.”
Heath is set for a busy few weeks as he builds a squad for the Southern League’s top tier.
“Unfortunately, the team from last season won’t be staying together for a lot of different reasons, but we are trying to retain some of the players – we are working really hard to do that,” he said.
“We have a few boys that don’t want to do Step 3. That’s because of their circumstances with family commitments and the travelling.
“I’m probably two or three weeks behind other clubs in terms of recruitment, so it’s going to be an interesting few weeks ahead.”
Heath played for the club’s predecessors Berkhamsted Town, while he also had spells in charge of Kings Langley and Leverstock Green before taking the reins at AFC Dunstable.
“We were always very competitive but I knew I needed a break or a fresh challenge after ten years,” said Heath, who works as a plumber and has a property development business. “I loved my time at AFC, it was over 400 games. I’ve got some great memories.
“I don’t think there would have been many clubs that would have tempted me back right now, but once Berko made the call I felt it was a challenge I couldn’t turn down. I’ve got the hunger for it.”