DARYL’S DOUBLING DOWN!
McMahon is primed to lead Urchins
DARYL McMahon says watching Hornchurch in the flesh over a number of games made him leap at the chance to be their manager.
The former Ebbsfleet United, Macclesfield Town and Dagenham & Redbridge boss has turned down opportunities in the National League this season feeling they weren’t right for him or his family.
But the 40-year-old returned to the dug-out this week at the Isthmian Premier leading Urchins, who saw manager Steve Morison depart for League Two Sutton United last month.
McMahon spoke to his predecessor – and former Stevenage team-mate – ahead of taking role at the club who entered the weekend nine points clear at the top of the table.
But it was also conversations with owner Alex Sharp and vice-chairman Colin McBride, as well as watching their away games at Carshalton, Billericay and Enfield Town that gave him the confidence to take a Step 3 job.
“I was really impressed by the team and by the spirit in the group – it just stands out a mile,” McMahon told The
NLP.
“Their will to win, their togetherness, aligned with the quality they’ve got as well.
“There are six or seven players out injured who are all very good players too. But the players who are playing are playing outstandingly well. It looks a really strong squad and a club that wants to go places.
“For me, if you want to get your teeth into anything it’s something that is ambitious.
“Being 40 years old, although I am nearly 350 games deep as a manager, I still feel like I am a young manager and I would always rather be part of something that is building and growing to be successful than maybe taking a job in the National League you possibly can’t be successful at.
“I feel this really gives me something to get my teeth into. It’s a really good group and it’s a club that wants to go somewhere.”
McMahon is joined by trusted assistant Steve Gritt and interim player-manager Lewwis Spence will remain part of the management team, along with coach Jamie Southon and goalie coach Kyri Neocleous.
While McMahon sees the bigger picture of where the club wants to get to and is confident he can add value to those ambitions, he also knows the present situation is key as they look to continue their charge from the front.
Juggernaut
“If you look at my experience of managing clubs before, I feel I have always made a team better and the team has been in a better place when I left than when I took over,” McMahon said. “That will be the challenge here. They are in a fantastic position now, obviously.
“But, like we all know in football, the ball bounces – nothing is ever guaranteed. You have to make sure you don’t think too much about tomorrow and focus on today. That’s a mantra we will definitely be following for the rest of the season.
“The club has obviously, in the last two years, been close to going up but hasn’t quite managed to do it.
“The full focus for me and Gritty going there, and the group who has been outstanding this season, is to try and continue that form. Then we will deal with what we’ve got to deal with later on. First and foremost, we’ve got to deal with today.”
McMahon met the players at Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Folkestone and wants to keep the juggernaut rolling.
“I am going into a team that is doing well, has got a good squad and is in a good position,” he added. “It’s about maintaining the standards, maintaining the levels – driving the team on still to make sure it is hitting performances levels. It’s important the players demand that from themselves too and they are.”