IT’S A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE!
WHEN I was a player, I didn’t worry who I was up against. It could have been Steven Gerrard or an opponent in the Conference, I always thought, ‘If I play well, the team will play well’. We’ve got to a point now at Flint Town United where everybody knows their roles, the subs understand they’re going to come on and contribute. It’s a really positive place at the minute that almost looks after itself.
If I didn’t go to match and I put one of the players in charge and they would know how we must play. We’ve got a philosophy and culture in place where the lads understand exactly how we train and the style of play we demand. We’re dominating possession and, at home, making the most of our 3G surface. We’re in a three-way race for the JD Cymru North title. Ahead of this weekend we were separated by just four points with Airbus UK Broughton sitting top, Holywell Town second, and us in third.
It shows the importance of time and patience. My first season saw us go from a standing start. We’d had two budget cuts and the bulk of the squad were signed two weeks before the season. I had to recruit players who were free and try to fit them into the system.
But last January we were able to pinpoint the exact players we wanted to sign in the summer.
It’s a results-driven business. No manager would be deluded enough to think it isn’t. But, for me, I want to do things holistically. My belief is that by doing the right things over a period of time, the results will come.
The lads have the freedom to really go and express themselves and it’s paying dividends. Elliott Reeves, who won the title and scored 40 goals for me at Ilkeston Town, has now got 23 this season.
Learning curve
Joshua Jones, who is 22, has scored 17 times. We’ve got some good kids. We’ve had three 16-year-olds make their debuts this season. So, as well as the style changing, we’re also given youngsters a chance. We’ve got experience around them, like Paddy Lacey, Danny Harrison – who played for Rotherham and Tranmere, and Jay Owen, who was at Barrow. Then Jean Louis Akpa-Akro is still knocking in goals at the age of 38! I had him at Radcliffe and I will always stay loyal to lads who have done well for me. I’m really happy with the culture we’ve built. The lads love the fans, the fans love the players, the product is really good and we’re winning games of football. I’m really enjoying it. I’m just over five years into my managerial career and it’s been a real learning curve. Like anything, at the beginning you make mistakes.
As you go along, you really analyse yourself. I’ve been captain at most clubs I’ve been at so I enjoy building the right culture. You’ve got to trust players to do their jobs and allow them to be free.
Stability
You could say the same for players in the English Non-League system up to National League North – they’re not earning enough money to be held back by giving them too much instruction.
Over time I feel I’ve got the balance right. We give them enough detail to perform to their best. I can’t be a PlayStation manager.
At first I was – trying to control every part of how we played but it doesn’t work. It’s got to happen naturally. Now, giving players more freedom they feel part of the decision making. So we prepare for a game, explain how we think it will go, but know that things change quickly and the players have the freedom to adapt. It’s the old saying: Everyone’s got a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
As long as the principles remain – pressing or whatever it may be – they can make decisions based on what they can see on the pitch. At Ilkeston, we got over the finish line to win the Midland League by grinding, pushing and prodding.
It was fantastic and by the time I left, it was with a 78 per cent win ratio. Here at Flint, it’s at 84 per cent. With stability, like I’ve got here, I am confident in my ability. I’ve still got a lot to learn of course.
I really care about my players. When you show that you do, they will run through brick walls for you. Dean Saunders was similar for my career, when I was at Doncaster and Wrexham. He was incredible from a man-management point of view.
When you add in the detail from your coaching badges and experience, you can be in for a really good time.
As long as you’re honest and transparent with the players, board and fans, you can achieve special things.