Who should Hampton and Richmond appoint as their new manager?
By Joe·
Hampton and Richmond announced the exit of Alan Dowson as first-team manager on 12th October, following a run of results that saw The Beavers sitting in the National League South relegation zone.
Since then, experienced first-team coach Lennie Lawrence has been brought into the club by Director of Football Joe Monks to support interim boss
So, the question is: who should The Beavers go for as his replacement?
When looking at managerial appointments, I'll always do a basic "tick box" exercise outlining the 'must haves' for a new manager. That includes some basic criteria, such as: what budget will they likely have; what experience do they have for the level; are they more of a manager or a 'head coach'; can they work with what is already in the building; do they have local contacts, etc.
For The Beavers, I'd say that the basic criteria that I would pin point for a successful candidate would include:
Experience of the National League South (or higher)
Local contacts of the London / SE non-league scene
A young coach / manager that they can build a project under for 4-5 years
An engaging character that can help to drive 'culture'
Experience of going into a club mid-season to stabilise in the short-term
A coach that is willing to work within a DoF structure
Experience as a manager within non-league (a safe pair of hands)
A strong track record of recruiting players
Potential Candidates
I'm always an advocate for giving younger managers an opportunity to step-up to the level, so I'd look to interview an up-and-coming as a matter of principle. Of the options available, I like the job that Tim Sills has done at Wimborne Town. he has been successful at every level he's managed, both with Wimborne Town and at Hamworthy United. He consistently over-achieves relative to budget, adaptable in system, a good recruiter, a strong man-manager and shown himself adept both in achieving cup success and in coaching sides that can compete at the top end of the league they're at. He is one of the best up-and-coming coaches in the non-league scene that I am sure will end up a National League South coach in time - maybe even this year, if Torquay United continue to struggle - and he could represent a viable option for The Beavers long-term.
One manager that I like is Dennis Kutrieb. Now working on the coaching staff at Dorking Wanderers, Kutrieb earned a reputation during his time at Ebbsfleet United - and on the continent in Germany - for implementing a possession-based, attractive style of football. I may have slight concern over Kutrieb's suitability to implement his style as effectively as he has done with Ebbsfleet United with potentially lower standard of technical players than he has elsewhere; can The Beavers recruit that level of technical player within their budget? If they can, I feel he could represent a nice option. He has won promotion from the level before at United and a very detail-driven coach.
I think that Gary Horgan could be a useful option. I feel that at Chippenham Town he has got a number of financial and off-field factors that restrict progress in the past 18 months. Horgan is a good coach, and someone that prides himself on player development. I think he would thrive in a structure whereby autonomy over recruitment is perhaps out-sourced, and recruiting to his style. His side play a good brand of passing football, and is very 'on-brand'. He has an extensive track record of over-achieving in the National League South in the job he has done at Hardenhuish Park. I feel the timing is good for him to move onto a new challenge, and as a young, forward-thinking coach then I feel he could fit the bill to spearhead The Beavers' project.
I always like to throw in a 'wildcard'. If I was going slightly more left-field, I'd look at Rob Tovey at Maidstone United. He is the assistant to Craig Fagan. His roles have been limited to largely as a #2, working under Marc White at Dorking Wanderers and in his existing role with The Stones. He is a young coach, particularly impressive tactically and with a good attention to detail, and has experience of being around successful dressing rooms at the top end of the league and the level higher. Now may be a little early for him to move into a role as a #1 in his own right, but I like the cut of his jib. One to watch.
Main Choice: Simon Haughney (Hanworth Villa manager)
The standout candidate for me, and I like it for a number of reasons.
I always like to try and get managers 'on the way up', as motivation can be a huge driving factor in getting success and in driving culture change at a club. Especially at a club that has struggled in recent times, and is in need of an uplift in performances and results. Simon Haughney comes off the back of a good spell at Hanworth Villa, with whom he recently won promotion to Step Three last year. His side are sitting well-placed near the top of the Southern League.
One of the plusses that I think The Beavers would get in appointing Haughney is his appreciation for the club. He held a coaching role during the early years of his coaching career in the youth teams at Hampton and Richmond, and so is someone that can buy into their community set-up and in getting the supporters on board.
While Hanworth Villa are well-backed, I have been impressed with Haughney's ability to be adaptable, implementing a nice brand of football, and demonstrating season-on-season improvement.
In his playing days, Haughney spent time in the youth at Crystal Palace and went on to forge out a career in the non-league scene. In his role with Hanworth Villa, Haughney has developed a strong knowledge of local players and has impressed with the quality of his player recruitment.
At 45 years of age, I think that Haughney represents a suitably experienced pair of hands in terms of suitably 'cut his cloth' as a manager over multiple levels, but with sufficient room for him to be part of a project in the same way that he has done at Hanworth Villa. Indeed, I feel that the success that he has had in driving Hanworth Villa's rise up the pyramid is well-suited to providing the impetus and level of ambition to help drive The Beavers' project.
The only question mark would be over the fact that he has not managed in the National League South to date, albeit I'd caveat concerns over suitability with his track record of being adaptable in stepping up. Ultimately, I think that he is one of the most impressive young managers in the non-league picture and having gone and proven himself as a successful manager in recent years at a lower level could be well-placed to now step up to a new challenge.
Every appointment is a gamble, but I think that Haughney has enough 'ticks' against his name such that he could be worth a chance to succeed Alan Dowson.