I have now been in post for just over a month and am thoroughly enjoying my job with Hastings United FC both in the Academy and of course with the First Team and Development Squad. There is a great air of positivity around the Club which I have always thought was up their as among the biggest non league Clubs in Sussex and I certainly have had my opinion confirmed during my short period with the Club to date.
After I was approached by the Club we sat down and chatted. The Club made it clear it had spent considerable sums in the last two seasons in trying to gain promotion but to no avail. During that period it had formed a football Academy, through its valued coaching partner Skiltek and Sussex Coast College, with the intention of producing young players with First Team potential and if good enough the opportunity to have a professional football career in the future. The Club advised that in view of the fact the Academies quality in terms of players had come to fruition quicker than anticipated it wished to somewhat change its direction whereby not so many First Team players would be imported from away in order not to stunt the development of its youngsters, some of whom the Academy projected would be ready for first team action in 2017/18 and the Club will be making sure such players are tied in for the future. I found the Club's views on the direction it wanted to go both interesting and refreshing and something I wanted to be part of. The Club further advised it wished to see an increase in its activity and interaction with the local community and to start this off you may have noted we have arranged a Community Day on Hastings seafront on Saturday 15th July.
The academy players and some of the first team squad along with several trialists have been back in training for a few weeks. The full first team squad as it currently stands returned to training last Saturday morning. I am taking a close look at all the club's contract, non contract and those academy players who it is felt will be ready for first team action this coming season. I am determined the squad will start the season sharp and fully fit and that during the season the squad will train each week a minimum of twice when matches allow. As I have said previously on the website I will not sign any players I have not match vetted myself. I have some interesting trialists in I am running the rule over such as Billy Medlock who trained with the squad last Saturday and I continue to look to bolster the squad between now and the start of the season. Having said that anyone I bring in must be the right type as far as I am concerned for both the dressing room and in terms of their playing ability.
The HQ we have as our training base at the refurbished Hastings United Sports & Social Club is excellent with Sky and BT Sport viewing availability an added bonus. We will also be using it as our base on match days and we hope to be able to mingle with the Club's supporters at our base after matches. The base has everything we need including a gym which we will use for fitness training and for the rehab of any injured players we accrue. Our outside training work is done at Hastings Academy on their grass and 3G pitches and pre-season we are using the Firs grassed area which of course is ideal being adjacent to our training base. During the season we will at times also use the Pilot Field pitch for training when weather conditions allow.
The Club are being fully supportive to myself, Chris Agutter my Assistant and Lee Carey my Coach and although the Club has somewhat changed its direction I still have a very healthy playing budget to work with. I will not however be held to ransom on deals by anyone including players from say outside the area who think they will come to Hastings for a good deal, a 'jolly up' and no hard work. Those times, which I believe may have existed in the past, are gone and are just that in the past!
The Club is looking to amend its football working structure and this is just being finalised and is likely to be announced shortly. The structure has been designed to compliment with the direction the Club requires.
I have now been in post for just over a month and am thoroughly enjoying my job with Hastings United FC both in the Academy and of course with the First Team and Development Squad. There is a great air of positivity around the Club which I have always thought was up their as among the biggest non league Clubs in Sussex and I certainly have had my opinion confirmed during my short period with the Club to date.
After I was approached by the Club we sat down and chatted. The Club made it clear it had spent considerable sums in the last two seasons in trying to gain promotion but to no avail. During that period it had formed a football Academy, through its valued coaching partner Skiltek and Sussex Coast College, with the intention of producing young players with First Team potential and if good enough the opportunity to have a professional football career in the future. The Club advised that in view of the fact the Academies quality in terms of players had come to fruition quicker than anticipated it wished to somewhat change its direction whereby not so many First Team players would be imported from away in order not to stunt the development of its youngsters, some of whom the Academy projected would be ready for first team action in 2017/18 and the Club will be making sure such players are tied in for the future. I found the Club's views on the direction it wanted to go both interesting and refreshing and something I wanted to be part of. The Club further advised it wished to see an increase in its activity and interaction with the local community and to start this off you may have noted we have arranged a Community Day on Hastings seafront on Saturday 15th July.
The academy players and some of the first team squad along with several trialists have been back in training for a few weeks. The full first team squad as it currently stands returned to training last Saturday morning. I am taking a close look at all the club's contract, non contract and those academy players who it is felt will be ready for first team action this coming season. I am determined the squad will start the season sharp and fully fit and that during the season the squad will train each week a minimum of twice when matches allow. As I have said previously on the website I will not sign any players I have not match vetted myself. I have some interesting trialists in I am running the rule over such as Billy Medlock who trained with the squad last Saturday and I continue to look to bolster the squad between now and the start of the season. Having said that anyone I bring in must be the right type as far as I am concerned for both the dressing room and in terms of their playing ability.
The HQ we have as our training base at the refurbished Hastings United Sports & Social Club is excellent with Sky and BT Sport viewing availability an added bonus. We will also be using it as our base on match days and we hope to be able to mingle with the Club's supporters at our base after matches. The base has everything we need including a gym which we will use for fitness training and for the rehab of any injured players we accrue. Our outside training work is done at Hastings Academy on their grass and 3G pitches and pre-season we are using the Firs grassed area which of course is ideal being adjacent to our training base. During the season we will at times also use the Pilot Field pitch for training when weather conditions allow.
The Club are being fully supportive to myself, Chris Agutter my Assistant and Lee Carey my Coach and although the Club has somewhat changed its direction I still have a very healthy playing budget to work with. I will not however be held to ransom on deals by anyone including players from say outside the area who think they will come to Hastings for a good deal, a 'jolly up' and no hard work. Those times, which I believe may have existed in the past, are gone and are just that in the past!
The Club is looking to amend its football working structure and this is just being finalised and is likely to be announced shortly. The structure has been designed to compliment with the direction the Club requires.
Here's to an enjoyable season for all.
Adam Hinshelwood
Good informative write up from the manager and you cannot disagree with any of what he says. It is clear we are going to rely heavily on the academy this year. Whether these guys are good enough is another question but good luck to them and lets see. Would I rather have a young born and bred local lad from the academy or a Danny Ellis over a loanee or a Hughes-Mason type player who turns up one in five?? yes I would all day long.
Interesting to read Medlock is back training. One of the best players I have seen at the Pilot Field for many a year and if he can just settle down at one club for longer than a few months then the prospect of him and Frannie up top is incredibly exciting. Can you imagine a midfield of Bodkin, Johnson, Dixon and Stannard/Cole, with those two up top.......I can. We have Pelling and Rowe, add in a couple of new defenders plus the best of the academy in Akoto and Rowe and you know what, we are probably are not a million miles away. Still think the Stannard news is massive and would be a huge boost to the fans in particular. Feel much happier this morning and good luck to Adam.
Knowing how we've struggled with full backs of all types, experience and age over the last few seasons letting Tom Climpson, Ollie Black ( and his ridiculous long throw ) & John Akoto have a real chance of establishing themselves in those positions would probably be a good bet.
Good informative write up from the manager and you cannot disagree with any of what he says. It is clear we are going to rely heavily on the academy this year. Whether these guys are good enough is another question but good luck to them and lets see. Would I rather have a young born and bred local lad from the academy or a Danny Ellis over a loanee or a Hughes-Mason type player who turns up one in five?? yes I would all day long.
Interesting to read Medlock is back training. One of the best players I have seen at the Pilot Field for many a year and if he can just settle down at one club for longer than a few months then the prospect of him and Frannie up top is incredibly exciting. Can you imagine a midfield of Bodkin, Johnson, Dixon and Stannard/Cole, with those two up top.......I can. We have Pelling and Rowe, add in a couple of new defenders plus the best of the academy in Akoto and Rowe and you know what, we are probably are not a million miles away. Still think the Stannard news is massive and would be a huge boost to the fans in particular. Feel much happier this morning and good luck to Adam.
Would you not have crutts in your starting midfield or you thinking of him in the defence? Would love see billy back
Bloody hell Steve, I forgot about poor old Crutts! He could quite possibly be our best and most important player next season. Its the old argument with him again and indeed Sam Cole, midfield or defence. Crutts always gave us some much needed creativity in midfield but we now have Dixon to provide that. I know he dislikes left back but for me he is the best in the league. His battle with Matt Briggs in the play off semi at Dorking was as good a battle and performance you will ever see.
Crutts settled in nicely in a position he is said not to like and did a fine job. Options at r/b with Tom Climpson and John Akoto and presumably Richard Davies will be back in action. Which leaves a centre half to partner Ollie. I couldn't care less how many clubs Medlock's been with - we all know what he provided up front in 15-16. He's good enough so let's hope he's back.
What a powerful and refreshing statement it confirms what a lot of us have said about players and money. Good luck Adam let's hope you make it work
Yes, I too thought it a welcome statement, since it makes it clear that what some of us had surmised as a change of policy is indeed intentional. The good news is that matters have been thought out by both the club and by Adam; and certainly, we have had major problems in the past with 'turn up and pocket the cash' players who under achieve, drain scarce cash, block players coming through from Academy level and contribute to a loss of morale when the going gets tough.
That said, I have grave doubts - even taking on board what John and others have said above - that we will be competitive for promotion this coming season without several more signings of experienced players. Of course if Billy Medlock does return that will be welcome; Crutts is indeed a potentialy great player for the Club; and yes, I see Ollie Black as not needing much more to be a worthy first team regular.
But that will not in my view be enough. This league is profoundly difficult to get out of as all of us know only too well. There will be - as there always are - two or three sides who will be totally set up from game one. Given that, no side can take a quarter of a season to 'settle in' and hope to get any more than to scrape a play-off place.
If we are patient, if Adam and the club really do mean his stay will be a three year minimum; then all might come right if not this year then maybe the next or the one after that. That will require some careful management of expectations and a regular explanation of decisions to us, the (more or less) faithfull. Good luck indeed to you Adam!
Very valid point, Geoff. It is asking a lot of a new boss to get everything into place in his first season. But with three going up this season we have to hope we can get it right. Promotion is a tough call at any level. There is always the unexpected contender plus those you expect to be in there.
Interesting to see if Adam thinks Billy Medlock is the right sort of player for a new look Hastings United. Not sure many would agree with this but I would be delighted to see more local promising players in the first team even if it costs us promotion this season. Has to be the way forward.
If correct that is absolutely fantastic news. Massive Billy fan 👍
Sorry Tim my old friend, could not disagree more with your comment. Great to see some youngsters come through but never at the expense of promotion. Cannot believe Adam, the directors or any Hastings supporter would support that particularly with a new stadium on the horizon. There may be some lowering of expectations by certain people but I have no doubt the promotion is the main priority again this season and so it should be with the quality of player we have.
Tim surely you must realise you won't build a team for the future by using youngsters. So promotion is essential. If you have good youngsters and we don't go up, then they will move on to a higher level.
As exciting as this news may be I do assume Collin and Bodkin are staying? Do we know 100%? Been looking at the many photos of what Adam calls the "first full day back trainning for the first team squad as it stands". Both players appeared to be missing and Fran was back from holidays a few weeks back. Don't want to sound negative but not heard about either player for a while now. Let's just hope they were camera shy.
Yes Ollie, this very unfortunate story is gathering pace. Heard from a customer of mine today who plays Ryman football that it has been known for a while that Collin, Bodkin and Stannard won't be returning although not sure it's all to do with training. I do hope not true and just rumours or that the issues can be sorted but why else would they not be at training on Saturday. Absolute disaster for the club and suddenly the squad looks desperately thin.
Only at Hastings can you go from ecstasy to despair in less than 24 hours. Make that a manager and 11 players gone from the play off squad that very nearly got us promoted. Let's now hope that the manager gets 'vetting' as he call it pretty quick.
-- Edited by johnw on Thursday 6th of July 2017 08:18:27 AM
I suppose Billy Medlock has been brought in to replace Frannie Collin who it seems wont be returning, especially if Jack Harris returns fully fit as well.
Where do Collin & Bodkin live? do they live so far away that they cant get to training sessions or is there other factors involved like money, or perhaps they don't fit in to Adams plans for the future?
Surely any new team that they sign for they would have to turn up for training!
Who was it that said "you won't win anything with kids" and has been eating his words ever since. We have had mercenaries at the club for years and still haven't got promoted. I think Adam and the board's approach is refreshing and positive and we alll need to get behind them and give our full support.
Cannot believe for one minute that a 30+ goal per season striker and possibly the biggest provider of assists last season would not be in a new managers plans. Think it may be just a little bit more than just training if rumours are correct and let's remember they are only rumours. Either way these guys are supposedly on 2 year contract (not Harry) so assume that they are still ours until someone comes in with some money.
We have always had a massive issue at Hastings for years now with regards to training, with signings and loan players from far away unable to attend and something Adam has already said he wants to put right. It was well documented last year that at one training session, towards the business end of the season, Darren and just one player turned up. This cannot be right and can never ever happen again.
Agree Steve but helps just a little when you have the likes of Scholes, Beckham and Neville. Not sure you can compare the two but see where your coming from. Just think after the excitement of last season and some of the scintillating performances Darren's teams put in, we just may need to lower our expectations for this coming season.
Jack mcclean will be a big bonus if he signs on n is fit thought was brilliant when played for us n a fit jack Harris will bag us a lot of goals n be vital
I still believe if Adam gets a team that plays for each other and care about results and not just money we will be in better shape. It's not about having the 11 best players, it's about being a team and playing for each other. Not worried about Bodkin and Stannard both had too many bad games. But Frannies goals could be a miss for us.
-- Edited by ChrisB on Thursday 6th of July 2017 10:12:30 AM
The ideal for the club would be to win the league with East Sussex players: I'm not at all sure that's achievable, but there's a point at which a club of this size cannot be paying big wages and big expenses to far-flung players who are only half on board with "the project". I agree with Steve Thorpe (I usually do to be fair!) that the club board both care deeply and are working in a good direction and that we should be on their side. If Frannie & the rest can't manage the travelling or whatever then that's sad because we all enjoyed our 100+ goal season, but this club should be pumping out good young players from the academy, giving them games and giving the community a lift. And promotion by Easter, of course! No pressure Adam, lol.
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That bloke over there. "Bulverhythian" at https://twitter.com/Colin_Davey
still a lot of ifs,if frannie and matt want to stay if mcclean and harris are near to comeback,if they are who would you start with proven playersfrom last season or players on the comeback from injurythen you have the situation of being able to keep every one happy headache for a manager.or maybe that makes for a good squad,thoughts.
Jack McLean has said on twitter he's not been involved with us and prob signing for Eastbourne Town. Hope he recovers properly from his injury and appears for us again fully fit at some point.
Not sure its practical for part time players with a full time job to travel for an hour plus for training- especially if they have a family. Frannie Collin, if not returning, would be a big loss. A team player as well as a goal scorer.
Presumably if Collin & Bodkin are on contract to us for another year any new club would have to put in a 7 day letter to Hastings and sort out a New deal or doesn't this apply in these circumstances?
Not necessarily if you have a couple of players that don't want to play in your team, you don't want them around. So why pay them, at our level most players will leave by mutual consent. But technically we can demand a fee.
