ROBINS CHIEF SCALES BACK A BOSS SEARCH
CANDIDATES shortlisted for the vacant manager’s position at Evesham United ‘all have Southern League experience’ – but the process has now been put on hold.
The BetVictor Southern League Division One South outfit parted company with summer appointment Carl Abbott earlier this month, placing in temporary charge head of youth Neil Hunt.
Chairman Jim Cockerton confirmed applicants had been whittled down to those offered interviews which had been due to take place over the past week only for restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic to halt progress.
“We have cancelled them in view of the situation, they will be arranged for a later date,” said Cockerton.
“We do have a shortlist. There have been loads of applicants from all over the country, some with vast experience, some with little experience.
Youthfulness
“The people on the shortlist for the position all have Southern League experience.”
Abbott arrived from Quorn with only a short stint at Step 4 with Market Drayton Town on his CV.
He left two days after what turned out to be the final fixture before the coronavirus crisis took hold with the Robins ninth, six points off the play-offs having played more games than all bar two of their rivals in the top half.
Asked whether experience had been a priority when selecting those for interview this time, Cockerton was keen to push for the best of both worlds.
“You need the most experienced people for the job but they need to have youthfulness on their side, up-and-coming managers are what you tend to look for,” he added.
“We are quite happy with the applicants we have received.”
Hunt managed Stourport Swifts in the Southern League and has been on the first-team staff at Evesham before but Cockerton said the club had “not received a written application from Neil as things stand”.
Captain Dan Bragoli, Brian Smikle, Matt Dodd and Paul Sullivan were named as departures within a week of Abbott’s exit and Smikle planned to follow his former gaffer to Midland Football League strugglers Gresley before the blanket ban hit.
Jump ship
Evesham responded by recalling registered youngsters and signing up-and-coming talent from Cheltenham Town but Cockerton was quick to scotch suggestions of any cutbacks alongside a withering assessment of how
quickly players jump ship. “It just shows what a lot of players think of the club they’re playing for,” he said.
“Unfortunately, there is an awful lot – not all by any means – who just play for as much money as they can get.
“That has gone on for the 27 years I have been at the club, years ago they would swap clubs for a fiver and that’s the way of the world.
“There has been no budget cut whatsoever, we are not in the habit of cutting budgets at Evesham United.
“We set it and that is the budget for the year. There were no financial reasons behind any player going, or Carl.”