Matlock Town bide their time in hunt for next manager
Matlock Town chairman David Hilton says he has to find the ideal next manager for the club from the dozens of applications for the post.
The Gladiators have been playing without an established boss since parting company with Ricky Ravenhill last month.
Around 70 names have put themselves forward, some good and some not so good.
"We have had many applicants and plenty of CVs,” said Hilton, speaking after Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Silsden in the NPL East Division.
"As you can appreciate, some of them are probably fans of opposing clubs who have lots of experience on Football Manager and actually put that on their CV. In different circumstances it might be funny but not at this moment in time.
"I have not seen any CVs come in that fit. It’s not a case of bringing in a name or someone who has purely had success at the level.
"There’s no stand-outs at the minute and that’s not me being disrespectful to the managers that have applied, some very good ones have done so. They have got to be able to deal with our current group of players and play a style that suits them otherwise you need a complete squad overhaul and at this stage that will take us backwards.”
Matlock have a stated aim of promotion this season and the investment has gone in to try and achieve it.
They are third in the table after seven games but Hilton was not happy with what he saw in the draw with Silsden despite the absence of key players like Joe Senior, Tom Cummins and others due to injury.
Twice trailing, Town levelled through Zak Goodson and then Conor Washington in the 86th minute to take a point.
He wants to see a better return on the investment.
"It was disappointing. We were miles off it, if I’m honest,” he said. "Every time we seem to have taken a step forward we take two backwards.
"No disrespect, Silsden are one of the teams that might struggle at the bottom and they matched us and at times they were better than us.
"It stems from workrate. The lads have to earn the right to play.
“We don’t have this playing budget for the sake of having this playing budget. It’s a tough league, teams are well organised and if you’re not at it you get beaten, it’s as simple as that.”
Matlock host Nuneaton Borough in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy on Saturday (3pm) before returning to league action away to North Ferriby on Tuesday.
Added Hilton: "While we have not employed another manager yet, we have to work with what we’ve got and make this better otherwise we are going to be in for a long hard season rather than competing for play-offs and titles."