Following Clint Gooding’s surprise decision to step down as manager of Hollands & Blair, the new man needs no introduction to the Star Meadow fans as it’s a former player, coach and indeed manager taking over…
Darren Blackburn returns to Star Meadow for a second time as manager following stints at Sittingbourne, Hythe Town and Sheppey United and will take charge of Blair for the first game in his second spell on Saturday when they travel to Larkfield & New Hythe in the DFDS Kent Senior Trophy.
Speaking to KSN after his appointment, Blackburn told us, “Hollands & Blair are very important to me; I played there for numerous years – ten to twelve years in total I think – there as a player, coach, manager before and had a great time.”
“There are still some fantastic people at the Club who I know really well and have a lot of time and respect for. So, when they pick up the phone, I am always going to listen and see if I can help out and that’s how it happened this time.”
“Clint has had to step down because of personal reasons which is a real shame for him as he is a good friend of mine,” Blackburn continued.
“I am devastated for him as I know how much he wanted to get a job back in football and how long he has been trying. He is someone that I had already spoken to if I was to go back into a managerial position, if he would come and assist me – I’d had discussions with a couple of Step Four clubs previously – Clint would have been top of the list to invite to sit alongside me.”
“I am gutted for him, but wish him well and thank him for what he did for the Club in the short time he was there and for the full and comprehensive hand-over he has given me since Saturday.”
It was after Blair’s 1-0 SCEFL defeat ironically at Larkfield on Saturday that Gooding stepped down and told the players – Blackburn explained what happened; “I went down and watched the last fifteen minutes of the game because the way that Clint and I had worked the handover was that he would take the game so that there was no distraction.”
“I was not even going to be at the ground to start with as the plan was for Clint to take the game and for me to be there for the end so that he could say his thank yous and goodbyes in the dressing room after the game and then for me to do my bit which is what happened.”
“I saw some of the game and we will be back there Saturday in the Cup before a home game with Erith & Belvedere on Tuesday night.”
“I did a lot of work with Sheppey in the summer helping Ernie (Batten) out with some recruitment and a bit of coaching, but that didn’t go the way that we both hoped it might – we gave it a go, and the role that was required there wasn’t really ticking enough boxes for me, and more importantly I felt that it might be confusing for the players.”
“Stepping aside from there, I thought that I would have a bit of a break from there this season and look to do something again next season.”
“The staff will remain in place – there’s a great group there already! Steve Whitton will stay on as my number two – know him really well and was with me at Sittingbourne.”
“The Club’s just got a new physio, and then there’s a couple more behind the scenes who will help out on matchdays with training stuff. It’s all in place and there are also some great people around the Club to call upon if needed!”
On the pitch Blackburn inherits a side who are next to bottom of the Premier Division and he admitted that, “There have been some great intentions at the Club the last couple of years – Blair has always been built around its’ DNA and the DNA was always never about money; when I played and we had great success winning titles and things with a great group of lads who we still keep in touch with and are still connected to the Club with their children playing or they are on the board.”
“That is the Club’s DNA and that’s what I am all about – I have enjoyed working with bigger budgets, doing recruitment with Sheppey in the summer, but this is a different role, this is a tough job!”
“We are in a tough League position currently with the funding not what it was last season and that is the simple fact. The money isn’t there and so we will just have to be clever there, do a bit of wheeling and dealing, pull a few favours in from people who I have got to know over the past few years; hopefully I have done things for people and maybe, hopefully I will get some favours in return.”