Warren Feeney’s first home game as manager of Welling United ended with them claiming an important victory over Chelmsford City.
After the game he said “I’m delighted for everyone at the club, the players, the staff, the fans because people don’t realise how difficult it is whenever you’re down there. At this stage of the season it’s not about performances, it’s about results. It’s probably not the way that I want to play but there’s no right, there’s no wrong ways of winning games and it’s full credit to the players.
“The thing that pleased me the most from the new players coming in, to have one days training was to a clean sheet. You give yourselves a chance with a clean sheet, you’ve a chance of winning football games.
He continued “It was very old school, I loved the old Arsenal’s, I loved the old Germans, the Italians, it was always one-nil. It doesn’t matter if you win five, it’s getting the three points. Dipo (Akinyemi) today, they’re the best goals you’ll score in your career because you’ve got to be there to tap them in.”
Explaining how he got the role, Feeney said “I was over at the weekend. I was doing a bit of recruitment for Northern Ireland. I have an agreement with them for two games coming up. I had a phone call on Sunday saying ‘Would you like to come in and take Welling until the end of the season. I love a challenge. I’m not one to shy away from it and it happened so quickly.
“It’s contacts in football. I had a good time in Bulgaria. I loved it. I won a promotion into the big league. I probably learned more there in two and a half years than I would have done here in six years. Someone probably got in contact with him (Mark Goldberg) and said he’s a winner, he’s a fighter and I didn’t hesitate. It was done quite quickly. I was just off a plane and it was done very quickly and I was here by Monday afternoon. I played here once at the end of my career for Plymouth behind closed doors. It’s a good challenge for me.”
Since arriving at Welling, Feeney has been busy recruiting. He explained “I couldn’t fault the boys attitude on Tuesday. We didn’t get the result. I think we needed freshening up. I think we needed to get players in. It’s not nice but it’s something that goes part and parcel with the game. I looked at the areas that needed strengthening. I didn’t want to upset the apple cart too much because if you make too many and they have to be the right players.”
Up until the transfer window closes on 24th March, he will continue to look at improving the squad. “It’s horrible for players that you’ve got to let go and some aren’t getting in but I don’t like sulkers.” He said “I don’t think that anyone’s in a position to think that they are guaranteed to start a game, you can see the changes that we made from Tuesday night.
“If the right players are there, I’ll be looking for them right up to the close of the transfer window. The board and chairman have been fantastic. They’ve fully backed me with the players and if I don’t ask the question for more players, I’m not doing my job right. I’m speaking to a couple, maybe three and if I get one more in I’ll be delighted. Things can be done in half an hour but it’s important to get the right players in.”
Speaking about the newcomers he said “With Jamie Sendles-White and Taylor Curran, you know what you’re going to get from them. Alfie Matthews today, I thought was outstanding. It’s a lease of life for them and they’ve got to carry it on for the rest of the season.
“Marcus Sablier, I love his energy, He picks things up. Woody (Andy Woodman) loves him at Bromley. Ben Margetson, I know Ben’s father very, very well. He’s had an unbelievable upbringing. Coniah (Boyce-Clarke) was absolutely outstanding today. He’s come on a top recommendation, a great friend of mine who’s a Reading first team coach and he said ‘this boy’s got something’. You know when you’ve got someone like that, and it’s no disrespect to the other boys. But it gives you belief. I thought today he commanded his box very well, his kicking was very good, and he was a big part of the clean sheet.”
Surprisingly, Feeney played Akinyemi on the left hand side. He explained “He’s got ability, Dipo. I love my strikers but I looked at what way was the best to get results. If you look at him, he loves coming in from the wide area but I said to him ‘I don’t want you to stay out there. I want you to get involved and use your pace’ and I’m pleased for him. He got the goal today.”
Summarising, Feeney said “I’m enjoying it here. If you can work in Bulgaria for two and a half years, you can work anywhere. They’ve made me feel very welcome, the fans and the staff. The main aim is to keep the team up. We’re in the relegation battle but we’ve got belief. I said to the players that you can’t run without walking first and the big thing is to focus on the next eight games and make sure we’re in this division.”
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.