Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hay's revolution begins with a clear-out and influx of players
Monday, December 17 2007
Darran Hay, Hitchin's new manager, has wasted no time in churning over his squad and wielded the axe in dramatic fashion on the eve of his side's home defeat at the hands of Bromsgrove Rovers.
Hay released no less than six players - Shane Hill, Lance and Nat Gentle-King, Matt Childs, David Iwediuno and Leon Simpson. In a dramatic swoop for new players, Hay signed Tom Pepper, James Nash and Arlesey Town's Dean Gilbert. "I've let these lads go for the right reasons," he said. "And I can already see the improvement in the dressing room." Hay has rebuilt a shaky defence with the addition of Pepper, Nash and Gilbert but there may still be more players to come. "Let's see how we get on, but the defence is more or less where I want to be."
Hay has now added seven players to the Hitchin squad, Gordon Barr, Paul Armstrong, Brett Donnelly and James Edgerley are the others. But he is pleading for some patience as his new team knits together. "We may take a few weeks to get this going. It will take time as there are so many new faces."
To hear a podcast of the full interview, go to http://www.yellowandgreenun.co.uk