Competition

Date

Saturday 19th February 2011

Horgan - This is only temporary

Gary Horgan’s managerial career got off to a flyer but he does not want the top job at Supermarine on a full-time basis. The Southern League veteran took charge alongside teammate Matt Robinson following the departure of Mark Collier last week and the duo led Marine to a 4-2 home win over Bashley on Saturday. Both played in the game and Horgan’s desire to stay involved on the pitch is putting him off taking on such a role permanently.

 

“It would be something I would like to do in the future but at the moment I want to carry on playing,” said the 33-year-old. “Hopefully I’ve got a couple more years left in me although some people will say I’ve gone on a couple of years too many as it is. “It would be a difficult first job for anyone and it’s even harder to do while you’re still playing. “With Matt and myself on the pitch we were relying on the subs to look at things from the bench - it was a big team effort really. “We are looking to get someone in from a coaching point of view to sit on the bench and help out from there though.

 

“Mark (Collier) sat us down and Wednesday night and told us he had taken the decision to quit because of the budget situation. “I was then asked if me and Matt could take charge while the club decide what they want to do in terms of a replacement. “I think they will be quite happy for us to continue especially if we keep getting results.”

 

With money so tight at the Webb’s Wood Stadium and arguably enough points in the bank to avoid being drawn into a relegation scrap, the club’s board are likely to keep faith in the new-look managerial team for as long as possible. That could be until the end of the season if they continue to inspire wins like the one over Bashley.

 

Horgan and Robinson probably wondered what they had let themselves in for when Dave Bampton gave away a penalty a minute into the game, which Chris Knowles converted. But Nick Stanley then came to the rescue with a hat-trick as the visitors struggled to defend on a very sticky playing surface. David Elm’s hashed clearance gifted Stanley his first on 14 minutes and Robinson quickly notched Marine’s second. The lead was extended just before the break when Stanley capitalised on more sloppy defending to fire home and the striker completed his treble early in the second half.

 

Bashley had Gary Middleton sent off for a second bookable offence late on, and though Knowles then pulled one back, it did little to spoil the start of the Horgan-Robinson era. “Overall we adapted better to the conditions,” added Horgan. “It would have been easy in the circumstances after what has happened this week for us to fold after the early goal, but we didn’t.”

 

Match Report from a Bashley perspective...

Swindon vs Bash