RICHARD HILL accepts he probably would have talked himself out of the Whitehawk job had he seen the side play before saying yes – but makes no apologies for getting rid of half the squad.
Hill is certainly getting his claws into the Hawks, releasing seven players and signing the same number since he replaced Pablo Asensio at the National League South strugglers.
The Argentine’s experiment of signing Spanish and Brazilian players backfired and he was sacked just over a fortnight ago – and the new boss has been quick to fix the problem.
Three wins from four, including excellent victories over then-leaders Hampton and in the FA Cup at East Thurrock, means it’s a great start for the former Eastleigh boss, but he says he is glad the lights went out at Hemel Hempstead days before he was appointed.
Hill explained: “I actually planned to watch the game at Hemel a few Tuesdays ago as I was in the area, but just before kick-off the floodlights went.
“Knowing what I know now, I’m not sure the board at my interview a few days later would have taken me on as I would have told them the truth! Huge changes had to be made as I saw for myself in the first week and they may not have given me the job if I told them how many players would need to go and how many would need to come in.”
The 2014 Conference South winner has called on some of that successful squad – adding Ben Strevens, who will act as assistant manager, and he will also be reunited with ex-Spitfires captain Glen Southam.
The boss may not be done yet and says there is still time to put up a fight for promotion – he is making up for lost time after being out of work for nearly a year.
“I’ve been waiting to get my teeth into something for a while and there’s plenty of potential here,” added Hill, who has also signed Reece Connolly, Tom Lee and Jack Masterton.
“We’ve released seven and added seven, it needed to happen if we are going to progress – as much as some people won’t want to hear it, I can’t apologise. I’ve had to do what’s right for the club.
“I still think time is on our side to climb up the table. When there was a change here last year the team went from mid-table to the play-offs.”
