Pic: Will Kilpatrick
THERE’S something very different about this season, can you spot it? There’s two things in fact. Hyde United aren’t getting relegated and Darren Kelly, their manager, isn’t going to get his P45.
Both club and coach must be sick to the back teeth of the past few seasons, a catalogue of misery for all concerned. But this year, both are showing the green shoots of recovery when many feared they could keep on tumbling.
After winning the Conference North in 2012 and making an excellent fist of their first season in Non-League‘s top flight, the Tigers suddenly lost their roar.
Their fearsome bellow has turned into a squeak a mouse would be ashamed of. Hyde have rolled over and had their bellies rubbed for years.
The club’s twitter account providing gallow’s humour along the way, but in reality the laughs stopped long before their three back-to-back relegations.
Their manager knew it was time to put things right. He sees a little bit of himself in his club which is operating a lot further down the rung that perhaps it should be.
“This is a great club, honestly,” said Kelly – on a high following last weekend’s whitewash of Ramsbottom, a 5-0 result which added substance to his claims he will get Hyde in contention to win the Evo-Stik North next season.
“It’s been through some rough old times if and if I’m being honest I have as well. We’re a perfect match I guess!
“I followed it closely. Hyde went down from the Conference a few years ago only winning a few games. They had hope of a steady season in the North but fell straight through again.
“You would have hoped things would have settled down in the Northern Premier League but it was another disaster.”
He’s had a few of those himself. The 37-year-old got a chance all coaches dream of in 2015, appointed manager for Premier League founder members Oldham Athletic, he was mercilessly fired in the second week of September.
Halifax came calling next, but with no training ground and a club in freefall his card was marked from an early stage. Just 11 games in charge, and the Shaymen’s axe was sharp.
“It was difficult to overcome but I have found a great place to work with great people,” the former York City and Carlisle defender said.
“All things considered, it’s been a season of progression. We will probably miss out on the play-offs, but we think with the addition of two or three players we may not be too far away next season.
“At least we don’t have to contemplate another relegation!”
Next season, expect Hyde and Kelly to take the first steps in the right direction on the ladder.
