WELLING UNITED have replaced a manager with no managerial experience for another – and new boss Dean Frost accepts there’s a risk element involved for the troubled Wings.
The Kent club sacked long-serving Loui Fazakerley last Monday with the club without a win since mid-October and desperately struggling for form.
The player-manager took over in March 2015 after years as the club’s attacking full-back, where he played nearly 250 times.
But while the likes of FC Halifax have appointed experienced Jim Harvey and Southport went for former NLP Manager of the Year Dino Maamria with great success, Welling have opted for the relatively unheard of Frost. Although a well-respected coach, the 38-year-old is, like his predecessor, lacking in dug-out experience.
Fazakerley may not have worked but untried Jamie Day before him certainly did. Frost believes his appointment can have a similar outcome to that of the now Forest Green number two and his first challenge is getting shot shy Welling firing again.
The Wings have scored just 24 National League goals, with only National League North AFC Telford and Southern League strugglers Bideford scoring fewer times in Non-League‘s top three tiers.
Day’s former assistant was a fan of the club growing up but this isn’t a sentimental appointment.
“I have an affiliation for the place,” added Frost, who has unveiled Barry Ashby as his number two.
“I was a fan in the 80s before going on to play for Welling but it’s not an emotional thing – I’m here to do a job and that’s to keep the club up.
“Some people will see my lack of managerial experience as a little risky and maybe it is, but I feel I have earned the right. Who’s to say someone who has been managing at a high level for years would do any better?”
Wings owner Barry Hobbins said: “Loui has been a fantastic servant but we felt we had to make a change to give ourselves the best chance of staying up.”
