I talk to Piggy fairly often. He couldn’t be more supportive. I’ve got his full backing, says Hollands & Blair rookie boss Bryan Greenfield

HOLLANDS & BLAIR manager Bryan Greenfield says he’s got full backing of his predecessor Paul Piggott.

Greenfield, 37, has played for the Gillingham-based club for around 10 seasons and took over from the highly-successful Piggott after deciding to step down after guiding the club to runners-up spot in their Southern Counties East Football League debut season.

Greenfield suffered his first defeat as a manager when his side went down to a 4-2 defeat to direct Ryman League Division One South side Whyteleafe in their FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay on Tuesday night.

When asked about the difference in playing and managing, the Scotsman replied: “It’s something I get asked quite frequently. I miss it. I miss the playing side of it when the boys are winning games and I’m not involved.

“This is the first competitive loss that I’ve had so all managers say the same, when you’ve been a player you can go home and although you’re disappointed about the defeat you can go to bed and wake up the next day and tomorrow’s a new day.

“I think as a manager you carry those thoughts on for a couple more days, could I have done this? Could I have done that?  No doubt I’ve got that to look forward to tonight when I get in doors!”

When asked about filling Piggott’s big shoes at Darland Avenue, Greenfield replied: “They certainly are! They would’ve been big shoes for any manager who had any CV to fill to what Piggy had done, never mind someone like myself who is a complete and utter rookie to it! I’m fully aware how big those shoes are. 

“I talk to Piggy fairly often. He couldn’t be more supportive. I’ve got his full backing, I’ve got Plum’s (Laurence Plummer) full backing, I’ve got the club’s full backing and I’ve got the players’ full backing, just by the way they play for me.”

Hollands & Blair return to league action with a visit from Beckenham Town on Saturday, before travelling to Corinthian on Bank Holiday Monday (both games kicking off at 15:00).

“Two good games to look forward to,” added Greenfield.

“We did the double over Beckenham last year. It’s usually a feisty affair against a team like Beckenham, so coming down to our place they’ll be right up for it on Saturday.

“We need to bounce back and react from Tuesday night.

“We should have a new player in on Saturday, providing I dot the I’s and cross the t’s and get that signed on in time which will give the boys a bit of a lift.”

Hollands & Blair can now look forward to playing against two sides that like to play football on the deck – Whyteleafe relied on long ball tactics in the FA Cup ties between the two sides.

Looking forward to Monday’s trip to Corinthian, Greenfield said: “A decent pitch down at Corinthian. They tend to play football the right way – if there is such a statement to be fair – but they like to knock the ball about quite well because they’ve got a nice pitch, a decent side as well.

“We lost down there last year and they were deserved winners on the day because we weren’t at it, so we need to make sure our mentality is right when we go down there on Monday.”

Visit Hollands & Blair’s website:  www.hollandsandblair.co.uk

Hollands & Blair  v  Beckenham Town
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 27^th August 2016
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Star Meadow, Darland Avenue, Gillingham, Kent ME7 3AN