Redhill not ready to win the League yet, admits boss McIntyre

STUART McINTYRE almost quit as Redhill’s manager towards the end of last season, due to increased work commitments and without Tommy Sampson by his side, writes Stephen McCartney.

The pair took over at Kiln Brow last July but McIntyre took sole control of team affairs when Sampson was taken to hospital last December, suffering from a small stroke.

The Surrey side went on to finish eighth in the Sussex County League top flight and also reached the semi-finals of the Surrey Senior Cup and the Sussex RUR Cup.

And last season extensive and exciting work was undertaken at Kiln Brow as the club begins, for the first time in it’s history, a serious attempt at gaining promotion to the Ryman League.

A new 162 seater stand, turnstiles and an outside toilet block has been built and more improvements are planned.

“It’s always a challenge when you’re suddenly on your own,” McIntyre, the former Bromley and Kingstonian manager told www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his side’s decent display at Whitstable Town yesterday.

“Fortunately, I’ve got a lot of experience where continually learning, learning and learning.

“It was a big blow for the club because it was beginning to go well, Tommy and I working together was working.

“Tommy (was) doing (the) paperwork and looking after things and me coaching the players. It was a system that suited both of us, so that was a shock.

“I nearly had to knock it on the head. I told the board in mid-March that my work was too much but it settled down and the players pulled together and took some responsibility and that’s still there.

“The players are very committed to the job what we’re trying to do, particularly the experienced players, like Jason Barton and Tony Reid and the club’s going in the right direction.”

McIntyre, whose side lost 1-0 at Ryman League Division One South side Whitstable Town yesterday in a pre-season friendly, would like the same standard pitch as at Belmont Road.

“We’ve just had 162 seats, a little stand fitted, which is a good step forward,” he said. “Lots of concreting going on. The pitch is a little bit behind because of it, it’s not as good as this pitch that’s for sure.

“But the club is in an upward momentum so for us the next step is not to be sitting in the bottom half of the table, to be in the top half of the table, pushing for the top six then pushing for the top three and that will be good.”

But the Scot has ruled out winning the Sussex County League title.

“Are we ready for promotion? Absolutely not!” he insisted.

“We’re not good enough yet to win the League and no-one will pretend to me that we are.

“You get all these people, paper talk, Redhill this, Redhill that. No. I’m not fooled by it! We are a bit of a way, we’re away budget wise, pitch wise, we’re a little bit squad wise.

“We’re a nice squad at the moment, we play football but I don’t think we’re quite tough enough but that’s why we’re adding people.”

Sampson, a friend to many here in Kent, was sitting down in a white chair beside the away dug-out and must have been pleased with Redhill’s performance, especially during the first half.

But the Surrey side tired and late on and were made to pay for having only fourteen players available for the pre-season friendly, which Whitstable won thanks to Rob Thomas’ 89^th minute strike.

Whitstable also missed a 69^th minute penalty, Dave Cory striking the foot of the right-hand post.

Whitstable Town boss Marc Seager was pleased to see his close friend Sampson at the match.

“It was Tommy who said about having this fixture and I was only happy to take a team to them,” Seager told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Unfortunately their ground wasn’t ready for action yet so the (Whitstable) staff were good enough to get it on here.

“But it’s great to see him here. You can see for yourself he’s well on the mend. It’s great to see him where he belongs, which is in the dug-out.”

McIntye agreed, adding: “It’s good to see Tommy there. He’s still very ill, he’s got a long, long way to go and we’ll work with him to give him as much support as we possible can.”

Visit Redhill’s website:  www.redhillfc-online.co.uk

Visit Whitstable Town’s website: www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk