New Kendal Town manager Warren Beattie was told he was mad for taking the job – but insists he will get the club out of relegation trouble.
Beattie, who had been assistant manager at North West Counties League side Barnoldswick for 12 months, has been quietly encouraged by what he’s seen so far.
He watched Saturday’s 4-2 defeat at Trafford and took over for Tuesday’s 2-0 home reversal against leaders Marine – without the chance to work with his players.
“To be quite honest although people said I was mad to take the job I have been encouraged because the core of the squad is quite good.
“I want to bring in players who are more experienced at this level and can fight to get us out of trouble.
“Both Trafford and Marine are good sides and we could have got something against both. We were 3-0 down against Trafford and pulled two goals back, and looked to be right back in the game.
“Then against Marine, they scored twice in a minute midway through the first half but apart from that, it was a fairly even game. Their keeper pulled off a couple of worldy saves or it could have been all square,” he says.
Beattie brought in three new faces – Will Higham and Ryan Salmon, who both started, and Gary Basterfield who came on as a second-half substitute. Alex Randell was also added to the squad but not included while the signing of Stuart Vasey was announced after the game.
“These are players I know, mainly through playing against, and they are the type for a battle that we face at the moment.
“I’m hoping to bring in a player on loan from Fylde in time for Saturday and a seventh new face should be available the following week.
“We have a different type of game on Saturday when we are at home to Market Drayton. It’s massive for us as they are down the bottom with us and one we need to win.”
Beattie was registered as a player at Barnoldswick, but was only used on occasions from the bench. He will also be registered at Kendal but hopes he won’t be needed.
Beattie already has an affection for the club and the fans after spending three separate spells at Parkside Road – and once his serious playing days were over he wanted to get into coaching and management.
“I worked with Andy Clarkson at Barnoldswick and he told me I was ready to have a go on my own, and because of my previous connections with Kendal, it’s been great to get my first chance at the club.
“A previous Kendal manager Tony Hesketh, who has been around the non-league scene for years, is one of the men I respect most in the game and was one of the first I spoke to when I got the job. He gave me good advice,” says Beattie.
When he met the players for the first time he broke the ice by saying: “If I start to tell you all the teams I’ve played for we will miss the kick-off!”
But it’s that experience around the new league scene that new chairman Michael O’Neill believes will help lift the Mintcakes to safety.
He said: “It’s been an exciting week since coming into the club and I knew Warren from when I was at the club and he was first playing here. He is an enthusiast and a winner, and that’s what we need.
“One of the things I stressed when taking on the role of chairman was that I wanted the club to be run transparently and accountable.
“We have organised a fans forum after the game on Saturday and I hope the supporters will stay behind and ask any questions they feel appropriate. I have promised that if there are any questions I can’t answer on the night I will find out and personally get back to the fan who asked it.
“I was encouraged by the crowd we had for the Marine game and it’s something we want to build on as we take Kendal Town forward.”
