After operating as the Hereford FC interim manager, at the back end of last season, Josh Gowling has today expressed his delight at being handed the reins on a permanent basis.
“It’s kind of like an honour to manage a club like Hereford. It’s a great opportunity and it’s meant a lot to me.
“Having been here at Edgar Street as a player on two occasions, and to now get the manager’s job is terrific. I can’t really describe how happy I am, and how proud I am, to have been given this role. I can’t wait to get going.”
The Edgar Street hot-seat is his first management job in football, but it’s one Josh is seeking to relish.
“It’s a big job and I want to take on the challenge. I’ve always backed myself to do well and I’ve got the confidence to ensure I take the club in the right direction.
“I feel the club has been somewhat stagnant over the last couple of seasons, so we now need some progression. That’s what I’m after coming into this role. I think Steve and I started positively – and we were going in the right direction. Now we need to keep up that momentum.”
After a rapid rise up the leagues, under Peter Beadle and Steve Jenkins, the club now appears to have stalled somewhat.
“Yes, I can see that. We’ve got to the stage where our budget is not the biggest. You look at York, Chester, and King’s Lynn to a certain extent, and I believe they have certainly been handed larger budgets. Maybe even Football League standard budgets. So, when you start coming up against teams like that with a thoroughly professional approach it’s going to be a challenge. Obviously, King’s Lynn have gone through successive promotions, and when you add into the mix the likes of Brackley and Boston you can understand how competitive this league is.
“Teams at this level are especially able to beat each other, whether you’re at the top or indeed struggling in the division. It’s difficult and we’ve found it hard the last couple of seasons, although we made it safe with time to spare. We need to re-group as we’ve got to a point where we’ve effectively hit-a-wall and so we need to take stock and assess how we can progress again – and that’s what we are going to do.”
It is great to see we have a manager with the guts to take this club forward the pair have a great working relationship and with the chairman we have and hope he manages to keep his job
This is a very good appointment for the club, making a positive change of direction backing a young footballer embarking on a managerial career. We saw enough evidence last season, to suggest Josh and Steve can re ignite our team and terraces. I just hope the supporters keep real and dont expect miracles! Good luck Josh.