Hancock returns as New Mills manager
TONY Hancock has returned as manager of New Mills AFC – just weeks after resigning from the post.
And in a heartening message to fans, he declared himself 150 per cent committed to the club and stated he had "unfinished business" in bringing UniBond League football to Church Lane.
Hancock quit the club following the 5-0 defeat by AFC Fylde on the last day of the season, which cruelly denied the Millers the Vodkat Premier Division title – and outright promotion to the UniBond League – on goal difference from their opponents.
The defeat also brought to an end a club record 21-game winning streak in the league.
Despite going on to win the Vodkat League Cup days later, Hancock stuck by his decision to resign.
However, in a dramatic turnaround, the club announced on Tuesday that Hancock had been reinstated and that both he and his assistant Paul Kirkham would resume their duties with immediate effect.
In a statement, Hancock explained: "I have spent three weeks reflecting on my decision to resign and have had tremendous support from my wife and family during this period and would like to take this opportunity to thank them.
"I run a haulage business and during the period at the end of season I was working early mornings and late nights and the pressure chasing for promotion and the hours spent with the business were hard.
"The result at the end of the season was hard to take for the players, club and management team and it was a huge blow."
At this stage, Hancock said he felt he had let everyone down – despite reassurances from the club that that wasn't the case.
Since his departure, the club has held lengthy discussions with Hancock over his future, with Chairman Ray Coverley recently stating that he would have liked him to stay on. So what brought about the change of heart?
"I feel that New Mills AFC and myself have unfinished business. I made a commitment to the fans at New Mills to take the club to the UniBond and I have not completed that task," Hancock said.
"The letters and calls of support I have received from Millers fans have been fantastic and have played a huge part in reversing my decision and I thank everybody concerned.
"I would like to thank the tremendous squad of players at Church Lane who have committed their futures to the club and hopefully finish the job they started.
"The team spirit and togetherness within this squad of players is something I have never experienced in my playing or management career before and it plays a tremendous part in driving the club forward.
"Finally I would like to apologise to everyone involved for the unsettlement I have caused over the last few weeks but please be assured I am 150 per cent committed to New Mills AFC and hope that we continue the momentum that we created at the end of last season."
Hancock's decision came just 24 hours after New Mills failed to make a provisional list of clubs which would be playing UniBond League football next season. The FA revealed the proposed set-up of Steps One to Four of the non-league pyramid on Friday.The Millers were hoping to be included as Vodkat Premier Division runners-up.
New Mills secretary Duncan Hibbert said: "This is only a proposed list so there's still a very small chance, but it still seems they prefer to reprieve failure rather than reward success."
And on Hancock's return to New Mills, he added: "I think the way he describes himself as having 'unfinished business' is very encouraging, and his re-appointment will help keep the continuity going at the club."
* New Mills players Carlos Meakin, Garry Kharas, Adam Mather and Chris Fidler have re-signed for another 12 months.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Buxton
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to -1 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
