Hollins refuses to play waiting
game
By Adam Summers
Friday 16th May 2008
JOHN Hollins has insisted he is not the type of manager that
is willing to play the waiting game.
The Weymouth boss wants to complete his squad as soon as
possible to ensure the club has the best possible preparations
ahead of the new season.
He said: "I think everything is sorted out with James
Coutts now but Michael Malcolm and Paolo Vernazza are still
thinking about it.
"We are working very hard and we want to make sure we
start the new season running. That is why we want to get the
squad sorted as soon as we can although I do not mind leaving
an opening for something special.
"So far we have had a few little knock backs but if
people want to go to bigger and more proven teams for bigger
money there is not much we can do about it.
"I am very much a manager who says here is the offer,
you have got 48 hours and if you do not want it I will go
somewhere else.' "That is why if some of the players
wait too long to make a decision it could end up being too
late."
One player that the Terras have lost out on is defender Chris
Blackburn who has joined Blue Square Premier champions Aldershot
Town.
The ex-Swindon Town centre-back enjoyed a fabulous loan spell
at the Wessex Stadium towards the end of last season and Hollins
wishes him well.
He added: "Blackburn helped us when we needed it and
that is the sort of quality we can get. However, a long-term
situation is different compared to two or three months.
"He came down here, performed superbly and put himself
in the shop window, and everybody ended up wanting him. I
now wish him well with Aldershot because he was fantastic
for us."
It is also believed that Trevor Challis has sealed a move
to Blue Square South side Eastleigh.
Hollins said: "If that is the case and he has gone to
Eastleigh then like with Blackburn I wish him the best but
we have got to move on. We did that with Ashley Vickers and
Jason Matthews, and we will do it again now.
"Trevor did a tremendous job at left back. He is a committed
person and because he did well for us at the end of the season
it has enabled him to get fixed up elsewhere.
"This business is about taking players on or moving
them on and at the moment we are making good progress. There
is still a lot of time to go and hopefully we will have some
more news soon."
Hollins is also keen to devote more time to the club's youth
set up in the future. He said: "I want our younger players
involved more. Young Jamie Frampton has shown good potential
and he is one of a few I want to educate and work on."
