GARRY Hill insists he is thinking about the Conference play-offs rather than relegation after taking over as the new Weymouth boss.
The former Hornchurch manager, who has signed a three-year contract at the Wessex Stadium, says he won’t overhaul his squad to ensure survival this season.
And Hill, who adds coach Kevin Hales and ex-Urchins chairman Gary Calder to the backroom staff at Radipole Lane, wants to repeat the success he achieved with Dagenham and Redbridge.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Hill said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge at what I would call a football sleeping giant.
“A lot has happened in the last 24 hours but this certainly wasn’t a spur of the moment decision and I’m pleased to be here.
I won’t panic over our league position – I don’t look at what is behind me, only in front of me although we have to be realistic at the same time.
“I walked out on the pitch today, looked around, saw the size of the facilities and thought ‘this is exciting’.
“I want us to be a Football League club and that’s realistic, without doubt.
“I don’t want to sound conceited but I went to Dagenham when they were in the Ryman League and after five wonderful years, I only missed out on turning them into a Football League side by goal difference.
“I’m confident in my own ability and wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t think I could do a similar thing with Weymouth.”
Hill said he had no concerns in becoming the third full-time Weymouth manager in less than a season, following the sackings of Steve Claridge and Steve Johnson.
“I’m not interested in what has gone on at this club in the past – I’m here to look to the future.
“Deep down, everyone in this area who cares about football wants Weymouth to succeed and my job is to make that happen.”
Hill, who took his first training session today, says his squad will be given ‘fresh starts’ at Maidenhead United this weekend.
“I don’t plan on making wholesale changes just yet, the club needs some stability for a while,” he said.
“There are a lot of good players at the club already but league tables don’t tell lies.
If I know of a player out there better than I have here, I’ll do my upmost to bring him here whether that’s now or in the preseason. ”
Hill, who will keep his home in Essex and stay in the resort on weekdays, revealed the arrival of Hales and Calder will not affect the coaching positions of Gary Borthwick, John Waldock, Dave Kiteley and Roy O’Brien.
“I’ve had a chat with some of them and, as far as we’re concerned, there’s no immediate step to change anything on that front,” he said.
Hill has been reunited with striker Kirk Jackson, who he signed at Hornchurch and Dagenham and Redbridge.
And the former Yeovil Town star could have a new striker partner this weekend, Chukki Eribenne who has been recalled from a loan spell at Farnborough.
