'˜I'd not enjoyed it of late... which is a shame because I have a lot of love for that club' - Hindley

Ryan Hindley said the enjoyment of managing Worksop Town had gone prior to stepping down from his post on Friday.
Ryan Hindley pictured while manager of Worksop TownRyan Hindley pictured while manager of Worksop Town
Ryan Hindley pictured while manager of Worksop Town

Hindley’s decision to resign from his position came just days after the club confirmed a change in ownership at the top.

Local businessmen Paul Williams, Paul Tomkins and Niall Robertson had bought out Jason Clark’s shares to take control.

And, while Hindley wished the new owners well, he didn’t feel their immediate priorities aligned with his own.

The new directors at Worksop Town are from left, Paul Williams, Paul Tomkins, Niall Robertson and Jake Brown.The new directors at Worksop Town are from left, Paul Williams, Paul Tomkins, Niall Robertson and Jake Brown.
The new directors at Worksop Town are from left, Paul Williams, Paul Tomkins, Niall Robertson and Jake Brown.

He said: “It’s always best to be honest and I’ve always tried to be with everyone throughout my time at Worksop.

“The new ownership is great for the club and I believe it’ll be great for business but for me the most important thing is the football.

“It’s a North East Counties football club and the most important thing in any football club is the product that’s there on a Saturday.

“I was taking stock and sat down with a lot of good people in football and I started to think maybe it was the right time to get out.

The new directors at Worksop Town are from left, Paul Williams, Paul Tomkins, Niall Robertson and Jake Brown.The new directors at Worksop Town are from left, Paul Williams, Paul Tomkins, Niall Robertson and Jake Brown.
The new directors at Worksop Town are from left, Paul Williams, Paul Tomkins, Niall Robertson and Jake Brown.

“I wish them nothing but success at the club. It’s backed by a lot of people; the majority of the fans are great.

“It’ll be an interesting time and interesting transition for the club but the expectation and the ambition didn’t meet my own.

“I wanted to have a good go at it this year and understand everything that we wanted to achieve for next year.

“Next year I wanted to push for promotion and I just couldn’t see that happening.”

Hindley, who had two spells as a player at the club, took on the management role last summer after three years with Hallam FC.

He had guided Hallam to safety in the NCEL Division One in his first season before two top six finishes and play-off campaigns.

The lure of Worksop Town and the chance to test himself at the next step up in NCEL Premier Division proved a deciding factor in joining.

And he helped to secure kit sponsorship deals as well as oversee a run in the FA Vase, with a memorable win at Dunston in mid-November.

But leaves with Tigers camped in mid-table.

“I went through more than 40 players at Hallam in my first season and we finished with 52 points, then 72 and 82 in the play-off seasons on a shoestring,” he said.

“We were in the process of just getting to the squad that we wanted at Worksop.

“Players were leaving that wanted to leave or weren’t right for the dressing room, or weren’t right for the club. They were talented but we had to get the balance right.

“It was mid-project and I did say to people to judge me on my second season. I just didn’t feel it would be an enjoyable time working at the club.

“It was a football project for me. But it didn’t have the feel of a football club for me recently, it felt like coming into work as a business.

“Football’s about enjoyment and I’ve got to enjoy standing on the touchline.

“I’ve not enjoyed it of late and supporters who know me personally said ‘you’re not enjoying it, are you?’ and I wasn’t, which is a shame because I have a lot of love for that club.

“I have to weigh up what’s right for me and my family and while I wish them the very best for the future it wasn’t right for me.”

And added: “It’s an ambitious club, things won’t happen overnight, it has to be a project and a project on the field - not just off it.

“People have come into the club with a lot more money and it’s not taken off. I love people for trying but fans come for the football, not for the different flavour of beers.

“Things need to be centred around getting the club out of the league and nothing else at present.”

Hindley thanked the Tigers faithful for all their support over the past eight months.

“I can’t thank the fans enough,” he said. “They’ve backed me from day one.

“Some fans have said that Dunston away was the best time they’ve had as a Tiger and I gave them that.

“We had some good days. There are teams higher up than us who have lost more games. We weren’t losing football games.

“They are wonderful supporters - the ‘Barmy Army’ are outstanding - and I’ve got a great relationship with them. I wish them all well.”

While said it might not be the last they see of him, as he continues to pursue a career in management.

“I want to get back into management. I think I have more than a 55 per cent win ratio which not many people have got.

“I am keen to get back into it. At the minute it would have to be the right club with the right people,” he added.