Daish wants to know where his future lies

WELLING United's caretaker manager Liam Daish has done no harm in trying to get the job full-time after collecting seven points in his first three games, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 36-year-old, based in Hayling Island, Hampshire, was brought in by former manager Paul Parker at the end of September and took over on a caretaker basis after the Park View Road outfit parted company with the former England and Manchester United defender.

In an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk the former Portsmouth, Cambridge United, Birmingham City and Coventry City centre-halve, admits he is enjoying life with the Wings.

Yesterday, the Wings came away with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Margate at a muddy Homelands ground in Ashford and it's that hard work and commitment that should see them climb out of the relegation area and up the Nationwide Conference South table.

"A great win, difficult conditions and over the festive period results are very important," he said.

"But to a man every player worked extremely hard for each other and got the result they deserved."

Daish, admitted results over the last three games are not a knee jerk reaction from the team, but he has seen glimpses during Parker's reign of what the side can do.

"Paul (Parker) asked me to come up and give some input and be another set of eyes and sort the coaching out.

"I was saddened because I didn't expect to be in that position (caretaker manager) but obviously I was asked to take it on.

"I've tried to get some results together, which anyone involved in football will do the same.

"I don't think it's a knee jerk reaction at all, the games over the past 9-10 weeks have started to prove the players are starting to pull results in by just their sheer hard work and graft.

"In that period we've probably haven't got what we deserved against top sides such as Thurrock, Weymouth and probably Hornchurch, before they had their financial problems."

The Wings, however, play their return fixture with Chris Kinnear's side on New Year's Day in a game which, like the one yesterday, is another big six-pointer clash between the two struggling Kent sides.

"There is a lot of teams on the same amount of points and if we can grab something out of the game at home -  I have every confidence we can - if we work as hard as yesterday.

"We can really start pushing on going into the New Year with confidence and with points in the bag."

Having played for some big clubs during his career, Daish revealed he is enjoying life in the Nationwide Conference South - but admits he doesn't want to go any lower.

"It can be very competitive," he said.

"I enjoy it, it's a competitive league and it's a good standard.

"I wouldn't like to go any lower at the moment and there's some good players about."

And what's the future for him at Park View Road?

He revealed: "At the moment I've not been given the job full-time and I think it will be unwise to bring players in when you don't know what's going to happen long term.

"The club said there's a decision to be made shortly and from my own situation and the players situation, sooner rather than later, would be appreciated."

Saturday 1st January 2005
Nationwide Conference South
Welling United v Margate
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Park View Road, Welling