Non-league round-up: Dulwich boss Hayrettin warns no ‘short-term fix’
Hakan Hayrettin has confirmed that his deal with struggling Dulwich Hamlet will continue into next season but has admitted there is no “short-term fix”.
The 53-year-old was appointed as Paul Barnes’ replacement at the beginning of March after the South Londoners slipped down towards the National League South drop zone following a 10-game winless run, writes Edmund Brack.
Hayrettin, who won the division last season with Maidstone United, has claimed wins against play-off chasing St Albans and Havant & Waterlooville. Hamlet still find themselves one point above the bottom four.
When asked by the South London Press about the length of his contract at Champion Hill, Hayrettin said: “My deal is here for next season as well.
“This isn’t a short-term fix – I haven’t got a magic wand.
“I’m not going to come and touch everyone on and off the field, and everyone will improve.
“I’m going to try to give the team on the pitch the best possible opportunity to get points.
“If I was here two months prior to this, we wouldn’t be in this situation, that’s for sure.
“You want your own team around you but when you inherit someone else’s team and players, you have to try and maximise their potential to as much as it may be.
“I have come in at the business end of the season where people are fighting to stay up or to get in the play-offs – there is always something to play for.
“This is the fourth league I have won – two as a manager and two as a coach.
“I know what it takes. It’s all about people working hard, the endeavour and what they want to achieve. What I want to do is preserve Dulwich’s league status.
“Is it going to be tough? Yes, it is. Is it going to be easy? No, it’s not. I have come in at a vital time – my job is to glue everything together. Have I got enough time? I don’t know, but I’ll be doing my best.”
Welling United extended their winless run in the National League South to eight games after they suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to relegation rivals Taunton Town.
Warren Feeney’s side are five points clear of danger but head to play-off hopefuls Bath City tomorrow.
Bromley head to Yeovil tomorrow. The Ravens are nine points adrift of the National League play-offs.