No coaching role for new Dulwich Hamlet director Peter Crouch
Peter Crouch will not be handed a coaching role by Dulwich Hamlet.
It was announced last week that the former England international had been appointed as a director at the National League South side.
Crouch, who gained his first senior football on loan at Hamlet from Tottenham, is filming a docuseries Save Our Beautiful Game for discovery +.
A press release claimed that the ex-striker would ‘be putting his skills as a newly-qualified coach to the test’.
But long-serving Dulwich manager Gavin Rose said: “He might know a mate in football who can get us a loan but anything about being on the grass is not in an official capacity.
“It is about the opportunity to fundraise and raise awareness on issues that, at times, have gone by the wayside in the last few years – like our youth provision community schemes.
“It is mainly off the football pitch that we think Peter wants to get involved in and that we can benefit from.”
Crouch went to Champion Hill to address supporters after Dulwich announced his return.
“I’ve met Peter on a few occasions, it wasn’t a new relationship,” said Rose.
“He is a good character, very humble. I believe he looked at our club [for the series] because he played there.
“My priority has always been to concentrate on football results. There are going to be times when it [the filming] is not going to be of any interest to me. I’m employed to try and win matches and develop players.”
Dulwich were fined £8,000 for not fulfilling four fixtures last season – just before the 2020-21 campaign was declared null and void. They recently saw the punishment upheld on appeal.
“The club is making plans to make sure it is secure rather than relying on what the league tells us and them then letting us down,” said Rose. “We are putting our lives in our own hands and planning as if we’re on our own.
“Last season we felt we had some support from the league – and we didn’t. We want to make sure we’re not in that position again.”
PICTURE: ROB AVIS