Paul Barnes: ‘Dulwich Hamlet has all the makings of a Football League club’

New Dulwich Hamlet permanent boss Paul Barnes believes the club has the potential to reach the Football League.

He has also outlined that the squad needs a refresh and that the goal for the rest of the season is to secure their National League South status.

Barnes was appointed as the full-time manager at Champion Hill last Friday after initially taking over as interim boss following the departure of long-serving manager Gavin Rose.

Rose left the South Londoners after more than 550 first-team matches in charge and won two promotions – the Isthmian League South title in 2013 and then the Premier Division play-offs in 2018.

Barnes’ previous management experiences before Dulwich came within non-league football at the likes of Welling United, Margate, Ashford United, Greenwich Borough, Staines Town, Guildford City and Redhill.

“I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t a little bit shocked myself. As I said to everybody, I probably thought I was the outsider for the job,” Barnes told the South London Press reflecting on his permanent appointment.

“If you asked the old guard or the inner sanctum of football, non-league football, in particular, everybody would have had your typical names that fly around every time there is a job available. Especially with such a prestigious job like Dulwich, the normal household names get thrown out.

“I’m not silly enough to think I’m a household name, or a name that would get linked to jobs of this level and stature, so it made me think I was an outsider.

“But the work that we have put in place during that interim period showed what we’re about all around the club, and it showed how we want to work – it’s in line with the club’s values.

“I was very clear and honest from the get-go. In my first interview, I said: ‘A club like Dulwich Hamlet, with the support and the way the club is operated, has all the makings of a football league club.’

“That’s not to put pressure on it and say that will be tomorrow, but down the road and in the next few years, you can definitely move to look forward and really try and elevate the club to that status.

“It’s a great honour to be the manager of Dulwich Hamlet, it’s such a historic and well-supported club in the local area. It’s fantastic.”

During his time as temporary boss, Dulwich won three of his five games in charge and came within minutes of securing a point against promotion-chasing Dartford, with an 82nd-minute Charlie Sheringham winner denying Barnes’ side a point.

His interview came on the job.

“Everybody said to me from the first second I arrived: ‘You must feel the pressure,’ but there wasn’t any,” explained Barnes.

“Everything was taken in our stride, well-planned and prepared because we know what we’re capable of and how we work.

“It’s always awkward when you lose a manager, especially someone who was such a well-thought-after manager such as Gav and his assistant Kads – they were brilliant at the club over the time they were here.

“Players were lacking confidence when we came in, results were terrible and performances weren’t great, so it was about getting that positive environment back and building confidence to get the boys to enjoy their football.

“I think we managed to do that. It has shown in performances with the way we have played. In all the games, although we haven’t picked up results as times, I don’t think anyone came away from games saying we didn’t deserve at least something.

“After such a difficult start and a transitional period, we’re looking at just consolidating this year. It’s about making sure that we stay away from that relegation zone and keep our National League South status.

“In this transitional period, it’s about implementing new ideas, bringing in new personnel with us as a management team – it’s helping to build new infrastructure within the club.

“The work has already started.”

Dulwich are 20th after their first 11 games in the National League South.

“I have already started to express my thoughts and feelings to let people know I do feel as though we need a refresh of the squad,” added Barnes.

“There will be some business. I have spoken to a few players to let them know that they’re not in the plans.

“We will look to see what we can do, because it’s about balancing the books as well. There will definitely be some movement. How quickly that can be done will be dependent on players going out before any come in.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD