Vance thankful for trustworthy Rihoy
JUST days before the Green Lions’ competitive return at home to Sutton Common Rovers, manager Tony Vance was feeling thankful.
It was not confirmation of a new signing or a remarkable against-the-odds recovery by skipper Jamie Dodd, but gratitude that an old faithful is as keen as ever to play for the club.
Dave Rihoy is the player, someone the coach can trust to put his coaching instructions into action.
Rihoy, who showed a glimpse of his old self with a blistering strike for Belgraves against Northerners last Friday, will almost certainly be in the selection shake-up for the Footes Lane return, said the GFC boss yesterday.
‘In training and in friendlies he does not look like he has lost any massive amount of pace.
'He is still dynamic for his age, but he has always been a bit of a freak of nature.
'If you add his experience to his ability to play in a number of positions, it is a great asset to have in a squad. He is very adaptable.’
More than anything, though, Vance says he can trust him to carry out instructions.
‘The one thing I have learned over time is the word “trust” and it the one thing I look at first when picking a player – can they implement what I ask of them?
‘In the modern game you want players who are adaptable and he is one of those you can put in that category.
‘It’s a bonus to still have him.’
Elsewhere in the Isthmian South-Central division into which the Green Lions are about to set foot, bottom of the table Staines Town have parted with their manager Mick Woodham.
Given the commitment and backing Vance has enjoyed in his decade in charge, Woodham’s departure again highlights that even at GFC’s level it is often a results business.
Woodham was appointed in the spring and secured victories in six of his 18 matches in charge.
But, said a club statement, crucially league form has fallen short of expectations and following defeat at Westfield he tendered
his resignation.
Although Staines were disinclined to accept it, Woodham felt that he had pushed the squad as far as he could, and in the circumstances he felt it best to pass the job on to someone else.
The new man will be Staines’ fifth manager in two years.
