Mark Patterson only needed one look around Keys Park before admitting: ‘This deserves a better stage’.
The 42-year-old is Hednesford’s newest assistant manager, replacing Walsall-bound Jimmy Mullen three weeks ago.
Having gone from Premier League star to landscape gardener, little surprises him after 25 years in football.
But one thing he is sure about is Hednesford’s status - and the stability needed to ensure a brighter long term future.
“When I walked into the stadium, I realised hadnt played there since coming here with Scarborough in 2000 or 2001,” said Patterson, who played in all four divisions of the domestic game with Blackburn, Bolton, Sheffield United, Blackpool and Southend.
“You look around and it’s a great stadium which deserves better than the position the club is in at the moment.
“Phil Starbuck and myself are working our butts off trying to build the right foundations.
“But things don’t happen in two or three years and we’re trying to put the right things in place.
“As for the short term, Phil has been hit by injuries and we need to put a run together, but once we do that, confidence will come back and we have to be looking at the play-offs.
“Hopefully we can make them and go into them firing on all cylinders so we have a great chance of going up.”
While Patterson is preaching stability at the top, he firmly believes he and Starbuck can’t be afraid to shake things up if things aren’t going well on the park.
“If anything comes out of last season, it’s that we’ve got to be prepared to make changes,” he said.
“I’m a fair bloke and it’s OK being ‘pally’ with players, but if they’re not doing it, then you’ve got to be ruthless.”
Patterson first linked up with Starbuck when they were players at Sheffield United between December 1995 and May 1997 under Howard Kendall.
“I’ve known him since those days and I usually whip his backside at golf!” said Patterson.
“But I’m really enjoying it and there is a great bunch of lads here. Coming off the management side at Scarborough, it’s nice to take a step back.
“The Midlands is the only place I haven’t worked before, and believe me, coming down the M6 is a breeze compared to getting across to Scarborough!”
Hednesford, meanwhile, have re-signed midfielder Chad Shepherd from Rushall but missed out on an un-named striker target before today’s Unibond premier home clash with Stamford.
Shepherd’s return will help ease an injury crisis that has seen 10 casualties at Keys Park.
But the crisis is easing, with Paul Robinson, Tom Marshall, Tom Ward and Ross Dyer expected to shake off knocks to play today.
“Chad trained with us on Thursday night and he looked sharp and enthusiastic and IÕm sure he will be an asset for the future,” said Patterson.
“At this moment in time we’re looking at a big, goalscoring striker, and after speaking to him, he’s happy where he is.
“But it’s not dead in the water - we’ve got to watch the situation for a couple of weeks and if things change, he’ll give us first option.”
One player who has completed his move to Hednesford is former Port Vale and Rochdale utility man Neil Brisco, who has signed after a spell at Scarborough under Patterson last season.
But his work in the prison service means he won’t be available every week.
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