A Good Start For Pitman

Any new manager at a club often needs time before his influence is turned into results. And when a young man who has never managed before takes over it's unlikely that he will get everything right overnight.

But it's now just over four months since Jamie Pitman took over at Hereford United and whilst the Bulls are not yet safe from relegation, there are signs that the former physio is leading the team in the right direction.

Previous manager Simon Davey took charge of his last game for the Bulls on a cold and wet afternoon at Underhill in early October. The football was worse than the weather. The Bulls lost 2-0.

BN, amidst many others, called for Davey to be sacked.

On the pitch the appointment of Simon Davey, no doubt made in good faith and with the best of intentions, has been a disaster. The vast majority of supporters will continue to back Keyte (Hereford United's chairman - ed) with his vision for the future so long as he and the board part company with Davey as soon as possible.

The board acted swiftly and on the following Monday Jamie Pitman was put in charge.

As at that Monday the Bulls had played 10 games and gained just 5 points and were bottom of the League Two table.

Fast forward to today. The table now says the Bulls have played 28 games and have 32 points.

So since Pitman took charge the Bulls have played 18 games and taken 27 points. That would equate to 69 points in a full season. It would not be a bad return.

Add to that the FA Cup run which took the Bulls to Hillsborough for a fourth round tie and brought in some welcome extra income.

It's not all been plain sailing. No doubt Pitman didn't want to lose striker Mathieu Manset a few weeks ago. But since his departure the team have proved they can manage without him. No player is bigger than the team.

And there is the possibility that the Bulls could lose the three points gained at Torquay because of the ridiculous FA rules about what time of day someone can sign on. Yesterday's three points at Cheltenham have taken some of the sting out of that possibility.

Some supporters felt Pitman might not have enough contacts in the game, but he's been able to bring in several loan players and send out a few more who, at present, aren't getting regular starts. No doubt he has been helped by Russell Hoult, his assistant manager.

So, to date, it's fair to say Pitman has had a good start to his managerial career at Edgar Street. Long may it continue.

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