'I will give my everything for this club' - Meet Haywards Heath Town's new boss Lloyd Cotton

At the beginning of August, Lloyd Cotton was named joint manager of Haywards Heath Town.
Lloyd Cotton in action for Haywards Heath Town against Hastings United last season. Picture by Grahame LehkyjLloyd Cotton in action for Haywards Heath Town against Hastings United last season. Picture by Grahame Lehkyj
Lloyd Cotton in action for Haywards Heath Town against Hastings United last season. Picture by Grahame Lehkyj

But by the end of the month, Shaun Saunders stepped down leaving Cotton as sole manager of the Isthmian South East Division side. And on Saturday he takes charge of his first competitive game as the Hanbury outfit travel to SCFL side Broadbridge Heath in the FA Cup.

We caught up with Lloyd ahead of the game to see how it has gone going from player to manager, and what Blues fans can expect from his side.

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Q. It's been a bit of whirlwind for yourself with joining the management team then Shaun leaving - how has that affected the team in pre-season?

A. It’s been quite different for the boys because I was a player last year. But the transition has been pretty smooth because ShaUn has been around the whole time and he’s been helping out behind the scenes. He’s still there in quite a capacity so it’s not been a massive change, it's been a smooth transition over.

The team seems great and everyone seems fine with it and been pretty positive allround.

Q. How have to you felt pre-season games has gone?

A. Pre-season games have gone well so far. We are setting up a certain way we want to play this year and everyone has reacted really well to what we have told them about how we want to set out.

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The results have been pretty good. It all gets real this week for the boys with the FA Cup game.

Q. Are you happy with the squad you have built?

A. I am really happy with the boys we have got in the squad. We still have a massive squad and it’s going to be really, really competitive this year, there will be some seriously hard choices to make. Ben Burns, Ryan Taylor and Shaun have all been working overtime to get some of these players in and I am absolutely delighted with the squad. A good bunch of lads and I am hoping we can kick on.

Q. Who have you brought in that you think will help Haywards Heath Town progress this season?

A. There have been some wholesale changes. We have some massive changes in the squad this year. You can just look through it and see the difference from last season.

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All the players who we have brought in can make an impact. I feel the team we are building can take us in the right direction and we are doing things the right way. Hopefully they can all contribute to that.

Q. I bet you can't wait to get back into competitive action this week with the FA Cup tie against Broadbridge Heath? It's been a long wait hasn't it! What do you know about Broadbridge Heath? Are you confident of winning?

A. Me, and everyone at the club, are looking to get some normality back and get some competitive football going.

It has been a long wait. We sent someone to have a look at them this week so we know enough about them tio take into the game. We are going to be set up a certain way I want us to play and that’s us this year. We will have a way of playing and we will play that against most sides and we will have to see how it all p[ans out.

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I want to be confident going into any game this season thinking we can get something out of all games, so that’s the mentality we have got to have this year.

Q. Do you know your line-up and formation already or is it something you are still working on?

A. I have been working with a large number of players over the last couple of months and it’s been so competitive but it’s starting to take shape now and I’m starting to know how I want to set out the team. This year I am hoping to keep as many of the boys as possible because the squad is really important and it always is for a big season. We know what formation we are going to play.

Q. How important is the FA Cup to a club like Haywards Heath Town?

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The FA Cup is massive for us and it’s a good day out for the boys. If you get a little run going in the FA Cup you can have some massive games and the fans love it. We want to do really well in it and progress.

Q. And what can Heath fans expect from you as a manager and what can they expect from your team?

The fans can expect from me what they saw on the pitch. 100 per cent at all times. I will give my everything for this club. Heart on my sleeve and working with the boys and getting as much out of them as I possibly can. I feel like a team I put out on the pitch will work very hard and will be playing for the shirt. That’s a big thing for me.

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