Heather McKinlay interviews Dean Holden

castrust · February 2023

CAST Chair Heather McKinlay met Dean Holden at Sparrows Lane on Friday:

"there’s something about south-east London I can relate to, like Salford, working class, proper, real, genuine, honest – everywhere I go people will be brutally honest with me and that’s brilliant.”

“My ideal would be to continue the progression we’ve seen up till now and to stay longer term – I’ve literally fell for the place. I’ve barely been back home since I came down - something special has grabbed me."

“people should have an understanding of what’s going on – I try and speak in normal language.”

there’s a lot of anger and I understand all that.”

“judge me on the way out rather than on the way in.”

The full interview:

https://www.castrust.org/2023/02/dean-holden-to-c-a-s-t-something-special-has-grabbed-me/

mendonca · February 2023

@AFKABartram still not buying it me thinks?

N01R4M · February 2023

Really enjoyed reading that.
Now waiting to see whether action matches ambition.

Sillybilly · February 2023

I do like this guy. I share an element of the guvnor’s suspicion about his involvement with the takeover gang but he has carried himself extremely well and has got something out of our ragtag and bobtail squad. I hope he’s around for a while.

The Red Robin · February 2023

So any wiser to who actually approached him for the job and who appointed him? He doesn’t mention Sandgaard once.

Bilko · February 2023

I like the cut of his cloth. I hope he stays on takeover or not.

TEL · February 2023

I just watched him interviewing post Exeter. I really like this bloke. So engaging and yet down to earth. The Ben Jay tribute he organised had me a little choked up.

Top man, give him a three year contract.

KBslittlesis · February 2023

I like him.

And I like him whatever happens.

I have no fecking idea if we’re being played by a bunch of chanchers,

But it’s the first time in a fecking long time I’ve listened to a manager that I like.

If it turns out I’ve been played, so be it.

JamesSeed · February 2023

I think he’s a cut above what we’ve had recently, and the signs are good. But he’s hampered by a lack of depth in the squad, and results will inevitably tail off. At that point the doubters will say ‘I told you so’, and the Sandgaard axe will start quivering.

Of course it’s also possible that he’ll show weakness as all our recent managers have.

mattinfinland · February 2023

Absolutely, one of the biggest signings of the summer has to be a longer contract for Dean.

BigRedEvil · February 2023

He seems to be a decent manager but more importantly he seems a top bloke. I've been really impressed with him since he came in

oohaahmortimer · February 2023

Whose are his sidekicks , what coaches are here … I can’t keep up with the revolving door

ForeverAddickted · February 2023

oohaahmortimer said:

Whose are his sidekicks , what coaches are here … I can’t keep up with the revolving door

Anthony Hayes and Scott Marshall are still here from being under Garner

Holden arrived on his own

Raith_C_Chattonell · February 2023

Can't help being suspicious of the secretive cabal who arrived together, but as a man he is impossible not to like.

Daarrzzetbum · February 2023

Seems like a decent bloke & manager, he has galvanised the team/squad undoubtably as performances and results testify, also I get the impressions the players are onside with him as are the fan base. Hope he hangs around longer than the previous managers he could, with the right backing what we’ve been waiting for.

Henry Irving · February 2023

What a liar!

He hasn't "ordered" a picture of the FA Cup winning, the museum are lending him one!

Holden Out

stonemuse · February 2023

That is a great interview

Weegie Addick · February 2023

I did wonder that, Ben. At least he didn’t say he’d bought it!

Thanks for the kind comments.

Re the coaches, I think it’s fascinating that he has come in alone and has clearly already built a good rapport with Marshall and Hayes. That takes character.

Overall he struck me as a bit of a throwback to the times when a manager very much set the tone for the club and he is clearly very committed and a bit of a workaholic. Obvious from other interviews how important his family is too, yet his wife and children are still in the NW. Will have to see how that works out - will depend on his contract situation at some point, I guess.

valleynick66 · February 2023

I want to believe him and that he will be around for a while but if he disappears into the sunset I won’t be surprised either.

We forgive managers for not saying all they can because they have to ‘manage upwards too’ but it grates that they won’t (or rather feel that they can’t).

CheshireAddick · February 2023

The Red Robin said:
So any wiser to who actually approached him for the job and who appointed him? He doesn’t mention Sandgaard once.

There were a couple of things he said in th interview when talking about the situation within the club which surprised me that he said. Clearly he gets the mood of the fans. I like him.

PragueAddick · February 2023

Terrific interview. The right questions, and really interesting answers.

I really like how quickly he has absorbed what the club is, in the context of where it sits geographically.

“proper, special and potential”. He nails it, and Weegie will know what I mean, it isn't easy to nail that apparently innocent question, especially when you've only been around a few weeks and come from oop North. Curbs gets it nowadays, on Charlton TV he's the living embodiment of all we achieved in the last 30 years, but if you are old enough you may recall that for quite a while we were not sure he was one of us, that his heart lay across the river.

Of course that doesn't matter if you are not getting anywhere on the pitch, but 4 wins in five gives his words some substance.

All the more reason to do all we can to get him the backing he deserves from the boardroom, whoever 's in it.

Redmidland · February 2023

I like the man, the interview was very good, as I've said before I think he gets 'the club'. Who brought him in, not a clue, does it matter to me....no not really, he has given the team a fighting spirit I've not seen for a long time. We, I think, would've lost yesterday under some of the previous managers....but when they scored we didnt crumble.....that has to be DH mentality and MO.
I hope he gets a much longer contract whoever the owner is/are.

Tunwellsaddick · February 2023

Great interview which has only endorsed my conviction that Dean Holden is the man for Charlton - long term.

AdTheAddicK · February 2023

Dean Holden for me is the man. He repeatedly explains how important it is to get the fans on 'their' side. Which I think he is doing well with all this off the field matters. Yes it does help he has started very well, however I never really felt a connection with BG. Not saying he is a poor coach, but didn't feel much with him in charge. Football is complicated and can change very quickly.

But so far so very good.

The Red Robin · February 2023

Let’s just hope he’s here long-term. I’m not convinced he’ll be here beyond the summer.

peterreeves · February 2023

I like the fella. All I want to see is the players going out there and giving it everything like Garry Nelson and John Robinson used too and DH seems capable of making that happen.
What we truly need now is stability on the Manager front so I hope the team keep playing well and Dean stays despite the absolute sh*t show going on in the background which is turning into a farce.