Paul Hughes is hoping to replicate his success with Kings Langley at Hayes & Yeading United – and has signed three more of the players who helped him do it.
Hughes and assistant Richie Hanlon led the Hertfordshire side to three successive promotions before taking up the vacant managerial positions at United earlier this month.
The pair took charge of their first Southern Premier match for United at the weekend, a 2-0 defeat at high-flying Leamington, and handed debuts to three more former Langley players – Danny Boness, Malondo Martin and Mitchell Weiss.
Keeper Boness is a former West Ham scholar who has also played for Colchester, Grays Athletic and Biggleswade Town, while Weiss joins on loan from Hemel Hempstead, and former Greenford High pupil Martin, who came through the ranks at Watford, joins from Salisbury.
Hughes said: “The secret of our success at Kings Langley was everyone was 100 per cent committed to the cause. Everyone was prepared to roll their sleeves up and graft. You don't get three promotions without unity, and that's what I want to replicate here.
“I see no reason why we cannot get back into the Conference National. The stadium looks good, and when it's ready, if we can move back there winning games, I'm sure the crowds will return. For now though, it's about pulling away from danger.
“The drop zone is not a nice place to be, and once you're in it it's very difficult to get out again. We're fourth from bottom, so something wasn't right, and we had to change it quickly, so we've brought in players who know how to execute what we want to do.”
The former Langley trio were not the only players making their debuts at Leamington. Also making their United bows were winger Terence Carter, who has joined on loan from Wealdstone, and former Nottingham Forest U21 defender Jack Kelly, from Hemel Hempstead.
Hughes added: “I was very impressed with the lads at Leamington. It would have been easy to capitulate when 2-0 down at half time at the league leaders, but we did quite the opposite and dominated the second half. Considering we've barely had a week with this team, I was happy with the display.”
There was a huge impact from the new faces as Hayes beat Egham Town 3-0 in the League Cup on Tuesday night. Carter and Weiss both netted, along with another recent signing, Josh Hutchinson, while Boness saved a penalty. United have no game this weekend but travel to Hitchin Town on Monday night.
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