Hill keen to avoid quick changes (From Halesowen News)

Hill keen to avoid quick changes

1:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in Sport

JOHN Hill says he will avoid changing too much, too soon at Halesowen Town.

The new Yeltz boss, who officially took over at the Grove on Monday, has admitted he is looking to strengthen the squad and has made seven day approaches for three different players.

But he says current players will be given the chance to impress following a solid start to the season which sees the club sit fourth in the Northern League Division One South.

Hill said: “Every manager wants to put his own stamp on the team and I’m no different.

“But there is obviously now a bit of a bedding in period and I need to have a look at the players who have been playing so well of late.

“It would be a bit silly to go chopping and changing things straight away.

“I do want to bring players in and the squad does need strenghening, I don’t think there is any doubt about that.

“But I’ll be having a good look at the lads we have got now over the next few weeks before making any big decisions.”

If the players were hoping to impress the new boss, they certainly did themselves no favours on Tuesday night in his first game in charge, as the Yeltz were beaten 2-1 and knocked out of the Birmingham Senior Cup by Studley.

They have the opportunity to bounce back with two home league games in four days, first against Sheffield on Saturday before the visit of Kidsgrove Athletic on Tuesday.

Hill said: “Losing at Studley was certainly not the start we were looking for.

“But sometimes you learn more about the team when the lose and you see how players react.

“I learned more last night than I have in three weeks of watching the team as an observer.

“The good thing about football is you get the chance to right the wrongs pretty quickly and that’s what we’ll be out to do on Saturday.”

One area the new man has made his mark is on the bench, with Johnny Morris and Trevor Burroughs quickly appointed as his assistants.

Morris is already well-known to Yeltz supporters, having managed the club between 1988 and 1994.

Hill added: “John has a lot of affection for Halesowen and the people at the club.

“I know he has strong links with other clubs but in the case of Halesowen I think he feels like he’s returned to his footballing home.”