Alex Dyer wants to stay as Welling manager
Published: 00:00, 02 May 2017
Alex Dyer expects a decision on whether he will be Welling manager next season to be made in the next 48 hours.
Welling finished a disappointing season with a 2-0 Kent Reliance Senior Cup final defeat to Dover on Monday.
Former Charlton assistant boss Dyer, who came in as manager for the final six games of the season, will talk to Welling chairman Mark Goldberg about taking the role on a permanent basis.
Scroll down for audio
“I will speak to him tomorrow or Wednesday and then a decision will be made,” confirmed Dyer.
“This is a good challenge, people have been good to me since I have come to the club and treated me well. The club deserves a bit more than they’ve had and if I’m here then I hope I can give them that little bit more.
“I hope I get a chance to manage and if it is at Welling then I hope I grab it with both hands.”
Dyer had been out of the game since leaving Huddersfield where he was assistant manager in November 2015.
But he isn’t afraid of putting his reputation on the line by managing in National League South.
“I want to manage or coach as high as I can so I have to be careful,” said 51-year-old Dyer. “You’re here because of circumstances. Football’s football isn’t it.
“There’s managers who have been better managers than me in this division or lower, you’ve got to rebuild.
“Whether I get a chance to manage in League 1 or League 2, it hasn’t happened up to now, so maybe I have to come down and pit my wits against managers who have been at this level.
“I love football. I’ve been in it since 16 when I left school. I’ve been out once or twice and I’ve missed it. This was the longest period I’ve been out and if I’m not in the game then I go and work where I have to work.
“I’m glad that I’m back in. I take my hat off to Mark (Goldberg) as he has given me an opportunity and we’ll see where it goes.
“I’ve had my grounding. When I was an apprentice I wanted to be a pro, when I was a pro I wanted to be a coach.
“When my career was over I went and did my badges, I’ve had education and worked with Chris Powell on two jobs and it’s been excellent.
“I’ve worked under good managers in the past and now it’s time for me to be my own man.”
Despite his lack of non-league experience, Dyer insisted that he will be able to manage at Welling – if the circumstances are right for him to take the job.
“I won’t have knowledge but I’ll have people who have knowledge – and that’s the best way. I know people in this environment who will help me," he added.
“Tristan (Lewis) is there, Mark (Goldberg) knows it, I’ve got people on the outside who know it and I’ve had numerous people call me and tell me they can get me players if I need them to.
“I can get young players from pro clubs as well which is a good thing. My reputation in the game is hopefully good enough that people will give me their young players as they know we will try and play some football.”
It appears that money will be key to Dyer’s decision – but only in terms of a budget that allows him to compete at Welling's level.
“Only finance towards getting players in – not my personal finance,” said Dyer.
“It’s about getting the right players and then the rewards will come. First of all we need to get a decent team on the pitch and get the supporters coming back again.
“Not to have a season like we’ve just had, it’s not right.
“We don’t want to be in a relegation battle, we want to try and get into the play-offs – that’s what the club should be aiming for.
“Up to speed? I’ll be up to speed with the environment of this league. The team needs to be organised, the main thing is there isn’t much difference between someone who finished fourth or fifth from bottom and one who is going for the play-offs.
“They might have a little bit more endeavour and a cutting edge - that comes maybe with finance and getting someone who can put the ball in the back of the net.
“You need heart. If you haven’t got a little bit of self-pride then you’re not going to get on and that’s what I’ll install into this football club.”
More by this author
Matthew Panting