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Hakan Hayrettin says he’s left emotionally and physically drained by Maidstone’s title charge.
Manager Hayrettin’s passion for the job and the demands he makes of his players come at a price for the Stones boss.
But it will all be worth it if they convert their four-point lead into National South glory next month.
“Emotionally and physically I get drained but I’m lucky to have a fiancée like I’ve got who keeps me level-headed,” said Hayrettin.
“It does take a lot out of me but as soon as I put the key in the front door on a Saturday night I switch off until Monday and then 7am when the phone goes, she goes ‘here we go again’.
“If I’m going to speak to anyone on a Sunday it’s going to be Bill Williams, the chief exec.
“It’s a full-time job for me and I have to cover all bases.
“Being a manager here, you have to manage the staff, you have to manage the supporters, you have to manage the players, you have to manage the press, you have to manage the owners.
“I’ve got big responsibilities on my shoulders but once the key goes in the door on a Saturday, until Monday, I switch off.”
Hayrettin is ready to squeeze even more out of the players in the final six games of the season.
Inspired by a Netflix documentary on Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest years, featuring two of his former managers, Hayrettin feels there’s always for improvement.
“I think in any team you can get more,” said Hayrettin.
“I saw a documentary the other day where my two old managers, Frank Clark and Martin O’Neill, were in the Clough era at Forest and he got every ounce of energy and skill and determination out of them, and I’m sure there’s still more to come if I push.
“I look at my two gaffers there that I played for (O’Neill at Wycombe; Clark at Leyton Orient), and they were lucky to play for someone like that who got under people’s skin.”
Hayrettin is able to lean on assistant manager Terry Harris and his staff for support, making his life easier.
The boss has heaped praise on his league leaders throughout the season but the management team deserve plenty of credit, too.
“We’ve drawn upon mine and Terry’s experience and knowledge from where we’ve been and how we’ve worked together before,” said Hayrettin. “Me and Terry complement each other.
“He’s one of my best friends in football, we came out the same era, we both did a lot of things together at a couple of clubs and we both worked for John Still and we’ve carried it forward.
“I think I’ve done 700 games as a manager, I’m not sure, but I’ve managed at the level above and I’ve worked in the Football League and I’m here now and I’m grateful to be here.
“It’s a fantastic football club and I think a lot of credit must go to Terry Harris and the staff as well because without them I don’t think any of this would have been possible, but my job is to manage them all.
“If I see something that I’m not happy with, or I want to tweak it, I’ll tell them. Trust me when I tell you this, I’ve got no qualms in telling anyone what I think.”
Maidstone lost 1-0 on their last visit to Chippenham in the 2019/20 season, finishing with nine men.
They’ll be hoping for a happier trip this time but the Wiltshire club are no mugs, sitting just two points outside the play-offs.
“I understand what’s required and we’ve got some big games coming up,” said Hayrettin, whose side beat Havant 4-0 last weekend.
“We’ve got to show the same discipline, same determination, same professionalism as we did against Havant."
Maidstone raced into a 3-0 half-time lead against the Hawks, with Jack Barham scoring twice in eight minutes and Joan Luque adding a penalty.
Hayrettin had to remind kitman Mark Thompson there was still another half to play when he tried to give the boss a cuddle during the break.
"Anyone who knows Mark, he’s part of the team, he’s part of the ethos of what this club is about," said Hayrettin.
"He wears the badge with pride, he cares so much about the team and the players, and I said to him at half-time, don’t get carried away, come and hug me at the end of the game."
