King’s Lynn Town interim boss Mark Hughes was quick to dish out the praise after making a winning start to his managerial career with a 4-1 victory over Kettering Town at The Walks.
Goals from Ben Stephens and Gold Omotayo either side of half-time began the rout before Omotayo netted a second and Adam Crowther added a fourth as the Poppies capitulated in spectacular fashion in the second half.
As first days in the dugout go, they don’t get much better as the new management team celebrated Lynn’s biggest league win of the season on home soil.
“I’m confident,” admitted a delighted Hughes on the final whistle.
“I’m confident in the lads’ ability, it’s not like someone new coming in. I know what they’ve got to give and we’ve just got to take each game as it comes.
“We’ve got a skipper who has been here a long time and he’s seen quite a lot of things.
“I’ve got to give him a special mention as well as the senior pros in Josh (Barrett) and Macca (Kyle Callan-McFadden) as they control the dressing room you know and Aaron (Jones) as well.
“So I’m just showing faith in them and they’ve certainly repaid me today.”
More than 1500 fans turned out at The Walks and Lynn’s new boss and his coaching staff soaked up the warm applause on the final whistle.
“We talked about the support and Paul (Jones) said that we needed to give them something to cheer about early on to get them on their toes and get them loud,” he said.
“We didn’t give them a goal until the 40th minute but the second half was terrific and I’m not going to lie it was tremendous, a lovely feeling going over the other side and walking all the way around.”
After a coaching job at Chelmsford, Hughes cut his managerial teeth with assistant roles with both Billericay and Cheshunt.
He had no qualms about taking the job at Lynn – and had every faith in his squad as Good Friday turned into a great one for the club and its supporters.
“The players have taken responsibility since Tommy Widdrington left and I have got so much faith in them,” he said.
“As i said earlier in the week, they called their own meeting and stuff and to have a group like that, it’s tight knit.
“And for me to come in and we are sitting second in the league, it is a real good opportunity for me.
“Delighted with the four goals. I thought in the first half we controlled possession, got into some great little areas, without really testing their keeper but then we get the goal just before half time and your team talk changes a little bit.
“We had a forced change in Ben (Stephens) which brought Aaron (Cosgrave) on the pitch which brought two up top and I just thought he looked really threatening.”
Ironically, before he was asked to fill the void left by Tommy Widdrington, Hughes had an Easter holiday booked with his family at Hunstanton.
That break will away will feel even better before Hughes and the team turn their attentions to the next assignment at Alfreton on Monday.
