The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Former Spalding United manager Dave Frecklington admits that he simply couldn’t turn down an approach from Gainsborough Trinity.
Frecklington was offered the job at National League North outfit Trinity on Saturday night – and he didn’t have to waste too much time thinking about the offer.
Despite just being a matter of months into his proposed three-year plan with the Tulips, he handed in his resignation on Sunday and was unveiled by Gainsborough on Monday afternoon.
Openly ambitious from day one, Frecklington feels that he leaves Spalding in a much better position than when he took the job in May. The ex-Lincoln United chief also hopes that there’s no ill feeling from the club towards him and feels they part on good terms.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity for me,” admitted Frecklington. “Quite simply, the offer was too good for me to turn down.
“Gainsborough is a huge club that can offer National League North football – and they are 15 minutes from my house.
“People are generally involved in non-league football for one of two reasons: they love the game and want to play or manage as high as they can. I’m in it for both reasons, so to step up two levels was a no-brainer.
“It all happened very quickly and the past few days have been pretty manic, but I’m very happy and proud to be the Gainsborough manager.
“I feel that I deserve the opportunity. I’ve been a number two and then a success with two different step four clubs.
“With Spalding, I certainly feel that I leave them in a stronger place than when I took over.
“We had four players and I was under no illusions that it was a very hard job. But we recruited well and had a great bunch of lads playing football that worked.
“I’m proud of what I achieved at Spalding and I hope that they go on and finish the job and get promoted.
“I have nothing but good things to say about Spalding and I hope there’s no hard feelings towards me from anybody there.”
Frecklington has backed his former assistant boss and best friend Chris Rawlinson to carry on the good work of the past few months, with Spalding second in the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South table with 13 games to go.
He admits that parting ways with Rawlinson after seven years as a management team is “emotional” – but thinks the time is right for the new Tulips chief to go it alone.
Frecklington did stop short of saying he’d look to raid his old team for talent, but admitted that he’ll be “selfish” in his bid to improve Gainsborough.
“We had an emotional meeting on Monday,” added Frecklington. “We’ve worked together for seven years and must speak about ten times a day.
“In the end, we’ve both been given great opportunities and I have no doubt that he’ll keep things ticking over nicely at Spalding. We’ll still speak every day and I’m delighted that he’s stepped up as a manager, he’ll do a brilliant job.
“Will I look to take any Spalding players? I don’t really want to get into that. I’ve got to assess my Gainsborough squad and see what I’m working with.
“I do know that a lot of the Spalding lads have the ambition to play higher. I’ll be selfish when it comes to transfers, but I’m not thinking about that now.”
Frecklington took charge of 37 competitive games at Spalding, winning 21, drawing six and losing ten. He leaves the club in the best position of any other manager in the club’s recent history.
