Hutch and Mase poised to return
By Derek Bish
Monday 29th March 2010
JUST 71 days after being sacked, Ian Hutchinson and Andy
Mason are closing in on a return to Weymouth FC.
More talks were held between the former management duo and
chairman George Rolls on Saturday, before and after the Terras’
0-0 draw with Thurrock.
Their sensational comeback could be completed as early as
this week and they will begin preparing a squad capable of
competing next season.
“Things look to be nearly there,” said Hutchin-son.
“It’s just a case of waiting for a contract to be
in front of us to sign. We’ll then go from there. I’ve
always said from day one that there has to be a contract.
"George has agreed with that so it’s just a matter
of waiting for him to get back to us on that.”
Hutchinson and Mason were spotted watching at the Wessex
Stadium on Saturday, prompting chants of “there’s
only one Ian Hutchinson” and “sign him up”
from the crowd.
“We tried to hide in the corner,” said Hutchinson.
“The team were fantastic, it was a really spirited performance
and the lad in goal had a day to remember.”
Meanwhile, Andy Harris heaped praise on his young Terras
side after they battled valiantly at the Wessex Stadium.
The caretaker player-boss, who was forced to manage from
the sideline because of a knee injury, witnessed his charges
end a run of six straight defeats.
They could even have won for the first time in 12 games had
Thurrock’s Leon Lalite not been in the right place to
clear Shane Evans’ shot off the line, but it was a welcome
point for Harris, especially after Tuesday’s 7-1 thrashing
at the hands of Welling United.
“It was a performance full of heart, determination,
desire and organisation,” said the ex-Southend United
captain. “We kept our shape, kept our discipline and
did the right things at the right times. We made more correct
decisions than incorrect and in this league it is the teams
that make the right decisions more often than not who have
success and that’s all we can do.
“We’re not training together at the moment but
what we can do is be organised and know our jobs. Everyone
was given a job and everyone stuck to it manfully.”
He added: “It’s a relatively inexperienced squad
and we had a relative amount of success against Welling at
home and Chelmsford away.
“Maybe the 7-1 defeat to Welling was what we needed
to give us a kick up the behind. We were brought crashing
down to earth last Tuesday night so I told the lads to go
out there, enjoy it and try and put right the things that
went wrong.
“I said do not concede from set-pieces. Thurrock had
18 corners but we dealt with it and that’s all I can
ask.
“We were bound to come under pressure because that’s
the situation we are in, but I thought we looked like we possibly
could nick a goal.
“In the second half we weren’t clinging on and
Set to returnhad opportunities to break them down as they
pushed forward and left gaps at the back.”
Although everyone of the Weymouth squad can hold their head
up high after that display, goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe should
be most proud after a phenomenal display between the sticks
– most of which was played out with a suspected broken
thumb he picked up in the first half.
“I asked a little bit more from him after Tuesday, for
want of a better expression, and he came out did what I asked
of him,” said Harris. “He was positive in his decision-making
and went and swept things up round the defence.
“We know he is a good shot stopper because we’ve
seen him in games make great saves, but any goalkeeper will
tell you it is not about the shots that you save it’s
the mistakes you make.”
