BEAVERS ON TO A GWINNER

MEL GWINNETT has a long-term vision for Hampton & Richmond Borough – but even he admits they’re punching above expectations.

- Matt Badcock

The Beavers’ FA Trophy win at Step 1 Southend United last Saturday extended their unbeaten run to 13 games.

It’s a stretch that has seen Gwinnett’s side win nine of 11 National League South games to move them up to third in the table.

Yesterday, they travelled to leaders Yeovil Town and, regardless of result, the boss couldn’t be more pleased with the strides they’ve made since he walked through the door in January.

“What attracted me into the club was that they want to build, they want to develop,” Gwinnett tells The NLP. “It’s not about ‘win at all costs’, it’s about development.

“You can go down the route of signing players, they don’t quite work out, move them out, sign more players…or you can say: let’s build something sustainable. It takes longer, it’s harder work, but, ultimately, the business is more secure at the end of it when you get to where you want to go. You’re developing your own players, bringing young ones through – you’ve got that structure underneath that supports the club for the long term. We’ve gone down that route.