The former Cambrdge United and Peterborough United midfielder has endured a painful 18 months since leaving Warrington Town to join the Bucks in December 2021.
Despite averting relegation in his first season, he was sacked just 12 games into last year’s National League North campaign. Carden then joined Nantwich Town but was unable to stave off relegation to NPL East.
Just to rub salt into the wounds, Warrington won promotion to Step 2, leaving the 44-year-old to wonder what might have been.
“I’m actually further back than where I started,” concedes Carden, who spent five years in the NPL Premier with Warrington.
“But it’s like I always say to my players. No matter what level you play at, you’ve always got to prove you deserve to be higher. That’s what I need to do now.
“What happened with Telford was massively disappointing. I can’t deny that. I’d gone from five years at Warrington, where all we’d known was winning games with a settled squad.
“I was at the play-off final when they beat Bamber Bridge and to see them finally go up was unbelievable.
Denne historien er fra July 23, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra July 23, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
WRAGGY WILL BE SORELY MISSED
MACCLESFIELD FC have led the tributes to “colossal” former manager Peter Wragg, who has passed away.
BURY & RAMMY HIT BIG STAGE!
BRYANLY’S late penalty kept Bury top of the tree in front of another record-breaking crowd at Gigg Lane on Boxing Day.
BRAVE BERKO ARE ON TRACK
Ducks demolition maintains title tilt
OWLS THAT! CLEE GLEE ON TOP OF THE TREE
CLEETHORPES Town maintained their four-point lead at the top of NPL East with a hard-fought 2-1 derby win over North Ferriby at the Myenergi Stadium.
HAWKS SWOOP IN FOR DERBY GLORY
REUBEN AUSTIN hailed Havant & Waterlooville teammate Leon Maloney’s wonder goal as ‘a hell of a strike’ as the Hawks continued their promotion push with a 3-1 local derby success over Gosport Borough.
JULIUS DICTATES - BUT FANS MIST IT
JULUS Ndene handed Leek Town a famous victory in the mist – not that any of the fans got to see it!
GOLDEN BROWN BACK AT THE TOP
PHIL Brown gave his Kidderminster Harriers players Christmas off – and was rewarded with a climb to the top of the tree.
BRENNAN'S BOYS SALVAGED IN 'KAMIKAZE' YEAR END
STRAIGHT talking Dean Brennan lamented ‘kamikaze’ defending despite seeing his Barnet nick a dramatic late point to end 2024 at the National League summit.
FIVE-STAR PIRATES PUMMEL ROVERS
IN the final game of the year at the Ledger Stadium, second-placed Real Bedford faced off against fourth-placed Barton Rovers, who arrived as the league’s in-form side.
MOORE'S LATE GOAL SEALS BIG REDS WIN
GEORGE Moore was the hero grabbing a stoppage-time winner to sink Kingstonian and take Uxbridge to third in the table in what is becoming a fascinating promotion race in the Pitching-In Isthmian South Central.