Hartley Wintney appoint experienced former EFL player as their new manager

Hartley Wintney appoint experienced former EFL player Rowan Vine as their new manager with the club struggling in the Southern League.

He comes into the South Division club, who sit 20th / 22nd with 20 points from 26 games. Vine replaces Ian Selley after just two months at the helm.

They have only one win in their last five games conceding 15 goals and only netted four in those games, and named the new manager for the game on the 21st of January against Beaconsfield Town.

Hartley Wintney FC has appointed Rowan Vine as the club’s new first team manager.

Rowan returns to the Row after two spells as a player, while club legend Shane Hollamby has been named as assistant manager.#UTR🧡

— Hartley Wintney FC (@HartleyFC) January 20, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT ON NEW BOSS

Rowan Vine announced as the new manager alongside assistant Shane Hollamby at Hartley Wintney FC

Hartley Wintney FC have announced the appointment of Rowan Vine as First Team Manager following the departure of Ian Selley and assistant, Mick Bennett, this week. Vine will be partnered in the dugout by Shane Hollamby as Assistant First Team Manager.

Basingstoke-born Rowan Vine (40), pictured on the right, joined the Row as a player in October 2017 and made a huge impact on the side, but more will know him from his time in the professional game in England and Scotland, where he played for clubs including Portsmouth, Brentford, QPR, Colchester United and St Johnstone. His goals and assists helped Luton Town to the League One title in 2004-05 before he signed for Birmingham City in 06-07, the season of their promotion to the Premiership.

In early March 2018, Vine left the Row to become a member of a management team that took the helm at one of his former clubs, Gosport Borough, who were bottom of the league at the time. Gosport survived, taking it to the last game of the season after a nail-biting end to their campaign.

Shane Hollamby (35) may not have Vine’s footballing pedigree, but he can rightly be considered a Hartley Wintney legend. He joined as a player in 2012-13 with the club adrift at the bottom of the Combined Counties League Premier Division, and was instrumental in the Row incredibly avoiding relegation that season. He went on to play a crucial part in back-to-back CCL Premier Division titles and the Row’s promotion to the Southern League.

After a two season spell with their local rivals, ‘Holla’ rejoined the Row at the start of the curtailed 2019-20 season and has remained with the club as a player. Though an ongoing injury issue has affected his availability in latter years, he has continued to enjoy cameo opportunities to show his class on the pitch.

Vine and Hollamby will take charge of their first game in the league match at home to Beaconsfield Town on Saturday 21st January. Their coaching team will be announced very shortly.

CLUB STATEMENT ON SACKING

Hartley Wintney face a second change of management this season

Hartley Wintney FC have parted company with first team manager, Ian Selley, and Assistant Manager, Mick Bennett.

Selley was appointed manager of the Southern League Premier Division side at the beginning of November 2022, following the departure of joint managers Ross Weatherstone and Tyrone Newton. Bennett was brought in as his assistant a few days later.

Their departure came by mutual agreement following a string of poor results which further hampered the North Hampshire side’s efforts to climb out of the relegation places in Premier Division South.

For Director of Football, Anthony Millerick, and Club Chairman, Luke Mullen, it was a decision neither came to lightly, particularly having already made a change in the management setup earlier this season. Millerick said:

“Working alongside Ian to bring in players, I saw first-hand how hard both Ian and Mick worked behind the scenes to make this work. Coming in at a delicate time, and after a really positive start, things went against them at crucial times, which killed any chance of much needed momentum to pull us away from danger. Both are great football people and I thank them for their efforts and wish them the very best of luck at their next club, when that comes about.”

Chairman Luke Mullen said, “Both Ian and Mick have worked extremely hard during their short tenure, and we thank them for their efforts on the Club’s behalf.”

Having only recently completed a round of interviews which culminated in Ian Selley’s appointment, the club have been able to quickly identify a new management team. They are expected to be in place for the next league game at home to Beaconsfield Town on Saturday 21st January. A further announcement will be made in due course.

The Club would like to thank Ian and Mick for the time and dedication they put in during what was a far shorter tenure than anyone at the Club expected or hoped for. We wish them all the best for the future.

This is what fans said as Hartley Wintney appoint an experienced former EFL player as their new manager…

@kevinmilton007: Wishing you guys the best possible outcomes for the remainder of the season

@Struds82: Best of luck fellas! 👊👊

@stovski_8: Up the Row and holla man 🧡

@PoultonBen: Hope he’s as good a manager as he was a striker… up the row 💪

@PrivettLife: Congrats to a real one x

@aaron32745147: congratulations to you both 👏🏿👏🏿

@tadleycallevafc: All at Tadley-Calleva would like to wish former players Rowan and Shane all the best in their new role. Two great players with great ambition.