Steve Morison explains five-league drop from Championship to managing 7th tier club

He kept the Bluebirds up in 2021/22, and tried to rebuild the squad, only for that to be made more difficult as it was on a reduced budget, and unfortunately for him, those at the top at Cardiff ruthlessly axed him just 10 games into 2022/23.

He adds, while the decision by Cardiff knocked his confidence, he also missed out on roles with Swindon and MK Dons. Cardiff wanted him back just before Hornchurch came after him.

“It was totally random. I was having a bath and my phone went off, I was like, ‘What’s that all about?'” said Morison. “I was asked to go to London for a conversation about having my job back.

“I went and had the meeting, met the owner (Vincent Tan) for the first time. It was kind of surreal and I left that meeting thinking there was every chance I might have that job back. I didn’t 100 per cent believe it would happen, but I had the meeting because it would have been stupid not to.

“Next thing I knew it was in the press everywhere. I was hung out to dry a little bit to see the reaction and it wasn’t strong enough in my favour, and they went a different way.”

A chat with Hornchurch chairman and Millwall fan Alex Sharp that persuaded him to join the club as their manager.

“You have to put your ego to one side,” said Morison. “I just wanted to work rather than wait for another opportunity to open up. And it’s a really good opportunity. There are good people there and it just felt right.”

“It’s a lot more professional,” said Morison on non league these days. “The players ask questions, everything is filmed nowadays, it was never filmed 20 years ago. There are also a lot of 3G pitches in the league which means teams try to play more and can use for training.

“One of the things when I played in non-League would be not knowing where you would be training. It would be at a school somewhere on a sand-based astroturf. It was like that all the time. All you knew was where your home ground was.

“Of course, it’s a risk. If we don’t do well then obviously that’s a reflection on myself. Arguably, I look back and maybe I shouldn’t have taken the Cardiff job or should I have got out when I kept them up? Maybe my stock was high then. But you back yourself like you did as a player.”

Morison knows pressure is on for him to do well with the target of getting promoted, something they came close to last term and the year before that.

Hornchurch won the FA Trophy back in 2021, but were defeated in the last two play-off finals, having come second last season.

How is his side getting on? Well, they’re unbeaten in five games so far, won three, drew two, scored twelve and conceded five, while also beating Fakenham 5-0 in the FA Cup first qualifying round.

“The plan is promotion. They missed out by four points last season, can we bridge the gap?” he said. “We’ll just keep grinding away, we’ve got a good squad of players which allows us to mix things up. It’s a solid start. I wouldn’t say it was amazing.

“For me, it’s about how can I help. I’m still able to move, play football, and partake in a training session if I need to or with someone specifically. Is there some advice I can give? That’s no different to any level of football.”

But Hornchurch are up against some tough competition in the league this season, with Chatham leading the way, five wins from five.

Enfield Town are second with 13 points, Billericay sit third with 12 points and Carshalton level on points (11) with Hornchurch, Hastings and Lewes.