Maldon & Tiptree could 'go anywhere' - Horlock

Kevin Horlock won 32 international caps during his playing career

Kevin Horlock believes non-league Maldon & Tiptree have the potential to "go anywhere" under their new owners after returning to the club as manager.

The former Manchester City, West Ham and Ipswich midfielder left his previous job at Needham Market to drop two levels and return to the club where he was previously in charge from 2016-18.

He admits he was still "wet behind the ears" in his first spell at the club but now has the experience to bring success to The Jammers, who were bought by the Drewitt-Barlow Organisation in what they say was a "multi-million pound deal".

"It could go to league football like they've said, (but) it's a process that has to be done slowly, it doesn't happen overnight, but the foundations are in place now and it's up to myself, the staff and the players to produce," Horlock told BBC Essex.

The new era did not begin auspiciously, with Maldon & Tiptree losing 2-1 at home to Haringey Borough on Saturday.

The team have won only nine out of 30 Isthmian League North Division matches this season and are 15th in the table.

But speaking in the run-up to the game, Horlock said he would have a "healthy budget" to work with going forwards, compared to other clubs in the eighth tier of English football.

"It's exciting times, I've had to pinch myself a little bit," the 52-year-old ex-Northern Ireland international said.

"They've given me all the tools to be successful, so if I'm not, it's on me.

"They're good people, they're serious about this football club and I'm lucky, and privileged, that they've trusted in me to be manager."

Horlock guided The Jammers to the play-offs when he was first manager of the club, who have also done well in the FA Cup, reaching the first round proper in 2019-20 and again the following season.

But he has vowed to be "quite stringent" with the money he has been given by Barrie and Scott Drewitt-Barlow and ruled out 'splashing the cash' as a short-cut to initial success.

"Just because they're wealthy people, I'm not here to waste money. I'll put a team together and if I can save money and do that, less than the budget, I will, of course," Horlock said.

"The pressure is on - but I like that. Pressure in football is something that I craved in my playing days, so to have that pressure on me to produce a team to get out of step four (of non-league football), I relish and look forward to it."

He added: "I was wet behind the ears before. I understand football (now), I think I've learned a lot in terms of dealing with players, because everybody's different, they're individuals although it's a team sport.

"I think my managerial credentials have gone up in that department and my biggest strength is bringing people together and players wanting to play for me. If players like you, they'll run through walls for you."