Interview with Edwin Stein
1st February 2002

Despite the pressures resulting from a string of poor results, Harrow Borough manager Edwin Stein is trying to keep focused on what he believes is the future of the Ryman League club. Speaking hours before Harrow's 6-1 mauling of Southall Town in the Middlesex Charity Cup, Stein knows the patience of the supporters is wearing a bit thin.

"There is a lot of negativity, but it's not new to me. I've been through similar spells at both Barnet and Birmingham City. Yes, the supporters feel alienated, and believe me, no one is more disappointed than me about how the season has gone so far."

Currently five points adrift at the foot of the Ryman League Premier Division, Stein and his squad face an uphill battle to avoid the drop to Division One. However it's a task the Harrow boss feels is not beyond him.

"The players and I know that we haven't put on enough decent performances to gain the points required. Our aim between now and the end of the season is to become more difficult to beat and stop conceding soft goals. Staying in this division is not out of our reach at all".

This task starts on Saturday at home to Kingstonian, a club with troubles of their own, in administration after relegation from the Conference last season. However they sit in a comfortable mid-table position and will provide another stern test for Harrow, without a league win at home all season.

"I'm going into this game in a positive frame of mind. We were unlucky to come away with nothing from their place, so I'm looking for a reversal of fortunes on Saturday. A decent home performance is long overdue, something the players are well aware of. They are also very aware that I'm not satisfied with how things have been going on the pitch, and we are working diligently behind the scenes to ensure our performance is much improved from the Bedford game."

This match, against the team immediately above Harrow in the table, resulted in a 4-2 defeat at Earlsmead two weeks ago.

"We prepared, on the back of the win at Boreham Wood, feeling confident that we had turned the corner, but the performance was massively disappointing. Having worked hard to score the opening goal, we gave away a goal right on half time. It was a good goal, but there was no pressure put on the guy, who had time and space to shoot. Bedford had their tails up after that and capitalised on this in the second half."

It's these types of defensive lapses that sum up Harrow's season to date. However, having been through a multitude of combinations at the back, Stein is settling on a formula he firmly believes can work.

"I've put Pat Gavin into a central defensive role and brought in young Dean Marney alongside him. I believe Pat can give him encouragement and support and help develop the lad."

Also at the back are Richard Clarke and goalkeeper Duncan Roberts.

"Both have been a revelation this season. These players, along with others such as Fabio Valenti and Daniel Dyer are the nucleus of a decent squad. I continue to look around for other players to strengthen what I already have, and do plan to venture into the transfer market before the season's deadline.

"Still, it comes back to our performances to date. We are very confident as a group of players but we have not been transferring the hard work put into training onto the pitch. I am seriously considering bringing in a sports psychologist, just as another voice to help with this problem."

There has been recent speculation about the future of Fabio Valenti, who has regularly shone at Earlsmead this season.

"A few clubs have asked me about the lad. I just feel that a move now may not be in his best interests. He wants to play at the highest level possible, and we've spoken about his situation, and I've told him I believe he can achieve his ambitions with us. Fabio loves the club and wants to stay.

"He, like most of the players, believes we are in a false position and that we have been very unfortunate this season with injuries and suspensions. Fabio missed a fair part of the middle of the season but he's back now and is the sort of player who puts bums on seats and can win games. We're working to improve him, and he is working hard himself. He's a bright boy and a very important member of the club."

When looking at the run-in to the end of the season, Stein recognises that there are some difficult games ahead.

"Strangely, we have performed much better against the stronger teams. We should have won at Gravesend, where we drew. We were ahead against Aldershot with ten men, then had another sent off which turned the game for them. We also drew with Canvey. It's been against the so-called lesser teams where our concentration has tended to wane. In these games we've made mistakes.

"It is a concern. I have a lot of younger players in the side, and they have to accept responsibility for their performances, although I have no doubt they can cope at this level. We also must get some of our more experienced players off the treatment table and back into the team."

Financially, Stein knows he cannot compete with the Premier Division big boys like Canvey Island, Gravesend and Northfleet, and Aldershot Town.

"There are to a certain extent the haves and the have-nots, just like at higher levels of the game. You just have to look at where some of these clubs are located. They have big catchment areas with little competition from other clubs, and as such tend to breed a community ethic. These communities look to the football club to help galvanise the area.

"What we provide at Harrow is a stable, comfortable environment. We have a sensible approach financially, and there must be room for clubs like this. I believe we are very much in a transitional period. Although there's been a lot of focus on the club's position this season, it has been in a downward trend for a while, and the Chairman and Football Director in particular recognised the club was standing still.

"When I took the job, I knew it was not going to change overnight. It is a gradual change and we are trying to take steps to ensure the club doesn't disappear completely."

Coaching the Harrow Academy

These steps include an academy in partnership with Harrow College, where 17-18 year olds receive quality coaching and mentoring from the club while also continuing their academic studies. Stein is regularly involved with coaching these players and passionately believes in them all bettering themselves as individuals even if they do not end up playing at a higher level in football.

"My intention, now as at the start of the season, is to build a foundation for the future of the club, and however long I remain involved at Harrow, whether it be one year or three years, I want the club to be around a lot longer than that."

One thing is for sure. Irrespective of how Harrow's season turns out, while Edwin Stein remains in charge, he will be sticking to his ideals and keeping focused on what he believes is the way forward for Harrow Borough.

Tales From A West Country Touchline