Tooting & Mitcham’s new permanent boss Jamie Martin was given the job after he told chairman Bill Hill that the dressing room needed a decision.
Martin, who was named as interim manager at the beginning of October when Roberto Forzoni was sacked, was initially given six games to prove himself, and was then told that no decision would be made before Christmas.
However, prior to the Terrors’ 3-2 win over Whitstable in Ryman League Division One South on Saturday, Martin called for a meeting with Hill, telling him that he and the dressing room wanted clarity.
Martin also revealed that, after a run of one defeat in eight games, other clubs were beginning to show an interest in his situation.
“I basically put the chairman in a corner and told him that the dressing room wanted clarity on what was happening, and I wanted clarity too,” Martin said.
“We had done well as a team up to then and I told him I wanted the job.”
Martin is hoping to put pen to paper on a deal inside this week, but he recognises that the team need to continue bringing in the points.
He said: “I am hoping for a little more in the budget to get the players we need to win promotion. Going up as champions is a little out of our reach, but the play-offs are a definite goal.
“Either way, this is a results business and we have to make sure we keep doing well. At the end of the day, if the results don’t come in, I am out of a job whether I’ve signed a deal or not. Just ask Roberto Di Matteo.”
Goals from Carl Wilson-Dennis, Taurean Roberts and Trevor Lowe had the Terrors 3-0 ahead of Whistable at half-time, but a lacklustre second half almost cost them the game.
Tooting go to Met Police in the London County Cup tonight (Wednesday), before returning to league action with a trip to Worthing on Saturday.
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