PAUL Maitland admitted he is going to embrace the chance to work with new manager Mark Molesley but insists “I am not ever afraid to say exactly what I think”.

 

The new Weymouth assistant-manager, who has been extremely busy already in helping retain some of the current squad for next term, also believes he can bring his own ideas to the role for the Terras’ chief to ponder.

 

Speaking to Echosport about his new job, Maitland, who has stepped up from his previous position of first-team goalkeeping coach, said: “I feel very privileged to have been asked by Mark, it’s not a role I ever expected to find myself in.

 

“I am thankful for the opportunity and ready to give it my best shot.

 

“I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead. I have been really impressed with what Mark is talking about doing, if you talk to him he comes across as being very strong-minded and strong-willed about how he wants to do it.

 

“Clearly, he comes from a very highly professional club that demand excellence. Clearly, you can see that he will be demanding similar things, on a lesser scale, being part-time at Weymouth.

 

“I have been very fortunate to have been sat in behind the likes of Craig Laird, Tim Sills, Mark Molesley himself and obviously Jason (Matthews, former boss).

 

“I would like to think throughout that time I have learnt good things and bad things, or things that I would do differently from them.”

 

And while he is relishing the opportunity to work as part of the new regime. Maitland insists he will be putting his opinions forward.

 

“I think I will be able to bring my own things to the role,” he added. “I have my own views on how things should be done, which I will be offering up to Mark and, whether he chooses to go with those, will be his decision.

 

“I am not ever afraid to say exactly what I think or to even offer up something a bit different. I won’t be a ‘yes man’ because that’s no good.

 

“You have to give your honest opinion on things and you have to have your own mind.”

 

He continued: “I am a massive believer in having no regrets. It’s something I have said to the lads throughout the season.

 

“That stems through a couple of personal tragedies in my life that have made me believe that you should have no regrets in life. You do everything for a reason and you make the best of the situation you are in.

 

“I wouldn’t be doing it and putting pressure on other aspects of my life if I didn’t think that we could achieve something here.”