Former Dons Duo Arrive To Help Restore Bees' Belief

It’s been a campaign to forget for the Bees, who have won just one National League match since October.

On Easter Monday, the club were humbled 5-1 by local rivals Wealdstone.

That prompted long-term owner Tony Kleanthous into action, and he added to the club’s off-field staff as he takes his time selecting a replacement for Tim Flowers.

Simon Bassey, the long serving AFC Wimbledon coach, has joined to help restore some belief and he will oversee first team duties.

Also arriving is Dave Anderson, the Dons ex-manager who lifted the FA Vase with Chertsey Town in 2019.

Kleanthous accepts it has been a season to forget but he stressed his passion for the club has not diminished and told supporters the managerless Bees are determined to end the campaign strongly.

He said on the club’s website: “I have decided to rebuild the whole backroom team which is why the process is taking a while longer than usual.

“We don’t want to hire a manager bringing his own staff because if they do well then they will all leave together for a bigger club or if they do badly, they will all leave together because they did badly; either way, the club is left with no succession or stability.

“I therefore want to take my time and find a team of people who can be part of the longer-term vision for Barnet FC where we are not always having to start from scratch.

“This means I need the right people to join Gary Anderson our Head of Performance, Ollie Galloway our Physio and Ricky Bartlett who is joining us in July to handle Football Operations and Logistics.

“In this respect, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Simon Bassey who was formerly at Wimbledon, has agreed to join us and I am delighted to welcome him to the team. Simon will be coaching the First Team going forwards.

“He was with the Dons for seventeen years achieving seven promotions and I would like him to bring the same stability and success to us here at The Hive.

“He is joined by Dave Anderson, who has enjoyed his own successful career as a goalkeeper with Northern Ireland and in non-league football management and will be Simon’s assistant.”