Our interview with Haverfordwest AFC's new manager Nicky Hayen

Haverfordwest County AFC announced their new full-time manager and technical director earlier in the week and Western Telegraph sat down and got to know a bit about the man who will be running the club.

Nicky says he will be relocating to Haverfordwest, where he does not just intend to manage the team, but wants to become part of the community.

A softly spoken man, who was very articulate, the Belgian coach answered questions from the Telegraph with the uber cool zeal that only Europeans can exude!

What is your footballing background?

I started in the academy at Sint-Truiden and was there for ten years. One day there were two players ill and I got my chance in the first team, and I stayed there for nine seasons. Then I went to the Netherlands.

Then I came back to an ambitious project with Oud-Heverlee Leuven and they wanted to be champions within two years, we did it in one year, we were champions of the second division.

Second year we were in the Premier League. It was the best performances of my career but after 9 games I got a really bad injury, I tore all my ligaments. I was ten months out then I went for a loan with Antwerp, but I felt I was always playing at 90 per cent.

It was a decent level, but this is what I tell my players, if you want to perform you have to be at 100 per cent, not 99, 98, or 95, you have to be 100. I was 90, it was a decent level, but I did not feel like the player I had been, so I retired from football and became a manager.

What do you know about the Cymru Premier?

I’ve seen a few games. There are potential players and this is really important, and I think if we can professionalise and train a bit more and become a pro club then I think the level of the league can improve also. I hope I can be an asset for the league and the club.

Why did chairman Rob Edwards choose Nicky? See the video

What do you think about the squad?

These guys have the skills to play the football I like. I saw a few games from the beginning of the season, they play nice combination football but I saw also a game where no one was asking for the ball, there was a lack of confidence and one of the things I want to improve in the squad is you can make mistakes as long as you can learn from them.

Play with guts, play with confidence. I am not going to yell because I am not that type of manager. I try to be positive and that is how I want to work.

This is what I tell my players, if you want to perform you have to be at 100 per cent, not 99, 98, or 95, you have to be 100.

Ambitions and the threat of relegation

There are 15 games left, we are only one point behind. For me, it is not an issue. We just have to play our game, starting with the first game. We do not need to look to the long term at the moment. I am confident the future is bright for this club.

Nicky Hayen arrives to Haverfordwest as manager having come from the Belgian Pro League

How do you want fans to view you?

The fans are really important and so is the community. I am a foreign coach but I do not want them to see me as one so I am going to join them in the community or whenever something is organised. I will be there because I also come from a town where everyone knows each other. This is a really important aspect for me as a person as well as a manager.

Play with guts, play with confidence. I am not going to yell because I am not that type of manager. I try to be positive and that is how I want to work.

This is not only a club, it is a family, it is the manager, players, supporters. I just want it to be one big happy family and happy families win games.

Message to supporters

Come to the stadium. I know we have to convince with results. We want to create an enviroment here that is not only about football but having a nice evening. Come cheer for the lads and we will do everything to make you proud.