Tristram Whitman:
New chapter begins as me and Aaron Large . We have taken over at Ilkeston Town FC!
It’s a massive opportunity which we are absolutely buzzing about!
Want to thank Hucknall Town and their fans for a memorable season and a half topped off by last seasons senior cup win! Can’t wait to get started

I think a lot of the players are very loyal to Ian Deakin and if he ended up at say Matlock or Alfreton. I am confident that a nucleus of our squad would follow him there. The new management team will know a lot of young players and hopefully they will be wanting to build their own squad.
As people have said it’s going to be different and interesting and hopefully entertaining!

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I’ll be honest. My first thoughts were, I think we’re taking a risk appointing a manager from step 5 level. Hope I’m wrong. Good luck and best wishes to both of them. 

Derby took a risk appointing Brian Clough from Hartlepool and look how that turned out.

 

A bit more background on the new management from an article after they joined Hucknall Town

Tris said "Finally I would like to place on record my utmost gratitude and appreciation to everyone involved at Stapleford Town FC, where I enjoyed great success ultimately resulting in promotion to step 6. I had an amazing 4 years working at the club meeting lots of special people and wish the club every success in the future"Tris is known to most players at this level having played for the following clubs:-•⁠ ⁠Doncaster Rovers
•⁠ ⁠⁠Dagenham & Redbridge
•⁠ ⁠⁠Crawley Town
•⁠ ⁠⁠Tamworth
•⁠ ⁠⁠Hucknall Town He has also a wealth of experience in the professional game at academy level as a coach, including:-•⁠ ⁠Notts County FC
•⁠ ⁠⁠Nottingham Forest
•⁠ ⁠⁠Derby County (Present)
His coaching experience has taken him to:-
.  ⁠Linby Colliery
•⁠ ⁠⁠Underwood Villa
•⁠ ⁠⁠Stapleford Town

After 4 years at Stapleford, Tris feels he is now in a position to move upwards in the football pyramid and the opportunity at our club was something he could not resist applying for. Tris is a UEFA - B qualified coach.

Aaron Large, speaking about his appointment as Assistant Manager said, "I am pleased to be joining Hucknall Town FC as the Assistant Manager, working alongside Tris. Hucknall has a proud history, strong foundations and dedicated supporters with clear ambitions for the future. I’m ready to contribute to the club’s continued success."I’m here to support Tris in building a team that represents Hucknall’s values and to help deliver exciting competitive football at the club. We’re prepared for the challenges ahead and eager to get started. We look forward to meeting the squad, collaborating with the dedicated Management staff and connecting with our supporters. Together, I’m confident we can make a real impact. Thank you for this opportunity".Aaron has had an extensive playing career which includes Alfreton Town, Arnold Town, Hucknall Town, Basford United, Carlton Town, Dunkirk, West Bridgford, Clifton and Stapleford. He has also had Academy coaching roles at NFFC (part time), Sheffield Wednesday and Notts County academy (fulltime). As well as the Assistant Managers role at Sherwood Colliery. He now leads the new Steven Gerrard Academy Site in Nottingham. Aaron is a UEFA - A qualified coach.The club is delighted with the appointments and is looking forward to both Tris and Aaron meeting the players this coming week and we know we can count on our fantastic supporters to give them both a huge welcome to our club.The remaining members that will make up the final coaching team will be announced in the coming days.

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CLUB STATEMENT
Paul Burley   30 Apr
Departure of First Team Management...
Hucknall Town FC can today confirm the departure of First Team Manager Tris Whitman, Assistant Manager Aaron Large, Coach Louis Minney and Physio Marcus Verney.
Whitman, Large and Minney joined the club in November 2024 and they have overseen a period of significant progress and success. After securing a stable mid-table finish in their debut season, the clear highlight of their tenure came with a historic victory in the Nottinghamshire FA Saturday Senior Cup, following a thrilling final at the One Call Stadium.
Building on that foundation, the management team guided the club to a very respectable 8th-place finish in the recently concluded 2025/26 league campaign.
Tris, Aaron, and Louis have been offered and accepted roles at Ilkeston Town FC in the Northern Premier League, Premier Division. Physio Marcus Verney who has been with the club since July 2024 also departs to join Ilkeston Town. While we are disappointed to see them leave, we recognise that a move to Step 3 represents a significant career opportunity, and they depart with our full support.
The club would like to place on record its sincere gratitude to all individuals for their tireless commitment, professionalism and passion over their period with us. They leave behind a strong squad and a culture of success that we intend to build upon. We wish them nothing but the very best in their new challenge at the New Manor Ground.
Activities surrounding a search for the right candidate to take the club forward as new first team Manager, along with related staff, will commence with immediate effect and we provide further details when this is concluded.

https://www.hucknalltownfc.co.uk/news/club-statement-2977011.html

I thought that we would have  be pushing for the play offs again after last season , but it’s been a very tepid season with the exception of the DCFA cup final.

Too many players had stayed a season too long, plus the terrible disciplinary record must have hampered us.
i think some players must have played for free after paying their fines.

With the new management comes optimism, scepticism, if we end up with a team of young fresh talent  I would hope for and be happy with a mid table finish with something to build. Only time will tell. 

A clue will be the in the “retained” list. Not sure how the new gaffers decide or will it be down to Andy?