Bazza Hayles

[Buffalo76]

Merstham have announced ex-Premier League forward Barry Hayles as Frank Wilson's assistant manager.

Hayles has played for the likes of Millwall, Leicester City and Bristol Rovers, but it's at Fulham where he has the status of club legend. He scored 44 league goals for the Cottagers, making over 200 appearances, with 75 of them being in the Premier League.

Frank Wilson had this to say about bringing him on board:

"Firstly, from a personal point of view, bringing Barry in as a key part of the backroom staff is something I am really looking forward to. I first met Barry when I was training at the Jamie Lawrence Academy and Barry was a senior pro, training with the group every summer as part of Jamie Lawrence's pre-season training camp.

"I think I was 18 when I first met and trained with Barry and I continued training every summer for the best part of a decade. I looked up to Barry and had the utmost respect for him as a professional footballer, and I admired his attitude to training and the way he interacted with me and the other lads who were part of those training camps.

"It was such a rewarding experience as a non-professional to be training with the likes of Barry and other professional players who, before they went back to their Premier League and other professional clubs, would be training with you every day and socialising etc. It is hands down the best football experience I have ever had as a player and Barry was a big contributor to that, and so to now be working with him in management is fantastic and significant.

[hovewhite]

Is that player coach Barry!

[Twig]

Bazaa is such a great character. No arrogance about him, an honest pro who passionately loves the game and is prepared to do the hard yards to learn his trade as a manager. Got to respect the guy.

[BigbadBillyMcKinley]

Gotta love Barry. Good luck to him.

[filham]

Good luck Barry, would love to see you back at the Cottage in some role.

[Cornishnick]

Don't forget Truro City, they loved him there too.

[rogerpbackinMidEastUS]

Crikey I played against Merstham in the Surrey Senior League in the late 60's
They had about 20 and a dog.
How on earth can they afford an assistant unless Amateur footie has increased support.

But good luck to Barry, the first time I saw him was when Bristol Rovers played us at the Cottage
and he tore us apart.  A great character

[beijing ben]

Don't forget Truro City, they loved him there too.

Sometimes a slightly wayward shot would hit Truro clubhouse and the building would shake.. you are right, very popular there too

I used to live in tresillian many years ago, watched Truro many times.. are you a truronian cornishnick?

[Skatzoffc]

Great for Barry. Good luck to him.
My daughter's favourite player when I took her to games when she was 6. Absolute star.