Matt Aims for Fresh Start
This time last year, Matt Flynn was leaving Jim Chapman’s Annan to join The Bully Wee. Now, 12 months on, the midfielder is delighted his old mentor has joined him at Broadwood.
Chapman signed Flynn for Annan in 2013 and, after a highly successful spell under his stewardship, the 29-year-old believes Chapman and John Joyce are the perfect duo to right the wrongs of last season.
Speaking exclusively to the official website, Flynn said: “I’m delighted the gaffer is here. Obviously it is a stereotypical thing to say because I’ve played under him before, but it is not only that, it is actually that I think he is the right candidate for the job.
“I’m glad he’s here, I know what he will bring and I’m sure he will get the best out of the boys.
“What he did with me was that he noticed my strengths and weaknesses very early and he played to my strengths. I think that’s what he does with a lot of players.
“He works on players’ weaknesses but plays to their strengths, so if you are a midfield player whose strength is going forward then he’ll play you going forward and won’t have you doing something that you’re not comfortable with.
“Hopefully he can get me back to the way I left off with him and I want to start this season that way.”
Although Flynn and Chapman have history, the midfielder explained that he goes even further back with the club’s new assistant manager:-
“John Joyce had me as a player when I was seven-years-old in a boys team! It was great to work with him again at Annan and Joycey and Chappy are a great double act.”
While Matt believes Chapman will get the best of the players, he explained that Joyce will get the best out of the manager while also looking after the squad:-
“Joycey will back the boys to the hilt, especially on a matchday, and I think one of the things that the gaffer likes about John is that he is not a yes man.
“He won’t ever be standing beside the gaffer and nodding – the gaffer loves that he has his own opinions and he isn’t scared to voice them.”
As well as familiar faces in the dugout, Flynn will also once again be playing alongside a teammate from the early days of his career. The former Dundee United youngster was delighted, but not surprised, to see his ex-Tannadice mate, David Goodwillie, commit his future to the club:-
“It’s good to be with a former teammate from my United days again and other players coming in will look up to him given the level he has played at.
“Goodie is a loyal boy – he obviously had other offers but we managed to get him back in. He’s shown his loyalty to Clyde after the club gave him the opportunity last season. As long as the club were fair with him he was always going to be fair and loyal in return.
“I’m sure he’ll notch a few goals for us and even if he’s not scoring, he’ll be having an impact on the game.”
Flynn describes last season as a ‘disaster’ and says that the retained players must now prove they are up to the job:-
“This time last season I was confident we could go and at least compete at the right end of the table, but what happened was just a disaster. That reflects on the players, so the pressure is on us to prove that we are worthy of wearing a Clyde jersey.
“We may have dropped our standards on the pitch last season but Clyde as a football club never drops its standards. I just hope the club and fans keep backing us and we do the job this season.”
With pre-season training now well underway, Matt was starting to look ahead to the competitive action starting next month:-
“I am feeling a bit fitter now. I’m still trying to get rid of a wee niggle that I played through all of last season but hopefully I can get it shaken off and I can crack on.
“I’ve had a chat with Joycey and the gaffer and they want me back to how I was playing under them – making more runs into the box and gambling to get on the end of things.
“Also, knowing that Gormz are Goodie are going to be up there is great. Gormz can be physical, Goodie is a wee bit more dynamic and I can support them. Hopefully I’ll get a lot more opportunities in front of goal and I can get my goal tally up for Clyde!”