Melbourne Heart FC recently appointed former goalkeeper and two-time Player of the Year Clint Bolton as the Club’s new Manager, Strategic Partnerships.
Melbourne Heart FC recently appointed former goalkeeper and two-time Player of the Year Clint Bolton as the Club-s new Manager, Strategic Partnerships.
And, after a short time in the role, the former A-League custodian is already relishing his new position.
Bolton, who retired at the end of the 2012-13 Hyundai A-League after a career spanning 70 games for the Red and White and nearly 200 A-League appearances, signalled his desire to contribute to the Club off the field at the end of the season.
The shot stopper intended to work in football administration, and will work with all areas of the organisation, including membership, media and communications, corporate and sponsorship and continue a close relationship with the football department.
Click play on the video below to watch an interview with Clint on his new position.
“First of all, I am really excited about the role,” Bolton said.
“It-s pretty broad, delving into many areas of the club… [and] It allows me to touch base with most areas of the business.”
A professional on the training pitch, Bolton has found the transition in roles – from player to staff member – a challenge in some areas.
“Totally different – absolutely everything I do has changed,” Bolton said.
“I wake up and to figure out what I-m going to wear; some nice clothes, figure out what meetings are happening on that day, where I have to be.
“With training, being a player, you know you just turn up with your boots, your shinpads – and gloves in my case – and start training and when you leave, that-s pretty much your job done.
“Now, 9-5, it-s a shock to the system – a good shock because I have been looking forward to this transition for a good half a year.”
Bolton said the time out at the end of the 2012-13 season allowed him to narrow his focus on his post-playing career .
“I-ve never really had a really clear focus of exactly where I wanted to be after football, so it gave me a chance to narrow my vision,” Bolton said.
“The A-League is at a good point now where I really wanted to stay involved in football in this country, so I narrowed that focus down to administration.
“Ultimately we are going to grow this club by success on the field. I couldn-t achieve that as a player – hopefully I can achieve something off the field.
“I want to be involved in a club, I want to be involved with people that I respect and like and Melbourne Heart is that place.
“When they brought me on board it was a new club, and dealing with a whole new group of people, I didn-t know what to expect.
“But I had a good feel about the place straight away and along those three years I have played for the Club, that feeling has continued.
“Now I am on the other side of the fence, I have come to know that these are good people and these are the people I want to be involved with day-to-day.
“I believe in the long-term vision of this Club.
“I believe in the people who are pushing that vision.”
