As Hearts of Oak look to David Duncan's appointment as a fresh beginning in their quest to stay in the title race, time is one crucial element that the new man needs.

After guiding AshantiGold to second place two season's ago, the Hearts of Oak job is Duncan's biggest in his coaching career and has put him under instant pressure.

A fresh ideology was certainly needed post the C.K. Akonnor era and in Duncan, the Phobians have found a character who is his own man - whether right or wrong -, will not be manipulated and one who will be prepared to walk if pushed.

Despite jumping on board just this week and with a first game against rivals, Asante Kotoko in Kumasi on Sunday, the jury is already out and that comes with coaching Hearts of Oak.

“I wonder where there is no pressure as far this job is concerned. It is everywhere,” Duncan responded about the pressure associated with the job as coach of Hearts of Oak.

If Akonnor's work needed a quick review after five matches into the new season, to some extent, more time is certainly needed for Duncan to push through his ideas amongst a group of players he has inherited from his predecessor.

“The coaching job goes with pressure so the only difference in all of this arrangement is the personnel that I am working with. They are not the same as I have had it with other clubs so I think that feeds into what I have to expect with the outcome at this club in the coming days and weeks.”

Change means that not all including Board, players and supporters are going to be quite so receptive to the tough talking Duncan even though Laryea Kingston, a player whose actions weakened the control of the dismissed Akonnor believes he can take them far.

Kingston and the rest of the squad will soon get to grips with working under the former AshantiGold coach as the dust settles. There will certainly be some drama along the line.

But Kingston, in his second season with Heart of Oak and under his third coach is convinced that newly appointed Duncan is the right man for the job.

“Duncan is a very good coach,” Kingston said. “I really enjoyed his first training session and with support I think he can take the club far.”

For the Phobians, it's a fresh beginning but much will be expected from Duncan in his biggest coaching job as their marriage just gets off the ground.