 Despite an over-abundance of central midfielders for manager Ray Lewington to choose from at the club, Hand featured 25 times throughout the 2002–03 season, picking up nine bookings as well as the club's Young Player of the Year award.He again made 25 appearances throughout the 2003–04 campaign, though injuries helped to ensure that he slipped down the first-team pecking order behind players such as Gavin Mahon, and he disappeared from matchday squads entirely under new boss Aidy Boothroyd.He later commented that