Committee Delighted to be Robbed

IN appointing Rob Dray as the new Tiverton Town manager, the club is sure they have laid an important foundation stone for Tivvy's future - on and off the field.

"We really believe that Rob is the man to take us forward and lead us into the next phase of this club's history," said Yellows' vice-chairman Matthew Conridge.

Rob takes over from Leigh Robinson, who he also succeeded at Taunton Town six years ago before leading the Peacocks' to their highest ever league position. Impressive as that was, the Tiverton Committee also admired the way he helped improve the Somerset club in all departments.

Matthew said: "Rob has taken a team from this level, built it slowly, but surely with a strong foundation, and taken them higher.

"We've got our own long-term plans on what we want to do with this football club, a lot of which will be announced in the coming months, and Rob buys into what we're trying to do in the long term.

"He has a proven track record at our level and has had success at a high level, as well. He knows this level of football; he knows this area; he has some really strong links, not only with a lot of the local clubs, but also with some of the professional clubs in the region.

"He has a really well thought-out plan, not only what he would do in the short term, but also in the medium term and the long term as well, so there's a great deal to be excited about, to be enthused about."

Rob inherits a team that has a win and a draw from its last two Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South games, for which senior pros Asa Hall and Niall Thompson were in charge.

Matthew said: "A big thank you to Asa, Niall, Conor Smith and Richard Sleep for steadying the ship over the last two weeks. It's been thoroughly enjoyable to see the lads playing, perhaps with their shackles off a little bit, playing some really exciting attacking football, and they've given Rob a much firmer foundation now to build upon.

"Rob also brings a really strong backroom team with him, people who we feel will be really positive for the future.

"So, all of the signs point in the direction of us being able to sustainably build a strong football club, starting with what's happening on the pitch.

"But football is constant and there's no time to settle; there's no time to take the foot off the gas. The lads will be in this week with Rob and they need to be ready to go against Hungerford on Saturday, which will be a tough away trip.”