Swifts Appoint New Manager

[Dilbert]

Heybridge Swifts are delighted to announce the appointment of Brian Statham as first team manager with immediate effect.

 

Statham's professional career saw him play for England Under 20's and Under 21's and make over 30 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, with Terry Venables giving him his debut; subsequently moving on to Brentford and Gillingham, with over 350 professional appearances in total.

 

After injury cut short his time in the pro game Statham successfully moved into the non league scene as a player and a coach, most notably at Chesham United as player-coach under Bob Dowie, where he was influential in the development of players such as Fitz Hall and Wayne Andrews who progressed into the Football League and then the Premiership with Crystal Palace.

 

He has subsequently carved out for himself a successful career in the City of London with a proven management record.

 

Statham will be looking to bring on and develop the talented young players at Swifts who have the right attitude and ability to succeed at this and higher levels of football; enabling Swifts to remain competitive in the Ryman Premiership and look to advance in the pyramid in the future.

 

Statham's back room staff will be announced in due course but should include Nigel Gurney, previously with Paul Parker at Chelmsford City and Welling United.

 

Heybridge Swifts would like to put on record their appreciation of the caretaker role carried out by Mark Hawkes in difficult circumstances in the period since the resignation of the previous management duo Keith Martin and Colwyn Rowe who resigned in November 2004 due to ill health and work commitments respectively. Hawkes will remain part of the "Swifts family" in some capacity.

[Simon BTFC]

Bit of a risk isn't it, appointing a managerial rookie when they're in a relegation battle?