I'd do it all over again, says Ward (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

SWINDON TOWN: I'd do it all over again, says Ward

6:00am Friday 1st March 2013 in Sport By Sam Morshead

EXPERIENCE: Darren Ward

DARREN Ward would happily step into the breach as caretaker manager again in the future, despite a trying first experience of the role at Swindon Town.

Ward and Tommy Miller will be back in the playing ranks when Town visit Coventry tomorrow, after Swindon appointed Kevin MacDonald as the club’s new manager yesterday.

That ended the pair’s brief period in charge of first-team affairs with a return of one point from two matches.

Though the second of those matches produced one of the most forgettable Town performances of recent years as the Robins lost 1-0 at home to Bury on Tuesday, Ward has said he would welcome the chance to take another managerial position in the future.

“It’s been a great experience. Tommy and myself have really enjoyed the ride, however long it has been for. Even now we’ve still got to see what happens,” he said.

“It’s been a really good experience, it has given us a good insight into the ins and outs of management and what you have to do and if we would like to do that in the future.

“If we were asked to do it again we would because we are as responsible as anyone else to make sure this club keeps progressing and at this stage of the season it’s vital.

“It’s been very, very difficult and there have been hard decisions to make. You’ve gone from being a player and having relationships with these players who are your teammates to being in charge and trying to manage the side.

“You’re not going to keep everyone happy unfortunately, and I know that as a player - you have to try to understand and make the younger lads understand why decisions are made. Even to the older pros it’s very, very hard.

“It’s very difficult, I’m very articulate as a person and even before the game it was very hard and it’s hard when you’re playing. As a manager you can focus on situations and that is right, but as a player you are limited and you do have your hands tied.

“When we’re losing what do we do?

“I do like taking responsibility. It’s players careers and people’s jobs at stake and if I can help in any way I always look to. I never shy away from anything.

“I was very happy with my performance against Preston. Tuesday night a few things in my game weren’t as they should be. Whether that’s down to what’s been going on or not there are no excuses. My standards are high and I want to keep them very high.”

Ward and Miller met with Swindon chairman Jed McCrory on Wednesday to discuss the direction of the club’s management structure in the immediate future.

The trio decided that a new face was the best option available to the Robins at this moment in time and Ward said he was pleased with the way the talks went.

“It was always going to be the case, to be honest, we were always planning to have a chat with the chairman Jed and a few others on the Wednesday after the game,” he said.

“Regardless of whether it was two wins out of two, two losses or the situation we find ourselves in, we were always going to have a chat. Everyone wants to take it forwards and the meeting went very well, very positive all round.”