Moffat and Whitbread hoping to keep stars (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Moffat and Whitbread hoping to keep stars

9:50am Thursday 17th April 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

New Devizes Town management duo Shaun Moffat and Kevin Whitbread know their first priority is to persuade the club's players to stay.

With players considering their futures at the Nursteed Road outfit, the managers face an uphill task to convince the many of the side to return next season.

The former reserve team bosses have been appointed as joint managers for the 2008/09 season, with caretaker boss Steve Hale leaving for the assistant manager's position at Thatcham Town.

Moffat and Whitbread will officially take over after Hale departs following the final game of the season at Frome Town on Saturday and they realise it will be a difficult challenge.

"This is where the hard work starts," said Moffat.

"We don't like to lose players, especially when there is a good squad being built up.

"There is a great rapport in the team and hopefully they would like to stay and improve on what they have done this season."

Whitbread agreed, but acknowledged some players may want to move on.

He said: "We want to keep the lads who are there but if players are bettering themselves then we would not stand in their way."

But, despite the finances being tight at Nursteed Road, Moffat is hopeful players would still stay.

"Hopefully it is about football and not about money," he said.

"The budget is there but we don't like to talk about money, we like to talk about the team."

They have been impressed with the side's success this season, as they are on course for a top ten finish and their highest position in four years.

Moffat said: "They have had such a great season and Steve has done a fantastic job.

"When you look at the position which they will finish in, it is a great achievement and we will have to try and build on that."

And, with their vision for the club, chairman Andy Trusler is pleased at the appointments.

"They are hungry for it and have been associated with the club for many years and I feel it is their time," he said.

The duo will look to recapture the form the club showed when they were in charge in 2004 when they won six out of eight games.

But after a 5-0 defeat at Dawlish on Saturday,they may find it a tough job.

• Print
• Email
• Share