Following
a successful period with Jets` reserves, Atkins moved on to gain experience at
a higher level and was successful with first-team football, also winning a
Herts Senior County Cup.
He
brings his experienced team of coaches and assistants, including Chris Campbell
as assistant manager and Chris Colman and Dave Sells as coaches.
Atkins
succeeds Tim O’Sullivan, who has done a tremendous job for Jets since he became
manager in April 2018, starting with helping to avoid relegation with ‘a great
escape’ in the final game of the season.
He
then led Jets to an eighth-place finish in 2018/19 and then to fifth before
football was shut down due to the Coronavirus.
A
tremendous achievement when you compare Jets with the big-budget teams in the
league.
It
was always O`Sullivan’s intention to step down at the end of the season. It has
been his intention since day one when he agreed to return to football, both as
a former Jets man and a personal favour, to save the club from relegation. As a
result, he has worked closely to identify his successor and allow Atkins to get
involved with the team in recent months.
Also,
although O`Sullivan is retiring from team management, he is looking to stay
involved with the club in various ways to help move and prepare the club for
the next era and to ensure a long future. |