Bater
will hope to build on recent season's league and cup performance and further developing
the solid foundations built over the last few years.
Bater
is one of the more senior and experienced managers in the league and one who
has twice taken charge of Bristol Rovers on a caretaker basis.
He
enjoyed a fine playing career, which took in over 220 games for Bristol Rovers
where he started his playing days in 1974.
He
moved to Wrexham in 1981 and added 73 games to his tally before re-joining The
Gas, adding another 100-plus games to his tally with them.
A
season with Brentford preceded a two-year spell with Cardiff City, for whom he
appeared 76 times.
He
won two Wales under-21 international caps and many thought he was unfortunate
not to have been capped at full international level.
He
has been a successful manager and coach at a number of clubs, notably Bristol
Rovers, Mangotsfield United, and Clevedon Town.
He
joined the Larks as first-team manager in January 2017, replacing his son
Geraint!
Paul
Rankin said: “Phil is the perfect fit for our club, fully understanding our
values, aspirations for success and appreciate the challenges faced by a club
of our size.
“Phil
has built a great squad of players who have shown a commitment to the club and a
desire to push on again with the hope of challenging for a promotion place next
season.
“The
club continues to invest in facilities and infrastructure within our means
ensuring that we have a viable model built for success and longevity and
continue to provide a great place for players and fans alike to enjoy their
football”.
|