After
Mark Pritchett stepped down in August 2020, his assistant Richard Cox stepped
into the role on a caretaker basis, and the club had intended to advertise the
role once the season was underway.
However,
with several breaks in activity arising from issues associated with Covid-19
the decision to appoint had been deferred with no sign of a return to activity
on the horizon.
Following
recent decisions around the conclusion of the season at higher levels of the non-League
game, and with no sign of a return to action in the immediate short-term, the club
have decided the time has come move towards a permanent appointment, as the
first move in preparing for the 2021/22 season.
Cox,
who has overseen nine competitive games during his caretaker role, will be one
of the candidates considered for the permanent position, but they are also
looking to identify interest from other potential candidates, as they look to
appoint their third permanent manager since returning to the Hellenic League’s
Premier Division in 2015.
Football
chairman, Dan Boon, was quick to acknowledge that the caretaker manager, was
well regarded by those at the club: “Rich came in as an assistant when we were
struggling during the 2018/19 season and has been an excellent coaching
appointment, with many of the players incredibly positive about the
contribution he has been able to make.
“When
Pritch left at short notice, we didn’t hesitate in offering him the role on a
caretaker basis and he is definitely a candidate for the permanent role.
“We
are very grateful for the role he has played since joining the club and, in
particular, since taking the first team on. However, we are at a key stage in
the club’s development and our committee sees this is as important an
appointment, to any role, that we will make for many years. We feel we owe it
to the club and our supporters to explore all options before making a decision”.
Ken
Blackburn, the head of football development, will lead on the recruitment
campaign and, like his chairman, saw this as a pivotal appointment: “Tuffley
Rovers are not a wealthy club, so our focus has to be on player development and
appointing an excellent coaching team, of which the first team manager will be
a vital ingredient and we are keen to explore every opportunity to make sure
we appoint the right person to lead us into 2021/22.
“We
need a manager who can both develop the players we already have at the club and
also bring in some new faces to add a little extra quality and create more
competition for places”, Blackburn added. “In an ideal scenario, we will have a
manager who is familiar with the local football scene and who can help us draw
in players who will add to what we already have.”
Applicants
for the role should submit their CV to executivecommittee@tuffleyroversfc.co.uk
not later than 5pm on March 6th, 2021, together with a covering note
offering a self-assessment on their suitability for the role.
To
discuss the role prior to applying, candidates can contact Ken Blackburn (Head
of Football Development) on 07876 047536
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