Paul Broadbent believes Blacon Youth Club are in good hands after standing down as first team manager.
Broadbent – better known as ‘Butch’ – and his long-serving assistant Nicky Jones stepped away from the dugout at the end of last season.
Both men have been synonymous with the West Cheshire League club, having spent about 10 seasons in charge over three separate spells.
Broadbent and Jones will continue to assist the club off the pitch but the pair have now handed over the managerial reins for good.
Paul Dowridge and Jamie Rogers have been appointed as joint-managers with Broadbent’s son Ross joining the management team too.
Butch said: “It’s been that long it’s hard to remember how long we’ve been doing it.
“I still do the pitch and Nicky marks the lines, and we’ve got grandkids and relatives here so we are not going to walk away from the club but as far as running the football side goes that’s in the past.”
Broadbent paid tribute to Jones, Eddie Doughty and the late Andy Vickers for the support he received over his time in charge but maintains the time is right to step down.
He said: “Last season was the hardest because at the first pre-season session we had three lads.
“We had to rebuild the team and we managed to do that, keep them in West Cheshire League Division One and reach the final of Chester and District FA Senior Cup.
“Part of the problem now is that we’re not as young as we used to be and a lot of the players don’t know us anymore.
“Years ago, we would see lads around and convince them to sign for us but it gets harder as you get older and you’ve got to have that respect.”
Broadbent is confident Dowridge and Rogers will command that respect and be able to convince new players to join the club.
He said: “Paul has been a class player and he has got excellent contacts. He played for Welshpool in the Welsh Premier League and got player of the year. That’s no mean feat.
“Jamie has got a lot of knowledge and knows the West Cheshire League inside out so I think the pair of them will do a good job.”
Broadbent confirmed reserve team manager Adam Cain would be standing down too with Kelvin Rodric taking charge.
“Adam has done a fantastic job this season with his lads but Kelvin did a great job with our colts side and we were very pleased with him,” said Broadbent.
