Posted by Scoop
on May 12, 2012, 7:56 pm
Hot Off The Press
Pete Buckingham has accepted the "massive challenge" of bringing stability to Toolstation Western League Premier Division side Barnstaple Town.
Buckingham is returning to the job he quit in October 2008, succeeding the man who replaced him as manager, Owen Pickard.
When he decided to resign at half time in a Les Phillips Cup defeat to Gillingham Town, Barnstaple were bottom of the Toolstation Western League Premier Division and losing key players amid budget cuts.
Three and a half years on, little has changed with Pickard announcing his resignation last month after becoming frustrated by the task of just trying to get a team out on the pitch.
Buckingham, who has been in charge at Cullompton Rangers in the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League, said: "I have had two difficult years at Cullompton, managing a side punching above their weight because of a lack of financial resources.
"I don't know whether I'm jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
"It's a massive challenge but I'm up for it.
"Owen has had a difficult job, like all amateur football managers have got at the moment. The most important thing is to get some stability. Owen used more than 50 players this season. Ideally, I will aim to use 20.
"My first priority is to bring some players in who I know will be committed to the club from the start of the season to the end of the season."
Buckingham will be assisted by Dave Griffiths, the remaining member of Pickard's management team, and has promised to give Barnstaple's existing first-teamers the chance to prove themselves in pre-season.
But he is certain to use a bulging contacts book, built up over more than 20 years of local football management.
"I know the Western League inside out and I have got more players' numbers than the Thomson phone directory," said Buckingham.
"In an ideal world, if I can pick a local side, I will.
"I want a team who the supporters recognise, instead of having to beg, borrow and steal players every week.
"I don't think I will have any difficulty encouraging people to play for Barnstaple."
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