Bracknell Town confirm managerial appointment of former Ascot United trio

Former Ascot United managers Jeff Lamb and Paul McGrotty. Photo's: getreading.co.uk
Former Ascot United managers Jeff Lamb and Paul McGrotty. Photo's: getreading.co.uk

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Following the departure of Mark Tallentire as manager of Bracknell Town on Monday morning, the club have moved swiftly to appoint a successor – or rather successors with the former Ascot United management team taking charge at Larges Lane.

Jeff Lamb was appointed as manager on Wednesday and the club have now confirmed that Paul McGrotty and Derek Sweetman will join him to lead Bracknell Town following the departure of Tallentire who had led the club to lift three trophies at the end of the 2016/17 season – the clubs first silverware for over two decades.

Lamb and McGrotty in particular were in charge at the Racecourse Ground for five years before stepping down in January 2017 having been the most successful managers in the history of Ascot United Football Club.

The pair led the Yellamen side that included current Bracknell players Dave Hancock, Joe Grant, Jon Bennett and Chris Grace to two FA Vase Quarter Finals, lifiting the Hellenic League Floodlit Cup and to within a whisker of the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round during their time in charge.

On their departure from the Racecourse we pulled together a few video clips of their best moments which you can see here..

Statement

A brief statement on the club website reads: “Bracknell Town FC are pleased to announce Jeff Lamb as our new First Team Manager. He will take up the post with immediate effect and will be in charge for Saturday’s home game against Oxford City Nomads. We would also like to welcome Paul McGrotty who will join Jeff at the helm and Derek Sweetman who will become assistant Manager. Geoff Warner will remain as 1st Team Coach, Tony Perry as goalkeeping coach and Liam Day as physio.”

‘I’m sure they’ll look to get back into football if the right project comes along’

As it turns out, coach Derek Sweetman was uttering some wise words when he was quoted in the Ascot & Windsor Express at the start of January following the announcement to leave Ascot.

He said: “We haven’t spoken about what’s going to happen going forward. We’ll take a few weeks out and Jeff and Paul both have young families so their time is precious. But I’m sure they’ll look to get back into football if the right project comes along.”

Derek Sweetman. Photo: Ascot & Windsor Express.
Derek Sweetman. Photo: Ascot & Windsor Express.

Sweetman is a veteran of the non league circuit and has managed the likes of Marlow, Egham Town, Slough Town and Holyport as well as a short spell in charge at Larges Lane alongside Steve Roberts.

He joined the management team at Ascot four months after stepping down at Holyport saying to Pitchero Non League: “After spending the last four months recharging my batteries I was very lucky to have a good few offers to return to the game but Ascot was the one that appealed to me most.

“A forward-thinking club with plenty of ambition and a cracking set up as well as some really genuine people. The one thing that sealed it for me was Jeff Lamb. As a young player Jeff played for me at Marlow and we have stayed in contact over the years and he has turned into a very good bright young manager.

“Jeff and Paul have started to build something really exciting here and I am looking forward to working alongside them both as well as with a great group of players”

For all the latest local football news make sure you follow @fibracknell on twitter!

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