Flitcroft means business
Garry Flitcroft
By Matt Lawton
March 24 2009
Former England Under 21 international Garry Flitcroft was introduced to the media as Leigh Genesis manager for the first time this afternoon in a press conference at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium, and he wasted no time in outlining his plans for the UniBond Premier League side.
Although the Leythers are currently struggling at the foot of the table, Flitcroft arrives at the club with a brief to earn enough points from the final nine league fixtures of the season to avoid a second successive relegation.
It was revealed that the appointment came about almost by accident; Flitcroft having been approached by the club several months ago to see if he had any interest in resurrecting his playing career but, after discussions with his Leigh-based advisor Barry Beckett, instead became the club's manager, admitting the prospect of the club playing dazzling Leigh Sports Village Stadium was a "massive pulling point" for him.
Garry Flitcroft addresses the media at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium
After two false starts with above-average crowds attending the home fixtures against FC United of Manchester and Hednesford Town, that particular move finally became reality in recent days with the confirmation that Leigh's remaining home fixtures would be played at the stadium, beginning with the home fixture against Cammell Laird next Tuesday (31st March, 7:45pm).
This evening's fixture away to Frickley Athletic will be the first time that Flitcroft will be entering the dugout, though he has actually been attending Genesis games as a supporter with his family for the past eight weeks, with goalkeeper Dean Porter and captain Alex Cunliffe being two players who have certainly caught the eye of their new manager, a veteran of over four hundred league appearances for Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United. Flitcroft was keen to point out how impressed he had been with the multitude of young players that have been representing the first team in recent weeks and stressed that future additions to the squad would only be brought in alongside a continuing attempt to develop the club's younger players.
New Genesis boss Garry Flitcroft has his first look at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium
New signings are likely to be on their way ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline, with Clitheroe's Jonathan Smith and Bamber Bridge's Tom Ince set to link up with the side, whilst Rochdale defender Raphale Evans has joined on a month's loan, thanks in part to David Flitcroft, Garry's brother, being assistant manager at Spotland.
Since injury forced him to retire from the game when with Sheffield United, Flitcroft has been quietly going about earning his coaching badges with an eye on a career in management, currently holding a UEFA ‘B' Licence and looking to earn extra levels during pre-season, whilst seeing the manager's job at Genesis to be a perfect opportunity for him to get on the coaching ladder and, at the same time, bring success to the club, with the immediate aim being a UniBond Premier League place for next season and a challenge for promotion thereafter.
On behalf of the club's supporters, I'd like to wish Garry the very best of luck and ensure him that he and his side have our full support.
If you can't get to Frickley tonight then be sure to be at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium next Tuesday when Cammell Laird are the visitors.
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I just hope he can get it right for us and hopefully the club can just grow from strength to strength.
Nine games left so still 27 points to play for - got to aim for safety though, like you say, a few wins towards the end of the season will do us good, in much the same way it did last year.
LG-SA.co.uk
Welcome aboard GARRY
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