Dynamic duo handed three year deals

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Bamber Bridge have handed manager Neil Crowe and his assistant Neil Reynolds three year contracts.

Fans saw the Brig’s management duo put pen-to-paper on their new deals at The Sir Tom Finney Stadium in front of Secretary George Halliwell, pictured, their reward for leading the First Division North club to the promotion play-off final and the success they’ve brought since taking over three years ago.

A delighted Crowe said: "You don’t like to blow your own trumpet but I think we’ve done all right. We’ve improved each year since we took over and that’s what we want to do, keep bettering ourselves.

"The job is an ideal one for me – I’m a Bamber Bridge lad and I’ve been connected with the club for a number of years, I’m happy and want to keep doing well."

Prolific front man Alistair Waddecar has also signed a new contract in more good news for supporters after the heartbreak of missing out on promotion following their 3-2 defeat at home to Ramsbottom United.

Crowe added: "It’s a huge weight off my shoulders. I wanted a break over the summer and now I don’t have to worry about teams coming in for Ally."

His assistant praised the commitment shown by the club in offering them unusually long contracts in Non-League football.

Reynolds said: "I’m really grateful for the commitment that the club has shown to us. I don’t think they’ve ever done anything like this before, giving a management team a three-year contract. But we have done well and the new deal is also a commitment from us by showing that we will be around for quite some time yet and we want to do even better and take the club as far as we possibly can.

"We started off when we first came in targeting sixty points, then seventy points and then eighty points with hopefully a view of being in the play-offs in the final year. We have achieved our target and now there will be pressure on us going into next season with many of thinking can we go that one step further.

He added: "It’s going to be difficult if you look at sides such as Warrington Town, Darlington 1883, Salford City and Northwich Victoria, who will all be strong. But we’ll just keep doing what we are doing and doing things the right way."