SYLVANS have moved quickly and made an in-house appointment to fill the gap created by departing first-team boss Martyn de Garis.
Clive Bateman (pictured), a first-team fringe player during the club’s heady days of the 1990s, has moved up from coaching last season’s title-winning Sylvans Youth One side. He took little, if any, convincing to step up.
‘They asked me last Tuesday after a committee meeting on the Monday. I took a couple of days to think about it.’ Bateman, 33, is excited at the chance to test himself further and said that youth will get its chance. ‘We are quite happy to go with our youth and build on it.’
Bateman’s first job, though, is to stop the exodus of senior players. Matt Warren has left for St Martin’s and it seems very likely he will be followed to Blanche Pierre Lane by Naro Zimmerman, while Michael Watson and Sam Matthews are expected to rejoin North. Keeper Paul de Garis has also left for Bels.
The new boss says he is not too perturbed as other than de Garis the others played few games last season.
‘If they want to go, let them go,’ is his attitude.
He also hopes to add a few new faces.
‘A couple of players have spoken to me about coming up, but I think a lot have been waiting for the outcome of the GFA meeting.’
Bateman has only been coaching for three years after a long and successful playing career at St Peter’s, only broken by a six-month spell at Saints.
He is still to finalise his support team but is encouraged.
‘Player feedback has been good, especially with the juniors.
‘I have asked a couple of people to help out so we can do the Priaulx and development team between the three of us.’
Article posted on 24th June, 2008 - 2.30pm
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