DEREK Graham has revealed persistence from chairman Pete Russell and the chance to team up with pal Andy Crabtree were what persuaded him to return to football management once again with Warminster Town.

Graham and Crabtree, who worked as manager and assistant respectively at Weymouth Street in the 1990s, walked back into the club as co-managers this week. Their first match in charge ended in a 7-0 defeat to runaway Toolstation League First Division leaders Bradford Town on Wednesday.

A triumvirate of former Red and Blacks bosses was completed with Adam Collington, who managed the side last season, also returning in a coaching and playing capacity, following the axeing of John Phillips.

Graham and Crabtree’s managerial careers have closely mirrored one another’s, Graham working as Crabtree’s assistant during his successful four-year stint at Frome Town, which saw the Robins promoted to the Southern League, and holding the Aldersmith Stadium hotseat himself for a spell earlier this year.

Both also took charge of nearby Westbury United in separate tenures but, having been bruised by his abrupt exit from Frome in September, Graham admitted he was initially reticent about returning to football .

“I did take a bit of persuading,’’ said Graham, who watched Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Wellington.

“When I left Frome Peter (Russell) was on to me about coming back but I resisted at first. Then Andy phoned me and said he’d do it if I did, so we got back into it.

“All we want to do this season is make sure the club is in the same division, then we can look again at what we need to do next season.’’ Crabtree has most recently been in charge of Toolstation League Premier Division side Radstock Town, a position he relinquished at the weekend.

He had also worked as a goalkeeping coach at Calor League Division One South & West side Paulton Rovers, after moving to Swansea to live for two years.

He said: “I’m from Warminster and they (Town) have had a hard time over the last year or so.

“They’d had a lot of trouble with the financial aspect of the club, but they have got the foundations in place there and they just need to move forward now.

“Derek and myself have agreed to do the job together.

Town chairman Russell said: “I knew that Derek had left Frome but had been away on holiday and that it wasn’t all roses for Andy at Radstock – patience was a virtue.

“They’re both local guys that I know well and I don’t think that there are many clubs that would be able to get two guys with that much experience in.

“It’s no quick fix but I think it can only be a positive thing for us and I’m sure that they’ll do a good job.”

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