FOOTBALL: Crabtree can't wait to get stuck in at Westbury (From Wiltshire Times)

FOOTBALL: Crabtree can't wait to get stuck in at Westbury

1:30pm Friday 14th May 2010 in Sport By Dan Barnes

ANDY Crabtree says that he’s delighted to be back in management after agreeing to become the new manager of Westbury United.

The 49-year-old, who lives in Frome, was appointed as the new Meadow Lane chief this week and revealed that his predecessor Paul Brickley played a big part in bringing him to the club.

“Bricko rang me up a while ago and said that he was going to pack it all in at the end of the season and asked if I’d be interested in taking over,” said Crabtree.

“The club contacted me and it all went from there.

“I’d been helping out at Radstock Town, doing the training and stuff like that. It kept me involved in football but I’m a manager and that’s what I want to do.

“Westbury is a stable club that’s looking forward, got some good young players and are stable financially so it’s a great opportunity for me.

“I’ve spoken to the majority of the players and they’ve indicated that they’ll be staying at the club for next season.

“They came close last year and maybe with a couple more experienced lads we can push on and have a good season.

“I did have other offers and I could have stayed at Radstock but Westbury was the right decision for me.”

Crabtree also said that he isn’t looking to have a summer break and can’t wait to get started as the Westbury boss.

“I’ll be looking to get straight into it because a manager’s work starts now,” he said.

“Other managers are probably feeling tired after a long season but I’m raring to go and it all can’t come quickly enough.”

After leading Frome Town to promotion from the Toolstation League in the 2008/2009 season, Crabtree was shown the door after just five games in the Southern League but the former Badgers Hill boss thinks that he has nothing to prove.

“It was a bit sudden when I left Frome after having run the reserves and then the first team for four years,” he said.

“I got them promoted and then got the sack but I’ve put that behind me and gone on.

“They’ve gone on from strength to strength and I’d like to think that I built the foundations for that but I don’t think I’ve got anything to prove to anyone.

“I enjoyed my time at Frome and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it at Westbury as well.”