WESTBURY United’s new management team is a family affair as a father and son duo take over at Meadow Lane.

Neil and Joe Kirkpatrick will step into the dugout for the first time this weekend when they take on Bishop Sutton.

For Neil, this will signal a return to the touchline after four-and-a-half years out of the game, while it will be a first managerial job for his son Joe.

The 53-year-old, who has had spells at Trowbridge Town and Larkhall Athletic, admits he and his son dream of securing promotion to the Toolstation League Premier Division.

“The ultimate aim will be to get promotion, obviously. It’s easy to say those things and is much harder to achieve,” said Neil “They’ve been at the wrong end of the table for a couple of years, so we need to change that. Whether that is mentality or players; winning is a habit.

“Joe wanted a step up and I am there to help him, really. Hopefully, we can pick the best bits off each other and be a successful team.”

Both Neil and Joe were present for Westbury’s 3-2 win over Cheddar in the Les Phillips Cup, with two-goal George Bendle and Martin Johnson on target, despite Dan Price's red card.

With their first game coming against fellow strugglers Bishop Sutton, Joe has wasted no time in stamping authority on the position after bringing in Leon Greenland from Bradford Town The 26-year-old is itching to get started in front of a home crowd and has reiterated the club’s desire to be promoted. “I can’t wait to begin. It is a new role for me and I am looking forward to working with my dad, who has plenty of experience at this level,” said the younger Kirkpatrick.

“Our aims for the rest of this season are to build on what we have seen in the last couple of games. Wins against Keynsham and Cheddar, who are both competing for the title; that is where we want to be and the players have set high standards.

“We want to play football the right way, getting the ball down and moving it, but more importantly we want everybody working hard for each other. That goes a long way.”

Chairman Matt Bright believes the father and son duo are the right men for the job following the dismissal of James Goddard last month.

“Neil has been around the block and knows what you need to be promoted from the first division and beyond,” said Bright.

“We want to kick on. We know that this club is a sleeping giant and we need people who had the same vision.

“It was music to our ears that the guys were coming down and they said they wanted to get out of the division within the next two years.”

Elsewhere, Nigel Tripp's Corsham Town slipped to a fourth defeat on the spin last weekend as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Ashton & Backwell United.