West Park act swiftly to strengthen backroom

Dec 19 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

ON the back of a great win at the weekend against promotion-chasers Leicester Lions in National Three North, West Park have announced several backroom appointments that should strengthen forces at Red Rocks considerably.

Following the resignation of president and secretary John Fletcher and the stepping down of chairman and chief executive Rob Briers, the club has moved quickly to fill the gaps with ex-prop forward Malcolm Worsley taking over as club chairman and Liam Fortune installed as secretary.

Significantly too, the appointment of former England B and Orrell stand-off Martin Strett as rugby manager alongside former Rotherham player Ian Worsley as chairman of rugby is bound to create a new platform for a club which never ceases to generate ambitions.

Martin Jones remains as head coach and recently has been linking-up with former Orrell coach Chris Chudleigh, who started the season, after retiring from the Army, as Sale Sharks community manager.

“Chris will be a great help and has already been coming to training as well as helping out at the University,” Jones said.

These could be exciting times for the Merseysiders, now moving to within six points of promotion-chasers Preston Grasshoppers. They face Macclesfield this weekend and are confident with home advantage and a full squad that they can grab their first double of the season and celebrate the festive season early.

“We are hoping our new winger Matt Williams is able to travel up from Surrey to follow up his great home debut against the Lions,” Martin Jones added. “Let’s face it, he has had a meteoric start scoring twice on his debut at Bradford and then his hat-trick last Saturday. He has delivered a lot of pace and has seized his chances. What has been encouraging too has been some of his efforts in defence.”