IVYBRIDGE TOWN appoint new management team

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Created on Friday, 31 March 2023 15:54

Last Updated on Friday, 31 March 2023 16:34

Published on Friday, 31 March 2023 15:54

Written by GRAHAM HAMBLY at Erme Valley

A NEW management team has been appointed to take charge of Ivybridge Town in the South West Peninsula League next season.

Former Ivybridge players Lance Bailey and Martin Mitchell will be joined by trophy-winning Mount Gould boss Wayne Gamble following the decision of present Ivies manager Darren Stewart to stand down at the end of this term.

Bailey and Mitchell figured for Ivybridge in the Devon League and Devon Premier Cup double winning side of 2005-2006 while Gamble spent most of his playing career at Plymouth club Mount Gould where he and Bailey are currently joint managers.

Mount Gould top of the South West Division of the Devon League with a 100 per cent record and are also still in two cup competitions.

Bailey and Gamble are set to take over as joint managers at Ivybridge in the close season with Mitchell as their assistant.

Stewart, who has enjoyed a successful five-year stint at Erme Valley was looking forward to the prospect of taking Ivybridge to a higher level next season, but decided to leave the club following the breakdown of merger talks between the Peninsula and Western Leagues.

Although Ivybridge remain on course for a top four finish, they face the prospect of another season in the Peninsula East division.

The new management trio were approached by Ivybridge’s long-serving general manager Brian Howard to take charge of the playing side and had little hesitation in accepting the offer.

“It was a no brainer really, it is a nice family orientated club so that ticks all the boxes for us,” said Gamble, who aims to lead Mount Gould to more success before leaving at the end of the current campaign.

Bailey added: “As soon as we knew the job was coming up, I said to Wayne it is such a lovely club from when I played here, and I am still friends with Brian and his family. It just oozes family orientation and that’s what we are about.”

Bailey moved into management when Gamble asked him to help out at Mount Gould. He explained: “I was playing for Mount Gould at the tail end of my career and Wayne said asked if I would mind helping him out and I got the bug.”

Looking ahead to next season Gamble says: “We have just got to add to the side they already have here and get a bit of steel in there.”

Bailey added: “We have got lads who have played for Wayne since they were 16 or 17 and, potentially, we are going to bring them along with us.

“I think Darren has done a brilliant job here and we are, hopefully, going to take that to the next step.

“I have brilliant memories of my playing days here when we won the double, so I hope we can come here and do justice for Brian and ourselves.”

Regarding the target for next season the new management will be aiming to improve on the current campaign’s potential top four finish.

Bailey says: “Wayne and I are winners. What Ivybridge have done this season, finishing third or fourth, we can only come here to win the league. With the players already here and those we can potentially bring in, the only target for us is winning the league.”

In welcoming the new management, Howard also paid tribute to the work of outgoing boss Stewart, who has been at the club since succeeding former Plymouth Argyle favourite Nicky Marker.

Stewart led the club into the new East Division structure of the South West Peninsula League following the final season of the former South Western League.

Stewart’s record has been an impressive one with the club. They were in a great promotion position during the covid affected seasons, falling just short in the points per game equation.

In the frame Ivies' new management team Lance Bailey (left) Wayne Gamble (third from left) and Martin Mitchell (right) with club chairman David Graddon.

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