Reprieve inspiring determined Biddle FREDS AIM TO SEIZE THE DAY

ROOKIE manager Matt Biddle had a baptism of fire at Wantage Town this season – but reckons he will reap the benefits in the new campaign.

The Freds had won the Hellenic League under Ben Sadler to earn promotion to Southern League Division One Central.

However, Sadler soon departed and it was left to Biddle and Tom Austin, who had both been in charge of the club’s development side, to jointly take the managerial reins.

With a host of players heading for pastures new, Wantage hit rock bottom. By the time the season came to an early halt in midMarch, they had just four points to their name with a tally of 16 goals for and 121 against highlighting just how bleak a season it was.

However, the fact the season was declared null and void has given the Oxfordshire outfit a break and they’re now keen to grab their second chance at Step 4 with both hands.

And Biddle, inset, reckons he has come out the other side stronger for the experience.

“Any other manager could have jumped ship, but I’m not a quitter,” he told The NLP. “Keeping morale high given the circumstances was challenging, but we got the dressing room atmosphere right from Christmas onwards.

“Everyone was pulling together to put some points on the board and that’s what we want to build on next year. I’m determined that you won’t see us at the bottom again.”

While Austin has stepped down as coboss to have another crack at playing and assistant Roy Clark has left to spend more time with his family, Biddle has been heartened by two new appointments to his management team.

Sean McKeon has joined as assistant manager, with James Keller as head coach.

“I’m delighted to have brought them on board,” said Biddle, 32, who served the likes of Hednesford Town and Willenhall Town in his playing days.

Feedback

“I’m mates with Sean and we played together at Wantage and other clubs. He fits the personality, character and passion we want at the club. I didn’t cross paths with James when we were playing, but he has the same passion and heart, and he has a soft spot for Wantage.”

Aside from his managerial commitments, Biddle does his bit to raise the profile of the club, whether that’s by writing articles for the club’s website or with social media posts. The fact the club are planning to record all their games in the coming season could help on and off the pitch.

While the staff will use the coverage to give feedback to the players, some highlights will go online so fans can enjoy them.

“I want to get our name out there,” he said. “When I was a player I would have loved to have had clips to watch back and learn from. Having the highlights for fans will hopefully generate interest in the club.”

The main aim, though, is to ensure the 2020-21 season is a lot better than the one just gone.

“We were up against it from the off, we had to start afresh. It’s difficult to compete with the other clubs with bigger budgets than us, but there’s nothing wrong with a season of experience,” added Biddle, who has a football studies degree from Southampton Solent University.

“I’m genuinely excited by the changes in place for next season in terms of contacts, new ideas and technology. We will keep a few players, but we are going to have a new squad.

“I’m just trying to chip away at as many things as possible and hopefully we’ll reap the rewards.”