Rogers delighted to help Tiverton turn it round

AFTER two wins on the trot, Tiverton Town joint manager Martyn Rogers says the team is moving in the right direction - and that he couldn’t stay away from the club after retiring in pre-season, then watching the Sholing game and feeling the bug again, writes Richard Hughes.

Rogers handed over the reins to his nephew Scott Rogers but, after a holiday and a break, he returned to the joint-manager role two weeks ago and has enjoyed two good wins in the last two games.

Rogers said: “The first time I went back was for the FA Cup defeat against Sholing, and that was hard to actually watch the game and have no influence. I spoke to my wife and she said ‘you need to go back’ because it is something I love doing.”

Rogers was Tiverton’s manager in two spells for 25 years before walking away in August, Scott Rogers taking over for the start of the season.

But Scott was in complete agreement that Martyn could return to the role if he wanted to - and has welcomed him back with open arms.

Martyn Rogers said: “We have had two curtailed seasons where we made a good start, and hopefully we have made a little start now this season to get back up there in the top half-a-dozen.”

One player who has made a good impression from the bench since joining on loan from Torquay United is young midfielder Alex Moyes.

Moyse turned 19 in September and is highly thought of at Torquay where he has signed a professional contract after being released by Exeter City.

“He has got an old head on young shoulders,” said Martyn Rogers. “Obviously we are talking about different levels, but he plays the way N’Golo Kante does at Chelsea - he is just all over the place and you see him break up stuff and start things.

“I like watching him, he’s a bubbly character and he has done alright for us.”

Tonight Willand Rovers host Tiverton in the first round of the Devon St Luke’s Challenge Cup.

Mani Skett, Will Richards, Ryan Guppy and Ben Griffith scored the goals in Willand’s 4-1 home win against Evesham United in Division One South at the weekend.

The winners of the tie will fce a home tie in round two with Plymouth Parkway providing the opposition.

On Saturday, Willand are at home against Mangotsfield Town in the second qualfying round of the FA Trophy, while Tiverton are at Hendon, hoping to continue their good run.