BRADBURY: IT’S RIGHT TIME TO BE BOSS AGAIN
LEE Bradbury says he just had to jump back into the fire of being a No.1 when the chance came to take the Eastleigh job.
The 46-year-old has left his role as John Yems’ assistant at League Two Crawley Town to take the top job in a Non-League dugout again.
The former Bournemouth boss has been successful in his career, with successive promotions with Havant & Waterlooville as they bounced back from relegation to Step 3 to earn a place at Non-League’s top table in 2018.
Since then the former Portsmouth and Manchester City striker had a brief spell as Eastbourne Borough manager before becoming Yems’ No.2 at the Red Devils.
And while he enjoyed his time at the West Sussex club, Bradbury couldn’t let the chance with the Spitfires slip by.
“I had a great twoand-a-half years at Crawley – I have good memories from there,” Bradbury told The FLP. “Obviously beating Leeds in the FA Cup, getting in and around the play-offs, bringing in Max Watters before he went on (to Cardiff) for a great profit which was good for the club.
“I really like the people there behind the scenes as well as on the football side. But you can’t get attached. I’ve got to think with a business head and I’ve got to do what is best for me and my future.
“Being an assistant was different to what I’ve been used to. It gave me a chance to look at things through a different set of eyes.
“I know the game well enough to know what it’s all about, how players react and what they like or dislike.
“I just enjoyed being around the club and the team and trying to improve. Yemsy gave me a lot of responsibility as far as on-field coaching goes, and that’s what I enjoy doing.
“But it just seemed like the right time. I’ve been promoted out of the Ryman League, the National League South, League Two, League One and the Championship.
“I’m not saying I am going to get promoted, certainly not this season, but this league is an attraction for me and I’d like to do well in it.”