FOLLOWING a turbulent few weeks, Bridgwater Town Football Club held an Extraordinary General Meeting on Monday, February 22, with a view to recruiting a number of key roles to the club’s management committee.

On the evening, Alan Hurford, former chairman and life member; Bob Buckingham, father of former Reserve team Manager Luke Buckingham and avid supporter of the club; Jason Gunningham, of Bridgwater College; and Jeff Bennett, the club’s website and social media officer, all stepped forward as members of the Management Committee.

Alan Hurford was subsequently nominated and voted in as chairman, with Bob Buckingham nominated and voted in as vice chairman.

After the meeting, Alan Hurford said: “I’m happy to be back in the role of chairman at the club and intend to focus the next few months on steering the club in the right direction and getting it back on track.

"I hope my past experience can re-introduce stability; give a lead to those who have come forward, including past playing members new to the management of club affairs, working together with the continued support of those who have contributed over recent seasons.

"The committee has a difficult task ahead in securing funds for the upcoming season, but I’m confident that a refreshed sense of club spirit will play a pivotal role in engaging with potential sponsors and securing sufficient financial support from the Bridgwater community.”

Newly appointed vice chairman, Bob Buckingham said: “It’s now time to ensure that everyone is pulling in the same direction, and as vice chairman, I expect to play an instrumental role in creating a ‘golden thread’ throughout the club.

"As a committee it will be important that we all pull together to be a part of something that is far bigger than ourselves.

"In so doing, we will create a platform on which the key decisions are made and from which direction for managers and coaches are given.

"I am delighted to have been tasked with playing a lead role in the immediate and long term success of the club.

Ian Barber, who remains in post as football secretary, said: “This is an exciting time for the future of the club.

"It has been a longstanding struggle to get supporters actively involved in the committee, but the turnout on Monday night was impressive and I’ve every confidence that the supporters are fully engaged in helping the club to find a new way forward.

"Through opening the lines of communication and working as one cohesive committee, I’m confident that the club will thrive, not just as a football club, but as a place to harness the community spirit for which Bridgwater is so well known.”

The newly formed committee are due to meet as a whole on Monday, February 29.