Bridgwater Town’s new manager is focused on building a side around local, young talent, writes Richard Browne.

Phil Hucker was appointed first team manager at the end of last week in place of Craig Laird, who departed the Robins for Dorchester Town on New Year’s Day.

Hucker comes to the position having been chief scout at Weston-super-Mare, though he previously worked as a coach at Weston and also Cheddar.

He told the Mercury: “The [Bridgwater] job came up, and it was a challenge I wanted to take on, as I feel I have a lot to offer the club.”

Hucker takes over a side sitting bottom of Evo-Stik Division 1 South & West, and eight points adrift of third-bottom AFC Totton.

Yet, he says, the club is “very positive”.

“They’re realistic, but there’s no disillusionment – they’re positive moving forward.”

The main aim, for Hucker and the club, is to “build a side of local players and bring youth through.”

Bridgwater Mercury: A BUMPER crowd of 722 watched the game at Fairfax Park

The Robins and their new boss are, he said, reading “off the same hymn sheet” in terms of using Bridgwater and Taunton College as a grounding point and taking players into senior football and developing them.

“The club have been very supportive and encouraging,” he added. “I haven’t set targets to win a certain number of games, but we will try to be positive and try to win every game.

“Over the next 16 games [to the end of the season] the aim is to ensure we give the supporters and the committee what they deserve with full commitment and effort, and a playing style that will get results.

“The supporters have had a tough time, so we want to get them on board.”

Hucker was unable to run the rule over his new charges on Saturday, as the away match at Salisbury was postponed due to a frozen pitch, but he already has an idea of what he will be working with.

“I watched Bridgwater half a dozen times this season as [Weston] scout, so I know areas to improve on,” he said.

“I’ll be working with the players on the training ground and talking to them, and hopefully we can eliminate those [issues].

“I will meet the players officially on Tuesday before the game [at home to Larkhall Athletic, ko 7.45pm].

“But I’ve been in contact with them already, and there are good vibes.”

Tonight they host a team sitting 15th in the league standings, and licking their wounds after a 10-2 mauling by Taunton Town on their last outing, which was the first match in charge for their new manager, Phil Bater.

The Robins, for their part, will hope for a better result at Fairfax Park than when they entertained Bishops Cleeve last time out, the visitors winning 3-1.