YATE TOWN have appointed Craig Laird as their new manager to succeed Rob Cousins who was sacked from the job five weeks ago.

Laird leaves Weymouth, where he was assistant manager to Jason Matthews, for Lodge Road and is a former manager of Weston-super-Mare and Bridgwater Town.

And Yate Town have also appointed Rob Boyd, whom Laird worked with at Weston, as their assistant manager. He moves into the seat vacated by Michael Meaker, who also left the club at the same time as Cousins.

Key to the reasons for Laird and Boyd taking up the posts, said chairman Colin Pick, was due to the growth of the youth sections which have come on leaps and bounds, particularly at Under-18 level in which the team have just the Gloucestershire Football Association Shield in their age group.

Laird and Boyd will take charge of this Bank Holiday weekend’s big clashes in the Evo-Stik Southern Division One South and West league where Yate go to bottom-but-one Bishops Cleeve on Saturday before a tough clash against fifth-placed Larkhall Athletic at home on Easter Monday.

Pick said Laird ‘was attracted by the potential of the club and the structure that is being implemented to ensure we have the best chance of success.’

”Our new management team have specifically been chosen as they possess the quality and capabilities to align and grow the club’s football philosophy. Both were attracted to the club because of our fantastic youth development section and are keen to build upon the tremendous success our under 18’s have achieved so far this season.

“In return, Craig brings with him established contacts with local teams and academies across the South West region along with his excellent management record.

“I am really excited for the future of the club and I look forward to working with Craig, Rob and Nigel (Hawkins. Director of Football) to move this club forward with new ideas and developing our youth policies.”

Hawkins has been in the Yate dugout since the double sackings in February and was key to bringing the new management team to the club.

He added: “I’m delighted that we have finally secured Craig and believe that he is absolutely the right person for the role at Yate Town.

“The timing of the appointments will enable both Craig and Rob to assess the current squad and start planning for next season.

“Rob has been helping me over recent weeks and is very impressed with the squad and the set-up at the club.”

Pick added: “The club would like to thank Nigel Hawkins for taking on the first team management role on an interim basis and wish both Craig and Rob the best of luck in their new roles.”

Over the past five weeks under Hawkins, Yate went on an initial four-match unbeaten run before two back-to-back defeats to North Leigh and Wimborne. However, they resurrected their winning form on Saturday with victory over 16th-placed AFC Totton at Lodge Road.