CINDERFORD Town have named Paul Michael as the club’s new manager, hoping he will be the man to guide them off the bottom of the Southern League Premier Division.

Michael joins Town from Welsh League Division One side Risca United, where he achived three promotions in five years.

He signs on to a huge task, with Town having picked up seven points this season and lost all away games thus far.

Michael was player/manager at Risca, as he took the Newport club from Division Three to the second tier of Welsh football and has a wealth of experience in non-league football.

Town chairman Stuart Tait said Michael was the ’outstanding candidate’ and is currently completing his UEFA A coaching licence.

“Paul has the ambition and drive to not only keep the club in the Southern Premier League this season but also to take the club forward long term,” Tait said.

“Paul comes with a vast amount of experience in the non-league game having played at Southern League and Welsh Premier League for many years.

“During his time with Risca he has put in an incredible amount of work both on the pitch and at the club.

“This includes setting up a FAW Accredited Academy which play in the Welsh Premier Development League whist also driving the club to a new state of the art football facility.

“This mirrors the goals that we are aiming to achieve at Cinderford Town.”

Michael took charge of the team for last night’s 4-1 Southern League Cup loss at county rivals Bishop’s Cleeve, signalling an end to Brian Burke and Rich Wilkins’ caretaker manager period.

Michael said he was ’delighted’ to join the club and ’couldn’t wait to get started against Cleeve.

“I believe that there is huge potential for this club to develop on and off the pitch in the coming days, weeks, months and years,” he said.

“I’ve been impressed with Chairman Stuart Tait and the other members of the club that I have met, and this has persuaded me in no uncertain terms that the club is making huge strides off the pitch.

“It is going to be my role to ensure that the club makes similar progress on the pitch.

“This is a huge challenge given the current league position but one I cannot wait to get started with.

“If we can stabilise the club on the pitch in the short term, hopefully we go on to make the club a centre for football in the Forest of Dean.

“[We can] create a system where we develop the best young players from across the Forest and give supporters and our wider community a club to take real pride in.

“The community has really rallied behind this football club over recent months; that is exactly the type of club and community in which I would love to have an impact.”

Andrew Smith, manager of Monmouth Town, has joined Michael as his assistant.