CINDERFORD director of rugby Nic Corrigan says taking the job at Dockham Road is the best thing to happen to his career.

Corrigan joined Cinderford, who kick off their National League One season at home against Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday, last winter as a coaching consultant to assist with then head coach Neil Loader.

But after a poor start which saw The Foresters win just two games from 12 and were second from bottom in the table.

But Corrigan believes the full summer with his charges will give the club a better chance at a stronger start to the season.

“It’s been nice to have a pre-season with the players, for them to get to know me a little bit better,” he said.

“They understand me and understand my way which is hard picking up in the season.

“Moving in the middle of a season was a great learning experience and we’re better for it and I think now it’s been an opportunity to get players to understand themselves better.

“I think it’s the best thing that ever happened to me in my career, to come here.

“The firefight that we had really showed character and I wouldn’t have been successful without Barry Holmes, Clive Stuart-Smith, Paul Morris and Abbie Crawford.

“If I hadn’t had those four people we would have crumbled but we held the line and went through a lot as a group."