Tom Wiles | “Jimmy the perfect fit!”

After a whirlwind week we are delighted that Jimmy has accepted the post to become our men’s first team manager.

I would like to thank everyone who has expressed an interest in the role over this past week, it shows that the club is heading in the right direction and is a great place for people to coach and manage.

In truth this was always a one horse race, we only ever wanted Jimmy and he was told that immediately last Tuesday. He’s Pontefract through and through and this is the first time in Trevor Waddington’s time at the Club that we have appointed a lad from Pontefract in this role – which makes it even more special.

It’s a mark of how much Jimmy cares about The Colls, that he took sometime to ensure that he could give the role everything it needs and he had to consider how it would impact his working and more importantly his family life. People don’t always see the sacrifices that coaches and managers, especially at this level, make to have a positive impact on people’s lives. During this time we have been massively impressed with the work Jimmy has already put in, to ensure that the men’s first team will continue to thrive.

When Jimmy told Trevor and I on Sunday he was going to accept the role – we were delighted. He wanted to inform Craig himself before it went public which again is a mark of the man. In Craig Rouse and Craig Parry he’s been able to learn from the best two managers this Club have ever had and given time he will go on to even surpass their outstanding achievements, sometimes you just know because Jimmy is the perfect fit for this Club.

We are also delighted that Lee Kelsey and Gavin Rothery are staying to assist Jimmy, they are both brilliant football people who again love the club and Jimmy will be able to trust them implicitly.

We can now get back to driving the club off the field and leave Jimmy to do his job. The Colls look forward to welcoming back our fans, juniors, ladies, adult men and Pirates to preseason in July. Where we will have improved the Hunters Stadium again, so please come and support Jimmy, his staff and players when we return and let’s make some noise both home and away again!

Thank you and Up the Colls, Tom Wiles on behalf of the Committee.