JULIAN Dicks flew into Stansted airport last night, leaving behind the sunshine of Spain for the freezing conditions of England.Wivenhoe Town's new boss was full of positivity as he began, what he hopes, will be a long and successful spell at Broad Lane.

Mike Bacon

JULIAN Dicks flew into Stansted airport last night, leaving behind the sunshine of Spain for the freezing conditions of England.

Wivenhoe Town's new boss was full of positivity as he began, what he hopes, will be a long and successful spell at Broad Lane.

The former West Ham and Liverpool full-back took over the reins of the Ridgeons League club today and he is expecting hard work and good attitudes from everyone around him.

And he had a message for the people of Wivenhoe.

“Come and support us, we need your support. I'm in this for the long run and want to help this football club get back on an even keel.”

Dicks is taking charge at Wivenhoe until at least the end of this season, as the Dragons try desperately to hold onto their Ridgeons Premier place.

Mid-table they may be, but Wivenhoe have lost seven on the bounce after the dramatic events which saw former boss Richard Carter, and all the first-team squad leave a couple of months ago.

The Dragons so far have 31 points to their name, but that won't be enough to secure their survival, as Dicks knows.

“Everyone knows the plight of the club and when I heard about it through my friend Nick Murphy-Whymark, I offered to help.

“That was a couple of months ago and here we are now.

“I want to run the club as professionally as I can. I feel I've got a lot to offer. I want to get the team playing football and hopefully my experience will help.

“But I will expect hard work from everyone. This is what I want to do. I'm in this for the long haul.

“As far as I'm concerned whether you pay �5 to play football, or get paid �5, you give 110% every time.

“We'll be training on Tuesday and then I'll be watching the U18s the next night. I want to get involved in the whole club.”

Dicks will be staying with family in Essex while he is managing Wivenhoe and only expects to go back to Spain on odd occasions.

Already friends of Dicks, including Perry Fenwick (Billy in EastEnders) and fellow actor Ray Winstone have said they would be prepared to come over to Wivenhoe and help the former Hammer out.

The refreshing attitude Dicks shows can only be of benefit to Wivenhoe Town FC.

Hopefully the town will get behind him and his team.