DANNY Laws believes Leiston are in a great position to go forward, but is not making any rash promises about the club’s potential progress in the future.

Laws was appointed as manager at the Ryman League Premier Division club on Saturday, effectively swapping places with Mark Morsley who recently left Victory Road to become boss at Needham Market next season.

He had been due to remain manager until the end of the season and then become first-team coach under Morsley, who had previously managed Needham and then worked alongside Laws as general manager when they won promotion to the Ryman League in 2009/10.

Laws is due to be in charge of Leiston for the first time for tonight’s Ryman League Premier Division match at Bognor Regis Town, which is a major doubt because of the weather, so is it more likely his first match at the helm will be Saturday’s derby at home to Lowestoft Town.

Laws said of his decision to join Leiston: “I was genuinely very interested about the project that Mark Morsley had put together and the way he had engaged everyone at the club, but it was inevitable that as I was not going to be first-team manager that I was going to get offers from other clubs.

“If my telephone had not rung I would have happily been first-team coach at Needham Market, but the offer to manage at Leiston in the Ryman Premier was too good to turn down.”

He said of the challenge ahead: “The club is in a great place after back-to-back promotions and has now consolidated in the Ryman Premier. Their form since Christmas has been terrific.

“It is a very strong squad which I am looking forward to working with over the last few games of the season and in the future.

“Some of the lads have played for me before and others have played against my teams over the last few years, and it will be my aim to further develop the squad.

“I have always been ambitious and want to improve on what the club has already achieved.

“I am not looking for a quick fix in terms of getting into the Conference (Blue Square Bet Premier) in two years, but I believe the club has a lot of potential to go forward.”

Laws, who has been a PE teacher at Alde Valley School (previously Leiston High School) for the past seven years, said: “I work in the community – I have had lads say to me ‘when are you coming to Leiston, sir?’ and the time is now right for me to do so.”

Neil Reeder, who was assistant manager to Laws at Needham Market, is expected to follow him to Victory Road, with Morsley’s former coaching staff having already left Leiston.

Laws, who was appointed manager of Needham Market in May 2006, added: “I have met with (Leiston chairman) Andy Crisp over the last few weeks and Needham Market, the club’s chairman David Bugg and Mark Morsley were aware of that.

“I would have honoured my contract and continued to manage Needham Market until the end of the season, but Dave Bugg, Andy Crisp, Mark Morsley and myself decided it was in everyone’s interests if I made a clean break now.”