INTERIM Stowmarket Town first-team managers Rick Andrews and Ricky Licence want the job on a permanent basis.

Andrews and Licence have been put in charge at the second-from-bottom Thurlow Nunn League Division One club until the end of the current season.

For both Andrews and Licence, a well-known former Stowmarket Town player, it is their first chance to manage at this level.

Andrews, who played for Diss Town in the Eastern Counties League and Grundisburgh, Nicholians and Willis in the SIL, has previously managed teams from under-12s upwards, including Stowmarket Town Youth sides.

The 47-year-old was then manager of Ipswich Sunday Morning League side AFC Maidenhall for three years up until they folded four weeks ago.

He said: “I have always wanted to move into Saturday football because it is more professionally run, so I would like to thank Neil Sharp (the club’s director of football) and the committee for giving us the opportunity and look forward to working with everyone and improving the fortunes of the club.

“We will be using the opportunity to look at the players and the club and for them to look at us, and if both parties are happy we will be looking to take the job on in the future.”

Although they lost their first match in charge 2-1 at Halstead Town on Tuesday, the new duo saw plenty of positives.

Andrews said: “The players’ attitude was spot on and their work-rate and commitment could not be faulted, and we are confident that once we start getting the boys in training and get our ideas across the results will follow.

“We are going to use the last ten games of the season as effectively pre-season friendlies. In our position we have very little to play for other than getting back some confidence and belief into the current squad.

“I am hoping that Ricky and myself can instil our beliefs into the current squad and get them to start playing football how it should be played.

“I am not daft enough to say we will win every game, but given time people watching us will enjoy what they see, whether we win or lose.”

Andrews, who said they had already signed four new players, continued: “My belief is that it is important to not only have a strong first-team squad but also a strong reserve team.”

Stowmarket do not play today, meaning the new duo’s first home match will be against Glenn Read’s Ipswich Wanderers next Tuesday.

Andrews said: “I have known Glenn Read for ten years and his teams are well-organised and play attractive, passing football, so it will be a tough ask.

“But the reason I got involved in this league is to compete against teams of that standard.”