TREVOR Wardlaw faces a new challenge after leaving Ransomes Sports to take over as manager of Claydon.The charismatic character, who has previously ran Stowmarket Town, Old Newton, East Bergholt, Debenham Leisure Centre and Framlingham Town, has never suffered relegation during his managerial career.

Elvin King

TREVOR Wardlaw faces a new challenge after leaving Ransomes Sports to take over as manager of Claydon.

The charismatic character, who has previously ran Stowmarket Town, Old Newton, East Bergholt, Debenham Leisure Centre and Framlingham Town, has never suffered relegation during his managerial career.

And he is preparing for his first match in charge at Claydon with the village club bottom of the Metaltec SIL First Division with just three points from ten games.

Claydon take on mid-table Stanton on Saturday after Wardlaw last weekend resigned his post as joint manager with Peter Gorham of Senior Division Ransomes.

He officially took over at Claydon yesterday after talks with ambitious chairman Jeff Crane.

Wardlaw has previously spent two seasons managing in junior football - taking Old Newton and then Framlingham in to the Senior Division at the first attempt.

“This will not happen for a third time,” he said today. “Finishing third from bottom will be the main objective this term.

“Hopefully I can keep my record of avoiding relegation intact and then build for a go at promotion to senior football in 2009/10.”

With extensive contacts in local football circles Wardlaw already has in mind players he wants to take to Claydon with him.

“If people look at the table they may be scratching their heads as to why I have made the switch,” added Wardlaw.

“But Claydon has some major ideas and I am looking forward to working with Jeff (Crane) who I have known for a long while.

“It is a challenge I am looking forward to and I have to thank Ransomes for re-charging my batteries.

“I appreciate the role that I had at Sidegate Avenue and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

The building of the SnOasis multimillion pound centre nearby will dramatically change the Claydon area inside a few years, and the village football club wants to be a position to benefit.