Jamie Scales will attempt to wake a “sleeping giant” of Suffolk football after being named as manager of Woodbridge Town.

The former Woodpeckers skipper, who made 291 appearances over nine seasons before joining Grundisburgh in 2008, was named as Lee Elliston’s successor on Friday.

Woodbridge slipped out of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division last season, winning just five games and conceding 123 goals, and the 34-year-old is under no illusions as to the size of the task ahead.

“Myself and the chairman (John Beecroft) were honest with each other and my hands are tied to a certain degree,” said Scales.

“Sometimes life is a challenge though and I am starting as I mean to go on.

“The club has been on a downward spiral for a number of years, I am not going to go into the politics of why, but I have the hunger and enthusiasm and hopefully, if I can bring in a few new players, I can put some smiles back on peoples’ faces.

“Woodbridge were one of the best teams locally for a number of years, you could say they were a mini sleeping giant.

“Things aren’t great financially at the moment but hopefully we can generate some PR and some money and take things from there.”

Scales’ first game is at Team Bury on August 9 and he is looking forward to his second spell with the Woodpeckers.

“It means a lot to me to manage Woodbridge. I started with the club when I was seven and played for the senior team for nine seasons,” added Scales, who will register as a player.

“I only left in 2008 because I had a young daughter and there was a lot of travelling involved, but now she is older, I can give the role full commitment.”

Scales will be assisted by former caretaker manager Steve Cooper and explained his football philosophy.

He said: “I am not a ranter and a raver, I will be honest with the players, but I want to encourage them to continue playing football the right way and the club to continue bringing youngsters through.”

Meanwhile, former Woodbridge Town boss Lee Elliston has resigned as manager of Burnham Ramblers, despite only moving to the club last month, citing work commitments.