Casement steps down- but Wilkins steps up

Yesterday evening saw big changes announced at Pitching In Isthmian North side Stowmarket Town, with the departure of manager Chris Casement, and the appointment of manager Richard Wilkins.

Casement steered the club to the end of the campaign after taking the role in February, and indeed even took our Vita Risk Solutions Manager of the Month award for March, steering his side smoothly into Play Off contention before it all went wrong in April. Chris has been with the club for almost three seasons as a player- and latterly, as manager- but has decided he wants to have a break from management and focus on his playing career.

His replacement needs no introduction, but he's going to get one anyway! Richard Wilkins has a great deal of management experience at a number of our clubs, but first made his name as a player, making more than four hundred senior appearances at the likes of Colchester United, Cambridge United and Hereford United. He moved into management at Ram Meadow with Bury Town, steering the Blues to promotion from the Eastern Counties League to our ranks and then up once more to our Premier Division. He also took them into the FA Cup First Round for only the second time in their history, twice to the First Round of the FA Trophy, and picked up five cups along the way. He moved on after fourteen years to manage Leiston, and was later in charge of Needham Market.

He told the club website:

“I recognise that Stowmarket Town FC has challenges ahead and we need to be realistic in terms of our expectations. However, I am excited to have this opportunity and along with the support of the local community, I believe, as a club, we can continue to build on our reputation as a competitive club in the Isthmian North League”.

Read more here.

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