FOOTBALL: Bevan relishing new role at Shortwood (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Experienced striker takes on player-coach role

8:22am Wednesday 6th June 2012 in Sport By Danny Hall, Sports Editor

JODY BEVAN believes he has given Cirencester Town boss Brian Hughes one less tough decision to make by his move to Southern League new boys Shortwood United as player-coach.

“All the Ciren players have known for some time that Hughesie is working on a reduced budget this season and he is going to want to see that money on the pitch,” said striker Bevan.

“In all honesty, I am not going to be able to play 90 minutes week in and week out, nor in 50 games a season.

“Hughesie and I go back a long way and I think there would always be a place for me at Ciren under him, but my moving has helped him have one less tough decision to make.”

Bevan, 33, is looking forward to taking his first steps in management and coaching under the retired schoolteacher John Evans at Meadowbank. “The opportunity to go to Shortwood as a coach was too good to miss,” he said. “My degree in Sports and Exercise Science was a long time ago and I am going to start doing my coaching badges.

“John got to the level of a EUFA A coach so working with him is going to be a real learning experience for me.

“I believe I have something to offer and as I have always done, I am going to try the best I can.”

Aside from his coaching duties, the vastly experienced Bevan remains focussed on achieving the milestone of 250 Southern League goals with his new club.

“I don’t think I will play much of part on the field in August when the pitches are hard, but I still believe I can do a job off the bench, and I am determined to get the four goals needed to make the 250.

“Shortwood are only going to make two or three additions to an already successful squad. They are used to winning in the Hellenic and if they play with no fear I think they can hit the ground running.

“The Southern League Div 1 South & West is a real local league this season with just five journeys in excess of 60 miles for us and I will enjoy going back to my old clubs like Cinderford and, of course, Ciren.”