Woodward plans long term stay in Grays hot seat (From Thurrock Gazette)

Woodward plans long term stay in Grays hot seat

9:21pm Monday 31st March 2008 in Sport

GRAYS supremo Mike Woodward says he intends to stay as manager next season.

The flamboyant chairman took over the managerial hot seat after dispensing with the services of Justin Edinbugh in February and an upturn in the Blues' performances has convinced him he can do the job on a permanent basis.

Speaking to the BBC he said: "If the results had been a little bit iffy and I couldn't get the desire out of the players I would have really had to look in the mirror.

"But as someone's said to me just recently, no-one's seen that desire in a Grays shirt for a long time.

"I'm not going to take the credit for this, my backroom staff have been absolutely outstanding.

"I'll manage the people, and they'll coach them to the ability I know they can coach them.

"Maybe I'm a little bit exuberant on the pitch, but that's my desire and that's how I want my players to be.

"Next season with the likes of Danny Kedwell, Jeff Goulding and other people in the side, watch out.

"I'm not saying we're going to win it next year, but we'll be a force to be reckoned with."