Leaders' boss gets a new deal in time for league showdown

[caption id="attachment_41116" align="alignleft" width="345" caption="Hungerford manager Bobby Wilkinson"][/caption]

Wilkinson took charge at the end of the 2009-10 season after Hungerford had finished third to bottom of the Evo Stik League’s Division One South and West table since when they have finished seventh, fifth and now head the table going into the second part of this campaign.
His three contract was due to expire at the end of this season, but the club’s executive board this week offered a new deal, which was approved by the club’s general committee.
“We’ve got better and better each year with Bobby,” said executive board member Nigel Warrick, “and I think we’ve seen the most exciting football in the area.
“He was quite inexperienced when he took over,” he added, “but he’s grown and grown and we’ve got better each year and it’s right that we act now to make that.
“In a way, I think the manager is bigger than the club because he knows the players and makes them work, and at the end of the day it’s all about the football.”
“I’m really happy with the outcome,” said Wilkinson, “and I can’t thank the board enough and everyone on the committee for their support.
“We have a good relationship and I’m happy they have rewarded me for the hard work. Now I want to reward them by winning games.”
The first task is winning Saturday’s game with Swindon Supermarine, one of the teams tracking the leaders and with games in hand.
“It’s biggest game since the play-offs last season,” said Wilkinson. “This is what it’s all about and if supporters don’t come out and get excited for a game like this, they’ll never get excited a about football.”
Wilkinson must wait on the fitness of defender Jon Boardman and midfielder Bradley Gray, while full back Diak John is suspended. But goalkeeper Paul Strudley and forward James Clark return.