Jon Laugharne back in management with Woodley United

Thursdays late breaking news saw former Finchampstead manager Jon Laugharne and assistant Darren Purbrick take up the reigns at Hellenic League Division 1 East side Woodley United.

Broken by the Wokingham Paper on Thursday evening, Laugharne has been confirmed by the Kestrels as the new boss – the latest in a series of Hellenic League managerial moves.

In a shakeup of Woodley’s management structure that see’s James Anderson ‘move upstairs’, club secretary Mark Rozzier said: “Jon and Darren to be management team, Arun Brar and Charlie Lauri to help with coaching and James to be Director of Football to help with the continued development of the club both on and off the pitch.”

Laugharne

Ex-Finch manager Laugharne had success at the Memorial Ground with a tight knit group of players, finishing fourth before the club were forced to take demotion to the Thames Valley Premier League on ground grading issues.

Laugharne, Purbrick and many of the players had been due to move to Henley Town in the summer of 2017 but committee changes made that move impossible.

Jon Laugharne and Darren Purbrick (right). Photo: Mark Pugh.

As it was, the Red Kites resigned from the Hellenic League midway through last season.

On taking the job, Laugharne said: “To be honest I hadn’t really been championing for an opportunity. I’d just been going to a few games as I know quite a few people from my time before.

“Mark Rozzier approached me then James Anderson and I went from there.”

When asked what the immediate aims were, Laugharne responded with a smile: “To score more goals than the opposition and win every game.”