All systems go at Dudley as Lovatt & Co sign

Boss Lovatt and his assistant manager Jamie Coyne, plus the backroom staff of coach Aaron Archer, physio Ben Thompson and kitman Phil Moss, have all signed up for another term.

The Robins enjoyed a superb 2019/20 campaign and were firmly on course for promotion, lying third in the West Midlands League Premier Division standings when the season was declared null and void due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And they are delighted that Lovatt, who moved in from Sikh Hunters last summer, will head another push promotion – with four places up for grabs again next season.

Committee member Dave Ferrier said: “We kept in regular touch with Matty during the covid situation, firstly to make sure everyone was safe and well and also to discuss our plans moving forward.

“And the conclusion of those talks is that Matty and his backroom team will be staying with us for the foreseeable future.

“We are all delighted that Matty and his staff are on board for next season.

“When we first interviewed Matty prior to the start of last season, I instantly had a good feeling.

“He is a young ambitious manager and his philosophy and thinking was aligned with ours. He wants to progress and we want to do that together.

“He is an up and coming manager and I am sure there would have been clubs at our level and above taking note at what he did last season. So we are delighted that he has made that commitment to us.”

And Ferrier is hoping for more of the same on the pitch, when the action resumes.

“The aim for us is the top four,” he said. “We were really disappointed when the league declared the season null and void.

“We were sitting third and if they had implemented a points-per-game formula we would have finished fourth and been promoted,

“But people’s wellbeing is obviously more important and we have to look forward to next season, whenever it starts.”

Lovatt is pleased everything has been resolved quickly and will now turn his attentions to planning for the big kick-off, whenever that may be.

“We have had a series of discussions over the last four weeks and now we are ready to go again next season,” said Lovett, who led Sikh Hunters to the Division Two title and Division One League Cup success before joining the Robins.

“Myself and my staff wanted to work for a club that matches our ambition and drive and that is the case with Dudley.

“We talked about the direction we want to take and everyone is keen to push on and build on last season.

“Dudley is a big town and we saw the potential last season.

“The main thing now is to keep this squad of players together and add a couple more to make us even stronger.

“We have started putting a few things in place and now we can kick on and get ready for next season.”