Town reflects on ‘rollercoaster’ week

Events over the past five days have underlined the fact that football is rarely predictable.

Mike Barton (right) was installed as manager of Technogroup Welshpool on Friday, 48 hours after Graham Evans stepped down. Add into the mix a pending 15-point deduction for fielding illegal players and it has been hard to keep the club out of the headlines.

But it is now looking forward to a fresh chapter under the former Guilsfield boss who decided to switch clubs after feeling he had taken the village side as far as he could during his second spell in charge.

And as the dust settles, Technogroup Welshpool have lifted the lid on the circumstances that led to Barton’s switch.

Club Secretary, Liam Pritchard, said: “If someone had told me on Wednesday when Graham left and the 15 point news became public knowledge that within 48 hours we’d have one of the best managers in the league at the helm, I’d have checked their medication!

“We were bracing ourselves for a long hard search for a new boss in midweek. I had a few names in my head of managers who were currently out of work and may be up for the challenge. I really didn’t consider approaching anyone who had a job because I figured, who’d want to come to us in this position?

“In this area you can’t help but notice what Mike has achieved at Guilsfield and, having talked myself out of making an approach in the summer as I thought we didn’t stand a chance, I figured if you don’t ask you don’t get.

“So I rang Guilsfield to ask their permission and to my surprise they granted it. Shortly after, I spoke to Mike and he was keen to meet as soon as possible. We met in the evening with the Chairman and everything just seemed perfect. I just can’t believe how quickly it has all worked out - my head is spinning.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that we’ve ended this week on such a high. The club is on top of the world at the moment and there’s a real belief that we can overturn the 15 points on the pitch and beat the drop. It’s gonna be fun!”

Barton was in the stands as Technogroup Welshpool lost 2-0 at Caersws but has taken control of first team affairs today.