STEVE BURR spent his five months out of management recharging his batteries, scouting for Liverpool's academy, and even celebrating a hole-in-one – now he's determined to get Southport back on the National League's fairway.
Burr is the Sandgrounders' ninth boss in the last three years, after their start of just one win and one draw in the opening eight games saw Andy Bishop lose his job last weekend.
Former Stalybridge Celtic and Kidderminster Harriers boss Burr lost his most recent job, which he'd been in for two years, at Chester back in April. Having turned down other options since then, he felt it was the right time to return.
“I did speak to a couple of clubs over the summer and got the feeling they weren't for me,” Burr told The NLP. “I've enjoyed the summer, my lad got married, and I had a few breaks with the family.
“Alex Inglethorpe called me when I left Chester to do a bit of work for Liverpool's academy, so that was nice. But you start to miss the day-to-day stuff and the dug-out.
Delighted
“It's the first time in 25 years I haven't been involved as a player or manager in pre-season. I've been watching games, but there's that many good managers out there you're really competing against some high-quality people. So I was pleased Southport came to me; they wanted me and that was nice.
“They're obviously looking to move forward and, hopefully, the better I do, I might just get a Christmas card from the chairman!”
Burr, who has already brought in defender Mark O'Brien from Luton and young defender Bobby Moseley, will aim to get Southport playing the attacking style he's known for from the off.
“It's a good challenge,” Burr said. “I've been in a lot worse positions at clubs. I'll use that bit of experience to get the best out of the players there, and try to add to it, to get them out of where they are. That's the first thing we need to do.
“People know what my teams are like, and know that they have a go. That's what the aim will be. Whether it's Tranmere or Forest Green, going there with the belief we can do something.”
Recently, keen golfer Burr was delighted to land a hole-in-one for the fourth time, although it did come with a bittersweet taste.
“It was a pro-am at Foxhills and for the last eight years they've had a car as the prize if you get a hole-in-one,” Burr said. “This year it was a bottle of champagne!”
Meanwhile, the Sandgrounders have appointed former boss Liam Watson onto the board along with local businessmen David Barron and Nigel Allen.
