Craig Laird returns to Bridgwater Town for second spell in charge

West tendered his resignation last week after just one season in charge. Town endured a tough campaign, losing 26 of their 42 league fixtures, but ended up finishing ten points clear of the relegation zone.

Working with a squad packed with local youngsters, acting chairman Bob Buckingham said the club were “extremely grateful” for the job West had done.

The Robins turned to a familiar face to replace him, appointing Laird for a second time following a successful spell in charge from 2006-2010.

He led the club to a third place finish in his final season at Fairfax Park and they were just minutes from securing promotion to Step 3 before falling in extra time of the play-off final to Cirencester.

Laird left Bridgwater to take over at Weston-super-Mare in the summer of 2010, stabilising the Seagulls in the Conference South despite having one of the lowest budgets in the league.

He departed Weston after four years at the Woodspring Stadium and returned to management with Yate Town at the end of the 2014-15 season.

Laird quit the Bluebells in March after admitting the club “did not achieve the targets we set” but he is now back in the dugout at Bridgwater.

A Robins statement said: “Bridgwater Town FC are extremely happy to announce the immediate appointment of Craig Laird as their new first team manager.”