Dean Edwards unveiled as new Barnstaple Town boss

Former Hednesford Town and Bideford boss Dean Edwards is the new manager of Southern League Barnstaple Town.
The former Torquay United, Exeter City and Wolverhampton Wanderers forward was unveiled on Wednesday as the successor to Aaron Harper-Penman following the Barum legend’s decision to quit two weeks ago.
New boss Edwards will take charge for the first time on Saturday when his side hosts fellow strugglers Moneyfields with both clubs in the bottom four of the Southern League Division One South table.
Edwards managed neighbouring Bideford in the Western League from 1996 to 1998 and was in the dugout at Northern Premier League Hednesford Town from 2008 to 2009. In between, the 57-year-old was also player-boss at both Pelsall Villa and Willenhall Town.
In the summer of 2015 he was appointed as director of football at Torquay United, pictured, after leading a takeover consortium of local businesses. He resigned days after the exit of manager Paul Cox a few months later in September 2015.
According to a club statement announcing the appointment, Barnstaple Town chairman Bob Chamberlain is backing Edwards to bring some much needed stability after their turbulent start.
He told fans: “He’s going to be a great appointment with the experience he has had in football. With Dean we want to steadily climb up the table and get in a comfortable position. We want to stabilise the club.
“For the last three seasons we have avoided relegation for various reasons, such as clubs withdrawing from the league, so we are hoping to stabilise and move forward.”
As well as scoring for Torquay United in two different Wembley appearances, Edwards also turned out for Northampton, Shrewsbury Town and Telford United.
He also enjoyed spells abroad in Finland, Hong Kong and Malta and hours after his appointment told the North Devon Gazette hours that he was now looking forward to putting down permanent roots at the Devon club.
He said: “It’s a big town and I think the last few years the club has probably underachieved but I would like to think with a few of the contacts I’ve got we can make the club a bit of a force again.
“It’s a tough area to attract players to because of the distance, but I’m confident we can get players to come in and help propel the club forward.
“I watched yesterday, and I know they were beaten 5-2, but the lads put a lot of effort in. I’m looking for a bit more stability. In all walks of life you tend to get better results when you’ve got that stability.
“It’s not going to be an easy fix. The club has had two-to-three years languishing in the bottom part of the league and to change will take a bit of work.”
Club legend and former skipper Harper-Penman stood down on September 19.  Named as the successor to Kevin Darch and Dave Griffiths in December 2018, the former centre-back made his debut for the club aged 16.
He went on to appear 336 times for Barnstaple, either side of a spell at Bideford, scoring 25 goals and skippering the side.
Image courtesy of Torquay United