BILLERICAY TOWN boss Craig Edwards is enjoying being the hunter rather than the hunted following Glenn Tamplin’s takeover of the Ryman Premier club.
Tamplin turned his attentions to the Blues following the breakdown of his proposed deal for Dagenham & Redbridge and the takeover of Town is all but completed.
Billericay’s new owner served as Edwards’ captain in his first season as a manager back in 1996-97, helping Barkingside win two trophies.
And Edwards has wasted no time in strengthening his squad with the club’s new-found riches, bringing in Margate trio Luke Moore, Matt Johnson and Danny Fitzsimons, Chelmsford striker Billy Bricknell, Wrexham forward Michael Bakare and Hemel Hempstead winger Lewis Taaffe.
“We’ve made some really good signings but on the flip side, I’ve had to let some great lads go and it hasn’t been easy,” Edwards said.
“Even though the players we’ve signed are very good, I insisted on us only bringing in bang-on lads.
“That’s the way I’ve always built my teams and I’ve had a lot of experience as I’ve needed to rebuild the team every year!
“We do well and then don’t have the budget to keep them around. I know how to build a team and you always need good lads – the ones we’ve signed definitely are.
“It’s been tough over the past few years, the budget has been cut and it’s difficult to get lads in. Now I’m able to go after players and it’s a welcome change.”
Edwards’ side are seven points off a play-off place, but Edwards doesn’t think it will be long before his new-look side start firing on all cylinders.
“It’s going to take time, but if the progress this week is anything to go by, it’ll be sooner rather than later,” he added.
