Hednesford manager Phil Starbuck insists he expects to lead the club to promotion during the new, 18-month contract he signed this week.
The 37-year-old, who was appointed in May 2006, penned what is his first deal at the club after rejecting Blue Square North side Worcester, who had approached the Pitmen.
Starbuck also dedicated his new deal to managing director Terry Brumpton for his professionalism.
“Hednesford gave me permission to speak to Worcester and I spoke to their chairman Dave Boddy, but I’m more than happy to stay here,” said Starbuck.
“This gives me the opportunity to build a promotion-winning team. I’d expect to be in the play-offs this season as a minimum.
“I enjoy the people and the place at
“Terry Brumpton didn’t want me to go, so to try to stop it happening again, he offered me a contract and I decided to commit myself to the club and I was very happy to do it.”
And the former Nottingham Forest striker also paid tribute to Brumpton as the “main reason” for him staying.
“Terry is probably the main reason I’m staying,” said the Pitmen chief of the long-serving Keys Park boardroom official, who runs the club on a daily basis.
“I enjoy the people I work with and Terry is the best person I’ve worked with in football
in terms of his ethics as a person and as a managing director – he’s second to none.
“He doesn’t interfere and anything I ask for, I get. He has always done his utmost for the team and no one should under-estimate what he and his family have done for the club.
“He’s done an awesome job for Hednesford and I’m just pleased to work with someone of such high calibre.”
Starbuck has extended the loan of Walsall striker Chris Hanna for another month.
Hanna’s loan was due to finish after today’s trip to Ilkeston, but he will now stay for the busy festive period after forging a promising partnership with Ross Dyer.
The extension to Hanna’s stay was needed after rookie striker Reece Styche broke his foot again.
Styche, 18, broke down in training after being accused of rushing back too quickly by Starbuck and is set for another six weeks out.
But Hednesford’s other loan player, midfielder Sebastian Arnolin, has been allowed to return to Stafford Rangers a game early after failing to impress.
Hednesford also welcomed back central defender Tom Marshall today after missing four games with ankle, calf and thigh injuries as Gordon Simms sat out with a one-match ban.
Midfielder Steve Palmer, who is wanted as player-coach by British Gas Business Southern League Midlands division side Willenhall, was vying for a recall after coming through 90 minutes in Tuesday’s Birmingham Senior Cup defeat to Wolves.
“I’ve spoken to him, but there is no offer as yet from Willenhall,” said the Pitmen boss. “I want him to stay because he’s an important member of our squad and when he’s fit, he can play.
“I’d be disappointed if he left.”
Starbuck, meanwhile, has allowed midfielder Tom Ward to rejoin Market Drayton.
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