Boro Player caught up with Graham Westley today, after he was announced as the new manager of Stevenage Football Club.
Moving into his third spell as boss down Broadhall Way, Westley spoke honestly and admitted that after leaving the club 14 months ago, he didn’t expect to return so quickly.
“I certainly didn’t imagine that I’d be back 14 months later, it’s a journey I have made before, away and back, and obviously doing it a second time isn’t what I thought I’d be doing but I’m really happy to be back.”
The new manager sent a warning to Press Officer Mark Venables and BBC Three Counties commentator Steve Watkins, he jokingly continued, “Even though I have to deal with you and Steve on the press side of things, which is going to be it’s usual challenge – for you!”
He went on, “I’m really happy to be back, the training ground is fantastic, the club just keeps moving forward. All the facilities keep improving and I hope that I can come back and make another positive difference on the field of play.”
When the 45-year old first returned to Stevenage he had said that he felt an improved person and manager, and when asked if he feels the same this time around he replied, “I’d like to think so, when I left here first time around the one real massive thing that happened to me was going to Rushden and Diamonds and although I was only there a short period of time, the club had been in League One, it’s infrastructure, it’s ways and methods, were geared to League One and I learned a lot from the way they thought about football and planned and prepared for football and went about the game – it was a good experience.
“I’ve been away this time at Preston North End, which not long ago was competing to be in the Premier League and as a football club it is geared up or much bigger things than League One. Its ways, its methods, its knowledge and its history are huge and it’s been a big learning curve in terms of being a part of that so I couldn’t fail but learn by being a part of Preston North End and definitely, I’m going to be a stronger and a better manager for the experience.”
Graham went on to speak about the team that he has inherited, which he sees as a squad with a lot of quality, as well as Monday’s test against Hartlepool United at the Lamex Stadium.
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