GLENN Tamplin has confirmed he will remain in the Billericay Town dugout after being told by boss Harry Wheeler and the players he is ‘the final piece of the jigsaw’.

The Billericay owner, who appointed himself as manager after Craig Edwards resigned last March, has handed the reins over to Wheeler ahead of the new campaign.

But after playing a key role in Billericay’s Isthmian Premier League, Essex Senior Cup and Isthmian League Cup success, Tamplin will remain on the sidelines as Wheeler’s assistant manager.

Tamplin said: “Harry and the boys have asked me to come back because they’ve seen what I have done at the club and they believe I’m the final piece of the jigsaw.

“As a result, I’m back as the No.2. I won’t be dressed in the training gear and I’ll be what they call a suit manager.

“I was a sledgehammer that didn’t work last year. I want to be there as a rock and be there when it goes wrong. I’m completely the opposite to what I was last season.

“I’ve said sorry to Harry and the lads and put everything right.

“Harry is in charge because he is an amazing manager. The club is very lucky and blessed to have Harry as manager.

“I am the assistant manager and Danny Hazle is the No.3. We have said that to the players.

“Harry and I will pick the side together and it always has to be picked together, but if there are two players fighting for the same spot in the team then Harry gets the final say.”

And Tamplin insists he will not find it difficult to take a backseat.

The Billericay owner added: “I won’t find it difficult to take a little bit of a backseat because I nearly cost us the league last season due to my style.

“I will be doing things the right way and Harry deserves the job, whereas I don’t.

“Harry is a far better manager than I will ever be.”

Billericay’s preparations for the new season are well underway.

And although the National League South newcomers have made a number of exciting signings, Tamplin has gone about his business differently this summer.

Tamplin confirmed: “What I haven’t been doing is making a big song and dance when we have signed players because what I did last year resulted in us being everyone’s cup final. I didn’t want to create that this season in this league, so I have learned from that.

“When you start a business, I believe you pay what is called idiot tax, which is where you’re learning. I paid that last year and we nearly paid the price because everyone was upping their game by 20 per cent when they played us.

“That nearly cost us, but it didn’t in the end.”