Alzapiedi crosses island divide (From Echo)

Alzapiedi crosses island divide

3:07pm Tuesday 10th July 2012 in Non-league Football By James Colasanti

GLEN Alzapiedi has agreed to be the new assistant manager at Concord Rangers – less than a week after stepping down as the manager of fierce derby rivals Canvey!

Alzapiedi left the Gulls last Tuesday after a fall out with their chairman over the signing of a new striker, but he’s now agreed to make an immediate return to the island as number two to Danny Cowley at the Aspect Arena.

The position became available last week after Kenny Brown left to take up a coaching role at League Two side Barnet, after the Bees appointed his former West Ham teammate Mark Robson as their new manager.

Cowley said: “I met Glen and we spoke at length about it and he has agreed to become the assistant manager here at Concord.

“He is a great coach and we have similar beliefs about how the game should be played.

“I’ve always admired how he set his teams up so I’m very happy to have got him in.

“What happened with Glen at Canvey, happened, and I do not want to comment on that.

“But I think we will benefit from having him here at Concord and the plan is for him to start here at training on Tuesday.”

Cowley also revealed he was delighted to have re-captured the services of their former centre back John Easterford after he left Canvey.

The Concord manager said he felt he’d made the “worst mistake” of his managerial career by playing Easterford out of position at right back when he was at the club before – a move which prompted the player’s move to Canvey.

“I’ve made 100s of bad decisions, but the one with John was probably my worst,” said Cowley.

“So I’m delighted we have managed to get him back because he is a typical Concord Rangers player – totally committed and courageous.”

Easterford was one of four first-team players released by Canvey over the weekend, but Cowley said he still expects the Gulls to be a major force in the division this season.

He said: “Yes, some good players have left there, but at the end of the day they are Canvey Island Football Club and they will attract more good players.

“The new manager will come in with his own ideas and contacts and I’m sure they will be one of the teams to beat again in the Ryman Premier this season.”

Comments are closed on this article.