Vospers' new men in charge!

[Dave Deacon]

Taken from the Plymouth Evening Herald 29th October:-

"VOSPERS Oak Villa are looking to turn the corner after a traumatic opening three months to the season with the appointment of joint-managers Neil Mansfield and Ryan Yeoman.

While the club is still chasing their first points of the season, a busy week at Weston Mill has seen the new management team working with chairman John Cooper in the recruitment of an exciting crop of young players for the cause.

There is no denying it is a long and tough road ahead, but it’s impossible not to admire the resilience of everyone at Vospers, and that determination could be the key to turning this season around.

“After the disappointment of two managers departing this season, we know we’ve got to this appointment right,” said Cooper.

“I’m delighted to welcome Neil and Ryan to the club, who bring us a healthy mixture of youth an experience.

“Ryan is currently a Football Development Officer with the Argyle Community Trust and responsible for a high standard of coaching across Devon and Cornwall. Neil brings his experience with Plymstock United and other clubs at this level.

“They are happy to work together in ensuring we achieve our ultimate objective of getting away from the bottom three positions in Division One West.

“The encouraging signs are the involvement of players wanting to sign for Vospers and we’re very grateful to the support of clubs like Plymouth Argyle, Torpoint Athletic, Saltash United, and more, for their help in allowing us to recruit new faces.

“It’s a tremendous boost and encouragement for Vospers.

“We are concentrating on the future now and things are already looking brighter. I am Vospers through and through, and I’m very grateful to the club committee and everybody involved in helping us to move forward.”

After finishing runners-up in Division One West of the Peninsula League back in May, the Weston Mill outfit has suffered dreadfully from an exodus of players and they still await their first point of the current campaign, boasting a gloomy goal difference of minus 58 from 12 games.

A trip to face the talented youngsters of Plymouth Argyle this weekend must be bottom of the wish-list for Vospers, but goalkeeper Ian Evans will need to be at his very best tomorrow afternoon.

“It’s always going to be tough against Argyle because they’ve got some very talented youngsters, who are involved in the professional scene for a reason,” said Evans.

“It’s been a difficult time for the club, going from our highest high to possibly our lowest low.

“The new managers have come in and they’ve already started to bring in new players, although these may not be registered in time for Saturday. Things are starting to improve and we have to show belief at Argyle.

“We did really well last season, competing against teams with big budgets, and we played with great heart all year. A lot of lads left in the summer and it has been a rebuilding job for the club.

“After our trip to Argyle, we look at the forthcoming fixtures as games where we have a realistic chance of picking up points. Argyle will definitely be tough but we’re not far away from the teams above us, and we believe we can catch them.

“If we somehow manage a good result this weekend, it would give the club a massive lift. These players are at Argyle for a reason but it doesn’t mean to say we can’t get something from the game.

“Stranger things have happened and I hope to perform well in giving us that chance for a positive outcome.”