BRAINTREE: Iron will appoint boss in New Year

By dward

BRAINTREE Town will not be appointing a new, permanent manager until well into the New Year leaving caretaker boss Bradley Quinton in charge for at least the next four Blue Square South games.

Club chairman Lee Harding confirmed yesterday (Wednesday) that they had interviewed three potential candidates with "possibly three or four more to do."

He added: "We are not in any particular rush to make a decision and will take our time.

"Bradley is doing a fine job, having steadied the ship as it were and we feel we can continue as we are, certainly over the festive period.

"The quality of candidates has been extremely high and I don't expect us to make a decision until we're into the New Year."

Harding admitted that the next four games would "make or break our season in terms of getting into the play-offs."

The Iron go to Dorchester Town this Saturday before playing Bishop's Stortford home and away over Christmas and then entertaining Maidenhead United on Saturday January 3.

"I think if we can pick up maximum points from these games than it will push us on the fringes of the play-offs and keeps our season alive in that respect," explained Harding. "If we don't then we've still plenty to play for but realistically we'll be looking to further build on for next season."

The Iron go to Dorchester with a recent bit of controversy between the two clubs after their meeting earlier this season at Cressing Road. Billy Burgess was accused by the visitors of deliberately causing an injury to one of their players.

The Dorset club initially threatened to sue on behalf of their player but later dropped any action but the whole affair did leave an unfortunate atmosphere between the two clubs.

"We didn't agree with their proposed action which was subsequently dropped and as far as we are concerned the matter is long closed," said Harding. "We go there like going to any other club and our main concern is to come away with a win and three points."

Missing from the Iron squad for the game will be the suspended James Hawes and Micky Shinn, otherwise the players having had two weeks' break from action are all fit.

"We then have two great local derby matches against our old friends from Bishop's Stortford and we're hoping for a four-figure gate for the first at Cressing Road," Harding continued. "We've kept the match to the traditional Boxing Day (December 26) at 3pm and are hoping for a bumper crowd and a good game."

Off the field the Iron chairman is tonight (Thursday) due to reveal full details of the club's updated plans for its 6,000-seater stadium on the Rayne side of the town.