MARK Tallentire is looking forward to taking a prominent role in Bracknell Town’s exciting expansion programme, writes Dave Wright.

The promoted Robins are now preparing for life in the Isthmian League, while progress is continuing towards the completion of plans for the Ranelagh Sports Hub just across the way from their Larges Lane ground.

“These are exciting times for the club, so I am really delighted to be back on board,” said former manager Tallentire, who returns to the club as the Head of Football.

This newly-created role will free chairman and chief executive Kayne Steinborn-Busse to concentrate on the proposed Sports Hub, which will bring world-class facilities to the town, in addition to taking care of the club’s commercial activities.

Tallentire continued: “I am looking forward to the challenge as I have not done it before. The other good thing is with Carl Davies being a relatively inexperienced manager I will be there to help him out if he ever needs any advice.

“With the team getting promoted everyone is looking forward to the new challenges ahead.”

Tallentire’s remit is to deal with football matters from the first team and the two Under 18s teams down to the U14s, while also keeping close tabs on the club’s many junior sides.

Tally, who was first-team manager until being replaced last October, will be back working with the highly-experienced Geoff Warner, who has been confirmed as Head of Coaching.

He said: “As people know, we have had successful times and we are both excited about the challenges ahead.

“Geoff will continue to work in the dugouts on match days with player-manager Carl and our new assistant manager, Gavin Smith, so we have got that side of the club all sorted out.

“We will be working closely together to make sure the club is moving in the right direction.

“We are also starting off an Education Academy programme with the plan of having a group of students attached to the club by this time next year.”

As far as the first-team squad for next season is concerned, Tallentire said the management team will shortly be speaking to the squad which recently finished runners-up to Thatcham and defeated the FA Vase winners in the Hellenic League Cup final.

But they will also be looking to strengthen the team with the Head of Football stating: “We are now an attractive proposition for players as we have a fantastic facility and we are a well-supported club.

“Our average crowd is around 300 and now we are stepping up a level, we can expect to see more through the gate next season.”

Steinborn-Busse has also confirmed other backroom appointments for 2018-19, Bob Langridge and Steve Nebbett will remain on the board with Geoff Torrington joining as company secretary with a specific focus on financial control and compliance.

Ricky Simons, a fan who volunteered to write the match-day tweets last season, has joined the club on a full-time basis as club secretary and welfare officer in addition to being responsible for pitch bookings.

Lauren Harris has also been added to help run events, facilities and coordinate the club office. “That is virtually a full-time job in itself,” Simons said. “We get enquiries every day from teams and organisations wanting to use our excellent 3G facilities. Last week I even had an inquiry from as far away as Portsmouth.”

With Bracknell no longer running a reserve side in the Suburban League, joint managers Andy Findlay and Rob Creech have left Larges Lane to take a similar role at Hellenic League club Highmoor Ibis, who are to remain in the Premier Division despite finishing in the relegation zone.