Town rugby heroes fire new Bridgnorth chief's ambition

The 51-year-old was appointed last week to replace Mark Clyde, who is leaving the area to return to his native Northern Ireland in August.

Psaras is a well-known figure in the town having worked as owner and manager of fish and chip shop the High Town Grill for over two decades.

And he believes his contacts can help increase the profile of the football club to a similar status to Bridgnorth's hugely successful rugby team, which has won back-to-back promotions and will compete in National Three (Midlands) next season.

"Mark Clyde has brought the club back to the West Midlands League Premier Division and I think it's a club that can go forwards again," said Psaras, who was assistant boss at AFC Telford United for three years and co-managed Wellington Amateurs after 18 years as academy coach at Walsall.

"It's my local team and I've worked in Bridgnorth since the 1980s," said Psaras.

"So with my contacts in the town, we can get it on a par with the rugby club and it can get back to the level where they need to be, which is the division above.

"It's basically a case of building a sound financial base for the club with the first team, the women's team, the youth team, kids' sides and the commercial side to build on what's been done and move forwards."

Psaras, who left his post as AFC Wulfrunians Under-18s coach to join Bridgnorth, has appointed his assistant from Wulfs Liam Evans as his number two.

The experienced coach and manager also wants to increase local links to get more interest in the club from people living in the Bridgnorth area.

"I've had a few conversations with Steve Groome (club secretary) and the way to do that is to have local lads from the Bridgnorth area in the team with one or two others because they will bring in their families and friends to help put us on a sound foundation," he added.

"Whether it's this year or next, I feel we can build on the excellent job done by Mark and do something good."

Psaras has retained the services of Crown Meadow first-team coach Lewis Welch, who also applied for the top job at the club.

They were two of six candidates interviewed by Clyde and Groome and Psaras believes the input of former Wellington Amateurs manager Welch will be vital as he looks to keep the squad together.

"Lewis knows the club and the players well and it should ensure there's not much of a transition," said Psaras.

"After all the good work Mark has done, I'd be an idiot to being in 15 or 16 new players and ideally I haven't got to make wholesale changes.

"From what I've heard, one or two might leave to play at a higher level and it would be a shock if anyone wasn't offered the chance to play higher.

"But we'll have meetings with them and try to persuade them to stay."