BROMSGROVE Sporting have announced the return of former manager Paul Smith following the departure of interim boss Tim Flowers.
Smith enjoyed a hugely successful four-year spell with the Rouslers from 2014 to 2018 and guided the club to a league title and a memorable run to the semi-finals of the FA Vase.
He stepped down as Halesowen Town boss in February earlier this year and insists his return to the Victoria Ground is the toughest job he has taken on as a manager.
Smith said: “First and foremost, I’m delighted to be back. I have some wonderful memories from my first stint at the club and we had a fantastic few years.
“It’s all come around quite quickly, but once I spoke with Rod (Brown) and Richard (Boorn) about what they wanted to do, and how I could help them grow the club again, I was excited.
“Don’t get me wrong, this is probably the toughest job I’ve taken on; the club is in a rebuilding process off the pitch, and that will take time, but they’ve made a fantastic start to that.
“Securing Step Three status was vital, and the jobs both Michael McGrath and Tim Flowers have done this season, in difficult circumstances, have been brilliant and they deserve huge credit.
“Now is the time to look forward with excitement – a fresh start for the club and the town.
“I hope to ignite that fire again with the fans; the potential here is massive, and I will do my very best to bring the good times back.”
Chairman Rod Brown added: “Paul is very excited to join our longer term project in re-establishing Bromsgrove Sporting as a successful, sustainable business – on and off the field.
“This exciting appointment brings Paul back to the club that he achieved so much success with up until 2018.
“Since Richard and I have been involved and tasked with re-establishing the club within the community, giving it a greater positive visibility and building a sustainable future with greater investment partnerships off the field, we also knew that the project on the field required a total rebuild.
“That rebuild we believe required a certain calibre of candidate.
“The executive board’s decision was based on our belief that Paul is one of the best managers at this level. He is a serial achiever, with an exceptional contact book in non league – something that we agree is essential going forward.
“Additional to this is that he has unfinished business with the club, which creates a greater motivation for success.
“Paul is fully understanding of the financial restraints there will be whilst we are building the club, but he is very confident that we can build a side to compete in this league.
“The club’s expectations for next season are to be a competent mid-table side, moving away from these ‘nail-biting’ ends to the season that the club has endured over the last three years.
“We aim to achieve this and obviously, a larger crowd support, improved commercial activity and the hugely valued support of our sponsors are integral to all of this. Any further upside to these areas will allow us to achieve our goals a little quicker.”
In his first stint with the Rouslers, Smith led Sporting to an unbeaten season as Bromsgrove won the Midland Football League Division One title on 2016/17.
He has taken charge of more Sporting games than any other manager in the club’s history (201) and has also won more games (149) than any other Rouslers boss.
Smith will be in attendance at Sporting’s final game of the season against Barwell with captain Luke Rowe and vice captain Aaron Roberts to take charge of the team.
