MIKE Symonds is the new player-manager at Presteigne St Andrews Football Club.

Symonds has replaced Adriano Griolami who was dismissed before the end of the season.

Tom Ammonds will be assisting Symonds as Presteigne look to challenge for honours next season in the Spar Mid Wales League.

Chairman Tony Wood said: “We were very pleased with the standard of applications received for the post and Mike and Tom are to be congratulated for the quality of their interview.” Symonds wants to make sure there is a good spirit throughout the club.

“I want to see Presteigne do better than last season and, hopefully, progress from where we were the season before. I want to get in players who want to make the club the sort of place where people want to come and play their football.” He added: “I think we have got to get three or four players in from elsewhere to strengthen the side. But it’s definitely a club rather than just a team and I’ll be looking to try to get the club working together and having a more social aspect.” Symonds paid tribute to the successes of his predecessor, Girolami, whom he believed brought increased levels of professionalism to Llanandras Park.

“I played with him at Pegasus and I was captain for him at Presteigne last year; he brought a lot to the club in terms of training and attitude. Hopefully, I can follow on from that and add to it myself.”