Paul Baker on the appointment of Paul Buckle as Cheltenham Town's new manager:
"It’s a very exciting time for the club and there is always a degree of excitement when a new manager comes in," Baker said."Paul has a tremendous track record and we first got to know him when we were playing Torquay on a regular basis.
"Often he would come to Cheltenham to watch opponents and we would always chat in the boardroom.
"He is very personable and knowledgeable and if you look at his track record, he got Torquay into the Conference play-offs, into the Football League and then into the League Two play-offs.
"He then went to Bristol Rovers, which seems to be the death knell for managers because so many managers have gone there and failed. Hopefully they will bounce back.
"He went to Luton and got them into the play-offs so he seems to have a habit of that, which is no bad thing.
"They had a tremendous FA Cup run, beating Wolves and Norwich City and then he went to America.
"He has managed clubs at our level, he knows League Two, he is well connected and for me, he is very personable and the football Torquay played under his management was superb.
"They were one of the best footballing sides we came up against when he was there."
Baker said that he consulted several chairmen for a reference and they all responded with nothing but positive feedback about the new manager.
"Having decided that Paul was the man we wanted, we also did a lot of research," he said. "I have spoken to four different chairmen, who have either appointed him or interviewed him.
"All the feedback I was given was positive. We offered him the job and never did I think we would be having emails exchanged with a guy in America about a job at Cheltenham Town.
"He was very keen to get back into management, but the fact he knows the club, knew Shaun North, myself and Colin Farmer, makes it a good fit.
"I am delighted to have him on board and I think it’s an exciting time for the club."
Buckle's first match in charge will be Saturday's home fixture against Oxford United (3pm).
Baker added: "We can’t set expectations running because it’s going to be tough and it’s a difficult league. We don’t have money to spend in the transfer market or on loan players, so it will be a case of working with that he has got, unless he identifies particular areas we are able to help with.
"Paul needs to hit the ground running because it’s only a couple of days until the local derby against Oxford and then the biggest game of the season against Dover in the FA Cup, so it was important we acted quickly and decisively, without a period of being rudderless.
"We have gone and got the man that we wanted, so fingers crossed it will be a good appointment.
"I am looking forward to seeing the changes he will be making, so hopefully if we can get a result against Dover, there might be some money to spend in the January transfer window to strengthen the squad if he perceives that we need to do that."