From the USA to Cheltenham Town for new boss
Paul Buckle said the chance to work at Cheltenham Town was too good to turn down as he jetted straight in from the USA to meet his staff and players on Wednesday afternoon.
Buckle has been working as a technical director in the States since leaving Luton Town last year.
He has been appointed as Mark Yates’ successor after agreeing a 12 month rolling contract at Whaddon Road.
He said: "Things have moved very quickly. I had other offers in the States, when I made my mind up to go back into management, but after speaking to the chairman this job moved right to the top of the list.
"I knew in my gut that this was right. I feel I know the club in terms of bringing teams here and you get a feeling about the place.
“It’s always been a real family club and I loved the chairman’s enthusiasm.
“I like the fact Mark was here for nearly five years, which speaks volumes about the club and it’s a very loyal one. It’s a club I am really looking forward to working with.”
Buckle’s first match in charge will be at home against Oxford United on Saturday (3pm).
“I am excited to get started,” he said. “I said earlier, the reason I have come back today and not on Thursday is to have that extra day with the players.
“It’s a huge game for us, given our position in the league and it’s a big game for Oxford, who will come here confident they can jump above us.
“It’s a big game for everyone, but it’s an opportunity for the players to show me what they are about and I am really looking forward to it.”
Buckle said he was familiar with several of the players in the Robins’ squad ahead of meeting them for individual meetings on Wednesday afternoon.
“I know the players and it’s not been that long since they were playing against me,” he said.
“I don’t have any that I have worked with before, but you get to know players and there were a few smiles as I came in.
“It’s nice to see some of the familiar faces here.”
Buckle said his first job was to try and catapult Cheltenham up the League Two table, after a run of four straight defeats left them lying 18th.
“I trust the work I have done before at clubs, which has brought me some success, so it’s going to be a case of speaking with the staff, finding out what has been going on,” he said.
“I know the team have been playing five at the back, so we’ll discuss whether or not we do that on Saturday or not.
“Things will be going on today, Thursday and Friday before we go into the game.
“I have a man management style and it’s a style where everyone will get a chance. I have high standards and I expect the players to train properly, live their lives right and give themselves and our football club every chance of winning at the weekend.”