2:03pm Wednesday 2nd July 2008
REDDITCH United return to training this week with a new board structure, a number of departures and a warning to unruly players Pete Finnegan has moved up from operations director to managing director, with Steve Rossiter stepping down ans chairman.
And Finnegan has immediately vowed to get tough on any player who steps out of line after the Blue Square North side were hit with a £3,000 fine - £1,500 suspended for 12 months - last week following their part in a massed brawl following a league match at Southport earlier in the season.
Three players were also punished at the FA hearing ,with Matty Clarke, James Johnson and Graham Deakin picking up lengthy bans and fines.
As part of the club's crackdown on discipline, Clarke and Johnson have been released while Deakin has been warned over his future conduct.
"What happened at Southport was wrong and we accept that," Finnegan admitted.
"But we have put new measures in place to ensure that nothing like that happens again.
"Our disciplinary record last season was not good enough and the players will be made aware of that when they return to training this week."
Reds manager Gary Whild has kept faith in the majority of last season's side, bringing in just one new signing, Hinckley United attacking midfielder Owen Story.
But he hasn't ruled out adding others to the squad during pre-season.
"I'm happy with the players we have and I'm confident we can build on what we achieved last season," Whild explained. "We are looking to involve a number of players from last season's reserve and youth teams and other things have a tendency to come out of the woodwork.
"The uncertainty of not knowing which league we would be playing in has not helped us but we have a squad capable of competing at this level.
Keith Rostill, Richard Evans and Ashley Walker have left the club - the latter linking up with former manager Rod Brown at Rugby Town - but coach Carl Heggs has committed himself to the club, aiming to play a bigger role out on the pitch.
"Carl is looking to play a lot more football this season and has been working hard during the summer," Whild added. "He is an important player for us and we missed him towards the end of last season.
"We acquitted ourselves well last season and it is important to make sure things are right straight from the start.
"And we have to make sure we are the right side of the line regarding discipline. Players are no good to us if they are sitting up in the stand."
l Finnegan became managing director at the club this week following a shock decision by Steve Rossiter to stand down as chairman.
Finnegan will take charge of the day-to-day running of the Valley Stadium club and will be helped by a team of specialist business advisors drafted in over the past 12 months.
Rossiter, who will remain a director of the football club, has been at the helm of the Reds for three seasons.
"We are indebted to the hard work Steve has given to this football club," Finnegan said. "Without his efforts it is likely that there would not be a team playing football here today.
"Everyone involved in Redditch United wants to put on record their thanks for his tireless efforts over the last three seasons."
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