The role of player/Director of Football isn’t a common one throughout football, but Malvern Town are blazing a trail following the appointment of striker, Ryan Brunt, over the summer.
With over 200 Football League appearances under his belt following a professional career that has taken him to the likes of Stoke City, Luton Town, Tranmere Rovers, Leyton Orient, Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, the 32 year-old helped the Pitching In Southern League Division One South club secure their highest-ever finish and Step 4 points tally last term as they made the play-offs.
Now he’s also bringing that experience and know-how into the Hillsiders’ boardroom as the club looks to continue its fantastic recent progression.
“I’m very excited by this new challenge,” he told us. “It’s not something I’ve done before and I don’t think there are many other examples of players who combine their playing role with that of Director of Football.
“I’ve always been interested in taking on a different role within a football club, so being able to combine my football and business experience seemed like a no-brainer and this is as good a time as any to give it a go.
“The role covers everything on the football side; things like recruitment, budget management, day-to-day support for manager, Lee Hooper, assistant manager, Andy Bevan, the coaches and medical team, to all sorts of small things that will make the players' experience better when they are playing for the football club.
“My opinion is that the 1%’s make a huge difference. From an overall club point of view, I'm involved in sponsorship, ticket sales, all the really important things that we need to make the club run and function. But then a longer-term vision is to try and get an ecosystem up-and-running so there is a clear pathway from grassroots right through to the first team.
“This is a long-term plan that certainly won't happen overnight but we’re going to get things moving from the foundations that are already in place.”
It was at the turn of 2025 that Brunt decided to come out of playing retirement and put the boots back on and it’s fair to say that he hasn’t looked back since.
“Bar us not winning the play-off final, I couldn't have been any more pleased with how things went during the second half of last season,” he continued. “The club in general has welcomed me with open arms, that's the board, staff, volunteers and the fans. It's a fantastic football club with a lot of personality.
“To get straight back into it after so long without playing has been fantastic; I’ve been able to keep injury-free and just get fitter and fitter. Importantly, I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed my football and got my hunger for the game back, which is testament to those around me.
“For any football club to go 19 games unbeaten as we did in the second half of last season and get into a play-off final is an amazing achievement. I think the football club really put itself on the map, which was brilliant.
“But personally, my cameos off the bench, I thought, were positive, scoring three goals and getting a fair few assists. I'm just glad I had an impact. To ultimately fall just short in the play-off final against Evesham United was gutting, but it just gives us all even more fire in our belly to go again this season!
“It’s going to be another tough campaign; there are good teams that have come down into the League and there are strong teams that are still in there. Every team has their strengths and weaknesses, but on our day and with the signings we have made this summer, I'd back us getting positive results against anyone at this level.
“Having made the play-offs last year, we would be silly not to target them again this time around. That said, we do have to understand that Malvern Town are looking to build the football club sustainably and in the right way, so we don't have the money to throw at players like other clubs have done and our budget certainly isn't top five, maybe not even top ten.
“So on that basis, I feel aiming to get into the play-offs once again is a tough but achievable target, which, as a group, we are really looking forward to.”
Brunt takes on the Director of Football role from Dr. Philip Earl, who had held the position for the past six years. Dr. Earl now takes up the position of Director of Development at the club with a focus on delivering the club’s wider vision for growth of its development and affiliated teams.
“Ryan and Phil represent the best of what we are trying to build here at Malvern Town,” added Chair, Chris Pinder. “They are capable, committed people who care deeply about the club and want to drive it forward.
“These appointments help us build the right structure for the future, while keeping our values and ambition at the centre of everything we do.”
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