It`s All-Change at Barnstaple

It’s been a busy time behind the scenes at Pitching In Southern League Division One South club Barnstaple Town since new chairman Bill Wilson took the reins.

In order to try to secure the club's Southern League status, changes have been made on the management and player front.

Joint managers Kevin Squire and Kevin Darch have stepped down and been replaced by the vastly experienced Craig Laird.

Laird knows the south west football scene very well. He has managed at levels above where we are and spent successful stints at Weston-super-Mare and Dorchester Town.

He is a UEFA A licensed coach and is determined to raise playing standards at the club through more frequent training.

Squire has been offered and accepted a scouting role at the club which will enable him to gain more experience while Darch will be assisting Laird as he settles in at Barum.

Laird has moved quickly to strengthen his squad with the addition of four new players.

Goalkeeper Lloyd Irish`s arrival from Southern Premier Division South side Taunton Town was already revealed on here, and the club have also brought back striker Ryan Turner.

Originally with Ilfracombe Town, Tiverton Town and Bridgwater Town, Turner was a prolific goalscorer in his last spell at Mill Road which ended in May 2017 when he joined neighbours Bideford AFC.

Since then, he has banged in the goals for Toolstation Western League Premier Division outfit Helston Athletic.

Laird has also signed Ashton Hewitt from neighbours and fierce league rivals Bideford AFC.

The midfielder will be well known to the new boss as he was at Elmore when Laird was assistant there.

The 22-year-old had only signed for Bideford in December from the South West Peninsula League Premier Division East side.

He was previously with Western League First Division side Lebeq United.

But the most significant acquisition as Barum attempt to avoid relegation back to the Western League, where they were promoted from in 2016, could prove to be prolific marksman Owen Howe.

The 27-year-old had only re-joined Southern Premier Division South side Tiverton Town in late November from Barnstaple`s league rivals Bristol Manor Farm.

He signed for Taunton Town in June 2020 from Southern Premier Division South rivals Salisbury.

He had joined the Whites in November 2019 from Weston-super-Mare after joining the Seagulls in June 2019 after their relegation from the Vanarama National League South.

He started his career at a young age, making his Tiverton debut at the tender age of 16.

He quickly rose to first-team status for his goalscoring prowess, and the goals flowed freely as Tivvy won promotion to the Southern Premier Division. In the autumn of 2017, he moved to Salisbury and played a part as the side won promotion to the Southern Premier Division South.

In the summer of 2018, he stepped down a division to the Southern Division One South, where he scored over 20 goals in a prolific campaign for Manor Farm, for whom he re-signed in April 2021.

Barnstaple Town Web Site