Laird is new Magpies manager

The former Bridgwater Town, Weston-super-Mare and Yate Town boss, pictured, officially takes the helm on Tuesday after caretaker managers Stuart Heath and Nathan Walker took charge for a final time on Bank Holiday Monday for the club's trip to Basingstoke Town in the EVO-STIK League Southern's top flight.

Laird, who succeeds Mark Jermyn after he stood down at The Avenue Stadium last week, was at Bridgwater Town from 2006 to 2010 and led the Robins to a third-place finish in his final season at Fairfax Park.

After taking them to within minutes of securing promotion to Step 3 in extra-time of a play-off final, the new Magpies boss left to take over at Weston-super-Mare in the summer of 2010, stabilising the Seagulls and guiding them to their highest-ever league position, seventh in the Conference South.

Following four years at the Woodspring Stadium, Lairdmoved on to manage Yate Town at the end of the 2014-15 season before returning to Bridgwater for a second spell in May this year as the successor to Paul West.

In a New Year's Day statement announcing his appointment, the Magpies wished their new manager well ahead of his first game in charge, Banbury United at home on Saturday.

Image courtesy of Gary Baker/gazetteseries.co.uk

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