Lee Spalding's appointment as manager a 'no-brainer'

SWINDON Supermarine chairman Jez Webb says the decision to hand Lee Spalding the manager’s job on a full-time basis was a “no-brainer” following the club’s promotion to the Southern League Premier Division.

Supermarine secured a place at level seven of the English football pyramid on Bank Holiday Monday after a penalty shootout victory at Wimborne Town in the Southern League West play-off final.

Spalding replaced Dave Webb at the helm back in mid-January, with the former number two placed in interim charge until the end of the season before going on to guide Marine to a record of just three defeats from 19 games as they claimed a top-six finish.

The South Marston side then battled their way through the play-offs with penalty shoot-out successes away at Evesham United in the semi-finals and Wimborne in the final, meaning they ended the campaign with a superb 11-match unbeaten run.

Chairman Webb admits there have been plenty of enquiries about the manager’s role at the Webbswood Stadium, but Spalding’s achievement made him the obvious candidate.

“There were several people interested in the job and my phone has been going and people have been asking questions, but how could you possibly install someone outside the Supermarine network after the performances we have had in the last 10 or 11 games? It’s just a no-brainer,” said Webb.

“We have struck lucky with Lee. The decision to put Lee in as interim manager was because we didn’t have anyone lined up to replace Dave.

“I stand by that decision and I would never have done anything behind Dave’s back because of the respect I have got for him.

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