Pears, pictured, stood down as the manager of South West Peninsula League Premier Division outfit Exmouth Town to take charge of Barum for their 2017-18 EVO-STIK League Southern Division One South & West campaign on Monday.
The new Barum boss has big shoes to fill after Yeo and Karl Baggaley won back-to-back promotions from Division One of the Western League to the EVO-STIK League Southern in three and half years at the helm before standing down at the end of the season. Pears is no stranger to success either though having steered Exmouth to the last 16 of the Buildbase FA Vase as well as the finals of the Devon St Luke's Bowl and the Walter C Parsons Cup.
Barnstaple Town chairman Jasmine Chesters backed the former Barum player to build on the success of Yeo and his number two Baggaley in a statement on Monday announcing his appointment.
She said: “Barnstaple Town Football Club are pleased to announce they have secured the services of Richard Pears as their new manager. Whilst we are sad to see Barry and Karl leaving us Richard comes to us with a wealth of qualities, from leading a very successful club at Exmouth.
"Richard has been involved with football for some 25 years and has played at all levels of the game, and that includes playing for Barnstaple. He has been in manager at Exmouth for three years and is looking forward to the challenge of taking our team forward.
"I am sure that the players, supporters and committee will welcome Richard to Barnstaple to take us higher up the league table in the coming seasons.”
Image courtesy of eastdevon24.co.uk
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