Jewson/Hellenic Co-bosses Watts and King have K's pushing ‘in the right direction again’

KEYNSHAM Town co-manager Andy Watts reflected on the progress of a revitalised club he has long served with such enthusiasm, and smiled: “We seem to be getting somewhere at last.”

- Simon PARKINSON [e-mail]

Cribbs players and staff, including manager Jack Harding-Dancy in the coat, second from right, celebrating a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Westfields

The 55-year-old former Yate Town midfielder joined forces with another Keynsham stalwart, Chris King, to form a new management team in the summer, a move which so far has produced positive performances and results as the club looks to finally rid itself of an also-ran tag they've struggled to shake off over recent years.

Town host seventh-spot Mendip Broadwalk tomorrow 15th in the Jewson Division One standings with four wins, two draws and six defeats from 12 games thus far.

While there’s undeniably room for improvement there, Watts feels Keynsham are well on the way to restoring the club and community ethos which turned them into competitive mid-table performers in the Premier Division as recently as the 2021-22 campaign before their relegation demise 12 months on.

Watts explained: “Like Chris, I've been with Keynsham for a long time, primarily with the juniors and youth sections, keeping an eye on my centre-back son Charlie’s rise through the ranks.

“Last season I ran our new under-18s team in the Western Counties Floodlight League with Gary Newman, while also helping Chris with our reserves in Somerset County League Division One, who Charlie also played for.

“It had been some years since Keynsham last had an under-18 section, and it was crucial to myself and Chris that we reintroduce it as a proper pathway towards senior football for our lads.

“There'd been a lot of upheaval at the club over several difficult years and it eventually led to Chris and I getting our heads together in the summer, along with the chairman Martin Parfrey, and discussing what we could do to push things in the right direction again.”