DANNY'S DEVOTED TO THE DUGOUT

DANNY WALDREN says he's happy to be the 'alpha male' at Beckenham Town after hanging up his boots at Cray Valley PM to move into the dugout for the first time.

- By Matthew Nash

The 36-year-old has taken charge of former club Becks, replacing Del Oldfield as boss, but will not be tempted to put his boots on unless the Isthmian South East side are short of bodies.

Taking the job at Eden Park Avenue meant walking away from the Millers, where he won promotion to the Premier Division as South East champions two seasons ago and made the play-offs at Step 3 last term before an agonising 4-3 semi-final exit after extra-time at Dartford.

Waldren told The NLP: "I sat down with the manager at Cray, Steve McKimm, and it was all settled. I look after myself but it would have been a lot more difficult to put the time and effort into another season. I need to be 100 per cent in mind and body and I felt I couldn't commit to that.