WARR-IOR CARDEN IS READY TO DO BATTLE

MISERY guts Paul Carden is hoping a promotion push with Warrington Town can put a smile back on his face this season.

- By Chris Dunlavy

The former Cambridge United and Peterborough midfielder enjoyed great success during his initial five-year stint at Cantilever Park, winning the NPL Division One North title in his first season in charge and registering successive third-place finishes before joining AFC Telford United in 2021.

Recent seasons have not been kind to the 46-year-old, however: Sacked by the Bucks after 11 months, he was then relegated from the NPL Premier with Nantwich before returning to Warrington in September.

Rock bottom of National League North at the time, he improved performances but was unable to avert the drop.

It was, says Carden, the most difficult spell of his decade in the dugout, and one that left him thoroughly down in the dumps. But with a decent budget at Step 3 and a raft of impressive signings inbound, he is hoping cheerier times lie ahead.

"Before the last couple of years, Td always been at the right end of the table,” he told The NLP. “That's something I’m determined to get back to. Because losing games every week, it changes you. I didn’t like my weekends much. I didn’t enjoy my Saturday nights as much as I should have. ’'d come in after games and the dog would run straight out in case she got the boot!

“Tm joking, of course, but you do carry it around with you when you're not winning and you're actually a different person when you are winning.

Standards

“Tt’s not so much what people say on the outside. If you’re happy to take the praise, you have to be tough enough to take the criticism when it comes. I've developed a very thick skin over the years. It’s internal—your own pride and your own standards.