Great escape earns Bird another year

8:45am Thursday 15th May 2008

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Hayden Bird has been rewarded for piloting Carshalton Athletic's great escape by being confirmed as manager for next season.

Bird watched from the sidelines as the Robins earned a famous last-day 2-0 victory over visitors Tonbridge Angels to maintain their Ryman League Premier Division status courtesy of goal difference.

And chairman Harry Driver has moved swiftly to quell speculation by confirming that Bird and assistant Jeff Evans would still be at the reins at Colston Avenue come the start of the new campaign.

At a meeting last week, Driver announced that Bird would have overall responsibility for the direction of the club, urging him to start planning for next season.

Work is also due to start at Colston Avenue as the club looks to improve its facilities, with the pitch due to be relaid in the coming weeks.

For that reason, and to aid the Robins' hopes of producing a higher standard of football at home, the reserve side will not be running next season.

Meanwhile, the Robins have pencilled in a high-profile friendly against another team who made a final-round great escape, Premier League side Fulham.

The match will be played at Colston Avenue on Friday, July 25, as part of their pre-season programme.