HARWICH and Parkeston manager Kieron Shelley believes he has been rewarded for his patience after taking over at the Royal Oak.

He and assistant Mike Wallace have replaced Glenn Eldrigde, who resigned last week, and they have been joined by goalkeeping coach Michael Kennedy.

Shelley is chomping at the bit to get started and says he has missed his football, since leaving FC Clacton in February.

He and Wallace made no secret of their desire to get back in the game, after parting company with the Seasiders.

They spent the end of last season helping out at Cornard United.

“I’m absolutely over the moon to be back in the game because I’ve missed my football so much in the last ten to 12 weeks," said Shelley.

“I wanted to keep my dignity after leaving Clacton.

“It would have been easy to throw my toys out of the pram, say things I might have regretted and basically been the person people expected me to be.

“Ten years ago, I probably would have let off steam publicly.

“But life shouldn’t be like that and I only wish good things for (Seasiders manager) Tom (Austin), (assistant) Ade (Webster) and everyone at Clacton.

“We decided to go our separate ways but I’m one for building bridges rather than breaking them.

“The more bridges you build, the further you go.

“I was patient and now I’ve been rewarded with this fabulous opportunity at a great club like Harwich."

Shelley also had words of praise for Shrimpers predecessor Eldridge, also a former Clacton manager.

“Glenn did a great job, having taken the reins a couple of years ago," he said.

“He came over at a difficult time for the club, when there were very few players here, and managed to pull something out of the hat.

"He deserves a lot of credit for the job he did."