CLUB NEWS: Paul Smith Returns

The Bromsgrove Sporting Executive Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Smith as the club’s new manager.

Paul will be no stranger to Sporting fans, having previously been at the management helm from 2014 to 2018. During that time, he achieved sizeable successes, including leading us through an unbeaten Midland Football League Division One campaign in 2016/17 – a season which also saw us memorably reach the FA Vase semi-finals.

In Sporting’s short history, no manager has taken charge in more games than Paul (201), nor have they won more (149).

Paul will be at our final game of the season on Saturday, at home to Barwell, albeit not in charge of the team – that responsibility will be taken on by captain Luke Rowe and vice captain Aaron Roberts. He will commence his role after the game finishes, where the hard work will start.

Speaking about his return to Sporting, Paul comments: “First and foremost, I’m delighted to be back. I have some wonderful memories from my first stint at the club and we had a fantastic few years. 

“It’s all come around quite quickly, but once I spoke with Rod (Brown) and Richard (Boorn) about what they wanted to do, and how I could help them grow the club again, I was excited. 

“Don’t get me wrong, this is probably the toughest job I’ve taken on; the club is in a rebuilding process off the pitch, and that will take time, but they’ve made a fantastic start to that. 

“Securing Step Three status was vital, and the jobs both Michael McGrath and Tim Flowers have done this season, in difficult circumstances, have been brilliant and they deserve huge credit. 

“Now is the time to look forward with excitement – a fresh start for the club and the town.

“I hope to ignite that fire again with the fans; the potential here is massive, and I will do my very best to bring the good times back.”

Chairman Rod Brown comments: “Paul is very excited to join our longer term project in re-establishing Bromsgrove Sporting as a successful, sustainable business – on and off the field.

“This exciting appointment brings Paul back to the club that he achieved so much success with up until 2018.

“Since Richard and I have been involved and tasked with re-establishing the club within the community, giving it a greater positive visibility and building a sustainable future with greater investment partnerships off the field, we also knew that the project on the field required a total rebuild.

“That rebuild we believe required a certain calibre of candidate.

“The executive board’s decision was based on our belief that Paul is one of the best managers at this level. He is a serial achiever, with an exceptional contact book in non league – something that we agree is essential going forward.

“Additional to this is that he has unfinished business with the club, which creates a greater motivation for success.

“Paul is fully understanding of the financial restraints there will be whilst we are building the club, but he is very confident that we can build a side to compete in this league.

“The club’s expectations for next season are to be a competent mid-table side, moving away from these ‘nail-biting’ ends to the season that the club has endured over the last three years.

“We aim to achieve this and obviously, a larger crowd support, improved commercial activity and the hugely valued support of our sponsors are integral to all of this. Any further upside to these areas will allow us to achieve our goals a little quicker.”

We hope you will join us in welcoming Paul back to the Victoria Ground!