Andy Peaks Announced as AFC Rushden & Diamonds First Team Manager

AFC Rushden & Diamonds are delighted to announce Andy Peaks as their First Team Manager. Andy has been involved as Assistant Manager since the AFC R&D senior side was formed, and steps up to the first team role after a period as caretaker manager.

Andy is 8th in the all time Rushden & Diamonds appearances list with 205 having played for R&DFC between 1992 and 1997 and holds a UEFA B coaching license.

Andy has been in temporary charge of the team since Mark Starmer left the position and has won 3 and lost 1 of the four games, with his only defeat coming against champions Spalding Utd.
afcdiamonds.com caught up with Andy today: “Obviously I am delighted to be given the role on a permanent basis, I haven’t made any secret of the fact that I wanted the job and I understand the process the club has had to go through in the last few weeks. I have just got my head down and got on with trying to win football matches. I managed to freshen the squad up a little bit and that has given the whole place a lift. I will be looking at my backroom staff and the players I feel we need to continue to work from this season.”

Chairman Ralph Burditt added: “Following Mark Starmer’s resignation, the board decided that it was essential that we took our time and do things in the correct manner with regards to the application and interview process. It was important to make the right decision by selecting a manager who can take the club forwards both next season and in future. We we were overwhelmed by the quality of the candidates that applied for the position. I’ve had some emails from people who were very surprised not to get an interview and I feel that the overall standard of applicants was a huge compliment to AFC Rushden & Diamonds. After interviewing a number of people, the Board felt that Andy was the strongest candidate for the role and he should be congratulated on coming out on top against some stiff competition.

Anyone who knows Andy will know that he is Diamonds through and through and in appointing him as manager, we know that we have appointed someone who cares as passionately about the club’s success on and off the field as we do.”

Picture courtesy of Malcolm Swinden Photography Copyright Mal Swinden ©2014