It’ll be business as usual at Spalding United after Marcus Ebdon and Danny Hussey committed their long-term futures to the club on Tuesday night.
Former Everton and Peterborough United winger Ebdon, who was number two under ex-boss Pat Rayment, has agreed a deal to become the Tulips’ new manager.
Hussey, who was player/coach under the old regime, has also decided to stay at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field in a new role of assistant manager.
And, with director of football Bob Don-Duncan also staying put, Spalding have secured some much-needed continuity after Rayment abruptly ended his hugely-successful four-year spell in charge a few weeks ago.
Hussey told The Spalding Voice that neither he nor Ebdon were ready to walk away from the club – and want to continue the fine progress made during Rayment’s reign.
He confirmed that an Evo-Stik League First Division South play-off place is the aim for the new management team and added that their appointment is a long-term one.
“We’ve shaken on the deal,” confirmed Hussey. “It’s very much onwards and upwards from here.
“Other than Pat not being here anymore, there really is going to be very little change.
“We always wanted to stay as a trio but, although Pat was ready to walk away, we didn’t really want to.
“It’s not something either of us wanted at the start of the season, but we’re now determined to continue what we’ve started.
“We really want to see this through. It’s not just a case of getting to the end of the season, these are long-term appointments for us.
“We’ve been assured by the board that nothing will change and we’re very happy with what they had to say.
“Now the focus has to go back to the pitch. We’re not good enough to go up automatically at this stage, but we can certainly make the play-offs.
“That has to be the aim – and if we can make it, then happy days.
“We’re looking forward to Saturday’s game, but nothing has really changed. The players have treated us like managers from the off and have really responded to us.
“We couldn’t have asked for more from them.”
The first game of Ebdon and Hussey’s official tenure is a home league date with Carlton Town on Saturday (3pm).
It’s Ebdon’s second managerial role, having previously been player/manager at Alfreton Town back in 2007. He began his playing career as a youth team player with Everton back in 1989, but is best remembered for making 147 appearances for Posh.
Veteran Hussey lists Stamford, Holbeach United and Spalding among the many clubs he represented in his playing career and is a highly-respected coach.
The pair were always first choice for the role.
Ebdon said: “I look forward to the challenge of taking the club forward with Danny as my assistant. From our short time as caretaker managers we have made a good start with the team playing some good football – as was shown at Leek Town on Saturday.”
Tulips chairman Andy Gay added: “From the outset we wanted to appoint from within the club and Marcus and Danny were the obvious choices. We all look forward to working together as a complete team.”
