TNS eyeing Euro group matches under new boss
Chairman Mike Harris says he appointed Anthony Limbrick as TNS’s new head coach with the aim of guiding the club into the group stages of a European competition within two years.
The Oswestry-based side confirmed the appointment of the Australian earlier this month. Limbrick replaced Scott Ruscoe at the helm and is working alongside Chris Seargeant who will serve as assistant and head of coaching.
Previously in charge of National League outfit Woking, Limbrick has also spent time working in the academies at Premier League sides Southampton and West Ham.
He got the TNS job despite more than 100 applications. And Harris revealed why he plumped for the 37-year-old.
“We thought we would go with a slightly different style,” he said.
“We have looked at how clubs have been successful in Europe from what you might call the middle order European clubs.
“And they have a tendency to go with a senior coach rather than a manager.
“So we thought we would try something a little bit different.
“We see that there is great potential is Chris Seargeant. So we thought this could be a good match between the two.
“And perhaps there is a little bit more to the secret recipe still to come.”
A host of players at TNS are out of contract this summer. Asked if Limbrick’s appointment was part of a bigger rebuild, Harris said: “As a club we have always been very loyal to our players and we don’t expect that part of our system to change.
“If players serve the club well we will always try and find a new contract for them or try and find a new role for them within the club.
“We are not here to rip up the 20-odd year success we have had.
“What we are trying to do is move on.
“We are looking at how do we prepare ourselves better for Europe.
“That is a very tough journey. Over the last 20-years, we have been the journey-men suffering big defeats.
“Now we do get one in three wins. We want to make that more regular.
“We have got a two-year time scale to be in the one of the European group stages.”
Former Blackpool, Doncaster and TNS midfielder Gary Brabin has also been pictured with Harris recently.
Asked if he could soon have an official role with the club, the chairman said: “Possibly. Gary is a great friend of mine and has been a great friend of the club for years.
“He has always kept a keen interest in the club.
“Who knows what you might see in the near future.”
