Walpole relishing the challenge with Ghosts

Alex Walpole is relishing his new challenge as manager of Fakenham Town.Walpole was named as the Ghosts’ new boss last month after the shock departure of Andy Cunningham from the hot seat after six-and-a-half years.It will be Walpole’s second taste of management having taken charge of the club on an interim basis before the appointment of Cunningham in December 2017.Looking ahead to his new role, Walpole said: “I’m really excited, it is a club that means a lot to me.”I’ve been involved with the club for around 20 years as a youth player, youth coach and then as a player with the senior set-up.In an ideal world, I would still be playing, but with the timing of Andy’s departure, I thought it was a good opportunity to step up.”I’ve got a good bunch of senior players in Jake Watts, Lewis Sturman, Luke Pearson and Josh Youngs that I can rely on and a good coaching team around me. “Allan, Neil (Jarvis) and Stephen (Harvey) are equally as important as the players for the coming season.” Walpole, who hopes to reveal some new signings in the next week, believes the current squad has the potential to be challenging for a play-off place next season.”As a squad, I feel like we underachieved last season. We will be looking to push for the play-offs.”There are a few signings that we have made and once we have confirmed them we will share them on our social media channels. “We feel that the squad does not need a massive overhaul. We have a great mix of youth and experience which we feel puts us in a good position for the season ahead.”Fakenham Town continue their pre-season preparations with a home game against Wroxham at the Daly Group Stadium on Friday night.