Joel Windsor is doing what is best for Debenham LC as club begins their search for a new permanent manager

Joel Windsor says he had to put his pride to one side and do what is best for Debenham LC as they begin their search for a new permanent manager.

Windsor has been interim boss at Friends Meadow since the departure of former manager Guy Hayes in October, and the Hornets have drawn two and lost three during his current spell in the hot seat.

A 3-1 defeat at bottom side Needham Market Under-23s on Saturday saw Debenham drop to the foot of the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North table, with the club the next day inviting applications for a new boss to take over the reins permanently.

“After Saturday me and Chris (Conway), the chairman, sat down and had a chat,” Windsor said.

“We’ve lost a lot of players to injury on Saturday during the course of the game, and I just felt that going forward we’d need someone with fresh ideas and a person that can bring in four or five new players and freshen up the squad.

“My player pool is in the SIL (Suffolk & Ipswich League), so I can go and get four or five players from steps below, but in terms of getting players from Step 6 and Step 5, it needs to be someone else who has that pulling power.

“It’s probably best for the club to put my visions to one side and my pride to one side and do the best thing for the club, and that’s get a manger in who can bring in five or six new players on his own on a limited budget and try and propel this club up the league where it deserves to be.”

Saturday’s trip to Bloomfields saw Debenham forced into four substitutions during the game, with Kyle Jopling (Achilles), Lee Dunn (groin), Joe Baldry (groin) and Reece Golding (hamstring) all forced off.

Golding had got the Hornets back on level terms early on in the second half with his 11th goal of the campaign, before Needham struck twice to pick up the points and climb off the bottom of the table.

Windsor will continue his role as interim manager at Debenham until a new boss is found, with a trip to fourth-placed Norwich CBS next up today (3pm).

“I’m still at the club until a new manager comes in,” he said. “It’s down to the new manager what role they want me to play and if they want me to carry on. It’s a conversation I’m willing to have with the new manager.

“I’ve already told Chris I’ll stay on at the club and be involved in terms of being on the committee, but I’ve had a few offers as well. I might take a break and I might look at my options, but Debenham is very close to my heart and I do want to stay and help as much as I can.”

Elsewhere in the First Division North, Framlingham Town (2nd) return to action when they host sixth-placed Holland at Badingham Road today (3pm).

The Castlemen have bolstered their squad with the arrivals of defender Charlie Howlett (Cornard United) and returning duo Jono Fryatt and Will Aldis (Debenham LC).

Diss Town also face another play-off chasing side when they entertain fifth-placed Downham Town at Brewers Green Lane today (3pm).

The Tangerines, who have bolstered their attacking options with the signing of striker Matt Blake this week, dropped to 12th in the table after losing 4-2 away at Leiston Reserves last weekend.

After falling behind in the 16th minute, Diss spurned a chance to equalise a few minutes later when Jordan Attree’s penalty was saved.

Leiston stretched their lead to 3-0 with goals either side of the break, before the visitors responded through Joe Keeley and Kyle Baker, but Leiston grabbed a fourth on the break with two minutes to go.

Up into the Premier Division, Harleston Town and Walsham-le-Willows renew their campaigns this weekend after both sides were without a game last Saturday.

Today, Harleston (2nd) host second from bottom Whitton United (3pm) and Walsham (14th) entertain third-placed Woodbridge Town (2.30pm).