Angelo 'Realistic' But Wants Braintree Ready For The Step Up

Braintree Town want Angelo Harrop to put down roots at the club - and he knows they will have to grow quickly now they’re back in the National League.

Chairman Lee Harding says the Iron have offered their manager a new deal, one week on from their famous day on the south coast.

A stunning 4-3 win at Worthing saw the club return after five years away and the club are aware many will be watching their talented coach carefully.

He told us he isn’t sure what direction Braintree will take this summer but is excited about the future.

“The club has turned a massive corner this season, in a lot of ways,” he said.

“I’m just so delighted I can give these young players the opportunity to showcase themselves of the National League stage now, they deserve it.

“I’m realistic. We are going to need to evolve and we are going to need to evolve really really quickly. If we’re full-time, part-time who knows.”

He says he will never forget the incredible Promotion Final and his chairman remembers well when the club competed at the top end - despite being part-time underdogs.

“It’s the highlight of my career, without a shadow of a doubt,” Harrop went on. “The Promotion Final summed up our season really. It was brave from us to go and press probably the best passing team in the league.

“The desire and the passion from these players to go three games in the play-offs and win them all, that’s fantastic.”

Harding told the club's website: "With the important support of our sponsors, we are able to reward Angelo with the job security he deserves and to support his suggestion about switching to full time training.

“All of us at the club realise the challenge that faces us next season, but we do have years of experience at that level and we were, of course, within touching distance of promotion to the Football League as recently as 2016."

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