KEVIN Cunningham admitted today that he was ready to walk away from management when a planned move to manage Needham Market did not work out at the start of this season.

By Elvin King

KEVIN Cunningham admitted today that he was ready to walk away from management when a planned move to manage Needham Market did not work out at the start of this season.

He is now in joint charge of a Grundisburgh team who are second in the Senior Division of the Metaltec SIL and entertain Ridgeons League Haverhill Rovers in the second round of the Touchline Sports Suffolk Senior Cup tomorrow.

Cunningham was reported to be replacing Mark Morsley at Needham, but Danny Laws was given the post as joint manager with Chris Tracey.

“At the time it was a kick in the teeth,” said Cunningham, who was a vital

figure at Ipswich Wanderers for a couple seasons working alongside Jason Dozzell.

“I was going to walk away from

management and watch my sons Matty and Daniel play.

“But I have known Micky Squirrell for 25 years and he offered me a chance to join him at Grundisburgh.

“I have no regrets, and am enjoying the task of trying to put the club back on the map.

“It is a lovely club with plenty of people involved who work hard.

“But things have changed and Grundisburgh's glory days of winning doubles and trebles have probably gone.

“Like every manager winning the league is my main objective, but doing well in the Senior Cup is also high on the agenda.”

Grundisburgh, winners of the Senior Cup four times between 1995 and 2000, will start underdogs against a Haverhill side that was one win away from reaching the first round of the FA Cup this season.

Cunningham, who was previously involved with Whitton United and had been away from the SIL scene for several years, added: “We will give it our best shot.

“There is an honest bunch of lads at the club and being at home will be an advantage. The management at Haverhill has changed in recent weeks although they are still one of the favourites to gain promotion to the Ridgeons League, Premier Division.”

Striker Glen Driver will be in the Grundisburgh squad if he passes a

fitness test on an infected knee having moved from Halstead, with Cunningham saying: “Glen will

always score goals, and with Julian Beaumont and Lee Grimwood also

available up front we have a strong strike force.”

Cunningham, whose sons Matty and Daniel are currently playing for Whitton and AFC Sudbury respectively, has praise for the Grundisburgh second XI who have lost just one game and are managed by Phil Peck and Darren Richardson.