NEW Stockbridge manager Graham Bintcliffe says he will look to bring in young players this season as part of a “three year plan” to reinvigorate the Hampshire Premier League side.

The former Bemerton Heath Harlequins U18 manager was this week confirmed as the permanent successor to former Robins’ boss Dean Hutchins who quit the club along with several first team players back in February.

Stockbridge’s season quickly collapsed and the young side ended their campaign second from bottom in the table despite some promising performances.

However Bintcliffe, who has previous experience as a player/manager at Farnborough (Kent), believes that he can turn around his new club’s fortunes with help from the committee and players.

He told the Advertiser: “It will be an uphill challenge, I know that.

“Everyone will have to work hard and we will have to work together, including the committee and the players.

“But I’m really happy the committee want to get involved.

“They want to bring through the youth and that has always been my philosophy.

“I want players who canbe coached and I want to give them first team football and hopefully other young players will see that and it will be a carrot to come to the club.”

Bintcliffe, who works as a lecturer at Andover College, says the committee have agreed a three year plan with the hope of pushing towards promotion to the Wessex League.

He said: “This year will be about consolidation and hopefully about bringing young players into the first team with a few experienced players.

“Our U18 team last year was formidable and they will be 19 and 20 now so we want to put them in the team this year.

“Year two we will hope to have some more senior players and our younger players will have experience so hopefully we will have more success.

“Then in year three hopefully we can push towards the top and maybe get promotion.”

Chairman Glenn Curtis said: “We are delighted with the appointment of Graham.

“We want him to build a squad of local players who want to improve under his coaching experience and the challenges of the Hampshire Premier League.”