Bromley boss targets even more attacking football next season after signing long-term contract

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Andy Woodman is intent on making Bromley an even more attack-minded team next season after ending any doubts about his long-term future.

The South Londoner, 50, signed a new three-year contract this week with the newly-crowned FA Trophy winners.

Woodman’s assistant Alan Dunne, a former Millwall player, has also extended his deal for the same period of time.

The Ravens won the FA Trophy at the end of last month, upsetting big–spending Wrexham at Wembley with prolific striker Michael Cheek scoring the only goal.

Camberwell-born Woodman had been linked with AFC Wimbledon and Crawley Town before the end of the campaign.

The former Crystal Palace goalkeeping coach did speak to Gillingham about their managerial vacancy in January – Bromley giving permission for the Kent club to meet with their boss – but they ended up appointing Lions legend Neil Harris.

Woodman stepped down as goalkeeping coach at Arsenal in March 2021 to take charge at Bromley. His only other time in the hotseat came at Whitehawk for four months before he left in the summer of 2017.

Asked about his new deal with the Ravens, Woodman told the club’s YouTube channel: “We spoke about it a little while ago, myself and the chairman, when all the other noise was around me.

“We decided now was the right time to commit, after the final. I’m delighted. I’ve said all along, I’ve never wanted to leave Bromley Football Club. I think I’ve shown my loyalty to the chairman, to the football club and to the fans and players.

“Now hopefully they can trust that I’m here to stay. We’ve got work to do. We’ve got to make sure this club keeps on progressing.

“I’m sure there will be some good days and some bad days, but as long as we’re stepping in the right direction then I think good times are ahead for Bromley.

“Me and my family are extremely proud for me to have signed a contract which keeps me at this football club.”

Bromley finished 10th in the National League, seven points behind seventh-placed Chesterfield, who claimed the final play-off position.

They were in contention until a drop-off in form in the run-in, taking 13 points from their last 10 fixtures.

But winning the FA Trophy for the first time in Bromley’s history made up for any initial disappointment.

And Woodman is confident he can build even more on his squad’s offensive ability.

“We’re looking like we’re going to have a team that is going to be very competitive, within the remit of our budget,” he said. “We’re going to have an exciting team.

“There were times last season that you saw how I want us to play, how we went from four to a three [at the back] and tried to be a bit more attacking.

“Well, listen, it will be no surprise that we’re going to go a little bit further than that now and put an exciting football team out on the pitch that is going to excite the fans.

“That’s what we’re piecing together now.”

Bromley had an open-top bus celebration on Saturday which went from Hayes Lane to The Glades.

Woodman said: “It [the FA Trophy win] has sunk in, and how much it means to everybody.

“We’ve been really well-recognised by the town of Bromley, which is lovely.”

PICTURES: ROB AVIS & KEITH GILLARD