CHERRIES have confirmed Paul Groves as the club's new permanent manager.

Groves, who had been in temporary charge since Lee Bradbury's departure in March, has penned a two-year deal.

Shaun Brooks, who had been assisting Groves in his role as interim manager, will remain as assistant manager in the new set-up.

Chairman Eddie Mitchell told the Echo: "I have known Shaun for a long time and I know how enthusiastic he is about football.

"The feedback I have had from everybody he has coached over the years I have known him has been good and none have been negative.

"He is an excellent coach and I am sure he can bring more out of the players, with his coaching, than perhaps a lot of other people.

"I have not known Paul for so long but Shaun is an honest person and he has given me feedback on Paul and I have got to know Paul from being in the youth department.

"They are both relatively young, both determined and both footballing men. Paul had experience in the Premier League for four years so he has plenty of experience to call on.

"It didn't really take long for my business partner and me to realise we already had on board what we needed to take us further."

Groves said: "I am delighted. I think it is a fantastic football club.

"I am extremely excited that the owners are ambitious so I think it is a good place to be.

"Between myself and Shaun, we will work extremely hard. That is something we have done throughout our coaching careers.

"We will try to go over and above what everybody else does and try to instil that in the players and make sure that the team that runs out, and the group that supports that, is professional, hard working, organised and disciplined on and off the pitch.

"That is what we feel is important to take the club forward."

• See tomorrow's Echo for comment and reaction to Groves's appointment.