IT is safe to say a lot has happened in Elliot Powell’s footballing world in the past 12 months, and now the recent Muratti Vase-winning Jersey FA Men’s manager will pick up the Jersey Bulls baton from Gary Freeman for the coming season.
Upon the outgoing boss’s departure Powell told the JEP that he would be “very interested” in a dual role between Bulls and the Jersey FA, while former Bulls assistant Kevan Nelson thought that the 26-year-old was “the obvious candidate”.
Powell said: “Personally, I was approaching this summer in need of a new challenge and it was really well timed for me, and I’m hopeful that it’s well timed for the Bulls as well.
“It is something fresh and I have a lot of enthusiasm for the role.
“I’m under no illusions that it will be a lot of hard work, but it feels like the next logical step.
“I’m hungry to continue to develop as a manager and, after a really enjoyable four years at St Peter’s, I saw my next opportunity as being outside the local game and that’s exactly the case.
“Gary has left behind a really experienced squad that’s he’s developed, which will be invaluable as I get up to speed.”
Fresh off the back of a win against Guernsey in his first Muratti Vase as Jersey FA manager, as well as steering the side to 2023 Island Games gold, the Caesarean believes that many of the team will know what to expect with regards to his coaching style.
Powell continued: “The nucleus of the Bulls team I have worked closely with for Jersey and I believe they will understand what I expect and how I would like us to play.
“There will be some fresh faces that we will look to bring in. Some younger lads returning from university, some players from combination football coming back in as well.
“The hope is that they will bring a new impetus into the camp and build towards the difficult task of integrating a new team to reach the ultimate goal of getting promoted.
“I view it as a bit of a longer term project, but I think the quality of the side, with the players we have available, we should always be in and around those play-offs.
“It is just about improving incrementally across the season to pick up those extra points we need to make the jump.
“There’s a few weeks now until pre-season gets under way, so I’m just excited to get going.”
An obvious buzz is bound to extend across local and UK-based fans of the Jersey club as to what Powell will bring.
Many witnessed the telepathic interplay up top during the Muratti between JFA Premiership 1 golden boot winner Karl Hinds of St Clement and Bulls top scorer Lorne Bickley.
The former has been involved in Bulls’ set-up before and it remains to be seen whether the prolific marksman will be one of the Combination faces Powell aims to bring in to shape his squad in the coming season.
He has amassed an impressive resumé in his fledgling managerial career, highlighted by his recent endeavours with Jersey FA, but also helping elevate St Peter’s from mid-table to champions in the space of four seasons, capturing every available trophy in Channel Island club football, including an unbeaten run to the Premiership 1 title in the 2022-23 season.
Jersey Bulls chairman Russell Le Feuvre was full of praise for both the appointed Powell and the departing Freeman adding: “We are delighted to be able to appoint someone of Elliot’s calibre following an open application process and we thank all those who showed interest in the club and the role.
“We owe so much to our exiting manager, Gary Freeman, and his management team for their unwavering dedication and achievements in their tenure, ending in our most successful season to date.”
