A BOXING Day defeat to Huntingdon Town proved to be the final game in charge of Eynesbury Rovers for player-manager Dean Shipp. Already under pressure from the board following a poor string of results, Shipp ended his three-year reign after his side s 2-1

A BOXING Day defeat to Huntingdon Town proved to be the final game in charge of Eynesbury Rovers for player-manager Dean Shipp.

Already under pressure from the board following a poor string of results, Shipp ended his three-year reign after his side's 2-1 defeat to their Huntingdonshire rivals.

Watching the match at Hall Road was Peterborough Sports boss Al Lenihan, who was announced as Shipp's successor immediately after the game.

Rovers chairman Brian Abraham said: "Dean was aware that the board wanted to see a significant improvement in results and unfortunately that did not happen.

"No one is more disappointed with the club's league position than Dean himself but Eynesbury is a good club and one that should be in a higher position than it is at present.

"We wish him all the best for the future and emphasise he will be welcome at Hall Road at any time."

New boss Lenihan got his managerial reign off to the perfect start on Saturday when two new signings netted in an impressive 3-1 win at Northampton ON Chenecks.

Former Huntingdon Town man Brett Bellamy opened the scoring for Rovers before Ian Dawkes and newcomer Jamie Graham completed the win.

Lenihan told The Hunts Post he has been itching to manage a United Counties League side and was relishing the challenge.

"I have managed a fair few clubs in and around the Peterborough area," he said. "But I have been looking to manage in the United Counties League for a while now and I am delighted to be here at Eynesbury."

The former Stamford Town manager added: "At the Boxing Day game I could see things weren't quite right with the team in that they were looking low on confidence and belief.

"At Chenecks it was a case of bringing in a few new faces to help turn things around and it worked - the team looked to have a steadiness about it and it was a good all-round performance against one of the teams that are doing well in the division."

Lenihan is joined in his management team by Pat O'Keeffe and Dave Goodall, and the new boss pledged that current Eynesbury players could fight for their places.

"The lads were naturally a bit unsure of what was going on when we had a meeting on the Friday morning (December 28)," Lenihan said.

"But we all had a few drinks together after the game on Saturday and seemed to gel quite well - getting off to a winning start was a good help."

Eynesbury go into 2008 lying in 12th position in the 16-team UCL Division One table and Lenihan said he is sure Rovers can finish the season in the top half.

"Having now seen two of the teams at the right end of the division at first hand, I do not believe we have anything to fear," he said.

"Eynesbury have been in the UCL Division One for too long now and it is my job to get them promoted as soon as possible - it is as simple as that.