NEW manager Curtis Woodhouse has admitted Tadcaster Albion’s “standing in the community” was a major draw - and he was not disappointed when he met the fanbase.

Woodhouse arrived from Northern Counties East League premier division side Bridlington Town to replace outgoing Brewers manager Simon Collins at the start of June.

The former York City youngster has also called for patience from supporters as the team is set for a major overhaul on the pitch.

He said: “I’ve obviously seen Tadcaster play quite a few times.

“People speak really highly of the club. It’s got a great reputation in the area and a fantastic fanbase. The standing of the club in the community really impressed me.

“As soon as they contacted me, I was keen to take it to the next level and have a chat with them.”

“I got a warm reception,” he added of the fans’ forum, held last Wednesday. “The room was packed and it was good, a really positive response.

“Everyone’s aware of the situation and financial constraints at the club, and it’s important that the fans are patient.

“We need the fans to get behind and support the team and we need to play with hard work and honesty on the pitch.”

In the fortnight following Collins’ departure, five outfield players - top scorer Joe Lumsden, Harry Coates, Ellis Barkworth, Pete Davidson and Will Annan - all left for Scarborough Athletic.

Those committing for another season at Taddy are Andy Milne, Josh Barrett, Jack Walters Jason Mycoe and Casey Stewart, while there are new faces in Ioan Evans (from Gainsborough Trinity), Alex Wiles (Gainsborough), Iwan Healey (Brighouse Town) and former Bridlington Town striker Jake Day, who scored 86 goals in 105 appearances for Woodhouse on the Yorkshire coast.

Woodhouse is planning to start pre-season on June 22, with warm-up fixtures set to include Bamber Bridge, Sheffield FC, Curzon Ashton, East Stirling and Brid. He is also hoping to add Leeds United and York City to that list.

On his welcome to the club, Woodhouse said: “They’ve been fantastic. Everyone couldn’t have helped me any more.

“We’re all aware this is a very, very difficult job and circumstances, different to the last couple of years, and I’m going to need all hands on deck at times.

“But everyone at the club has given me a warm welcome - that’s part of the reason I took the job.

“The squad will get better as it goes along.

“It’s a brand-new squad - we’re looking at 13 or 14 brand-new players, and the rest made up of players coming up through the academy - and it will be a work in progress.

“Pre-season will be vital in helping the players gel but as the season progresses, I expect the squad will get stronger and stronger.”

Woodhouse spent three years in the youth structure at York before, in 1997, transferring to Sheffield United, from where he went on to play at Birmingham City, Peterborough United, Hull City and Grimsby Town before embarking on his boxing career.

“I always keep an eye on York,” he admitted. “It was my first-ever professional club.

“I have great memories of the place and it’s a shame to see them plummet through the leagues in recent times.

“Hopefully they can get things right on the field.

“I think (Steve Watson and Micky Cummins) have done fantastically. They took the job in a difficult time and under difficult circumstances.

“It’s good for them to be back to winning ways and with a good start to pre-season and to the season, hopefully York City can get out of the division.”