LEE Jones and Waynne Phillips have spoken of their delight of being given the opportunity to manage NEWI Cefn Druids after being appointed on Sunday night.

In their first interview since being appointed, the duo are both keen to take the club forward on the pitch by bringing in their own ideas and look to take The Ancients to the next level.

Jones, who has been coaching Wrexham’s Centre of Excellence sides whilst playing in the Welsh Premier League since ending his professional playing days in 2003, said he and his new co-manager have high hopes for the club.

He said: “I’m delighted to be able to team up with Waynne. He has experience as a manager and contacts within the League that could prove invaluable to us.

“We have got high hopes for the club. We think we can take it to the next level.”

While Phillips agreed with that notion, he refused to get carried away.

He said: “It’s not going to be easy. We have no divine right to say we really belong in the top ten.

“It’s going to be hard work, but we can get that off the players and we hope to be better for it and we will be judged on the results.”

The pairing, who have announced their intentions to carry on playing, said that they are looking to keep the squad from last season, but will be looking to bring in “two or three more quality players” to bolster the ranks.

Phillips told www.cefndruidsafc.co.uk: “It was a happy camp towards the end of last season. It was pleasing for me to be part of it.

“I was scared that, when Dixie left, some of the players might go, too. But the feedback we had from the players when we spoke to them on Sunday night has been positive and we hope that any signings we make will be the right ones.”

He added: “There is a good platform that has been set in place by Dixie, Graham (Ossie Jones), the chairman and directors.

“We’re not going to accept being at the bottom fighting for survival. I had that at Caernarfon and didn’t like it.”

Phillips and Jones have confirmed that coaches Carl Darlington and Andy Roberts will be staying on to help the new managers with the training aspect.

Jones said: “We have kept them on to help with the coaching and training sessions. We have a decent team off the pitch as well as on it.”

This will be the second managerial appointment for both men as both were in charge of Caernarfon, although Jones was only in charge there in a caretaker capacity for a short space of time.

Referring to his time at The Oval, Phillips said: “I was thrown in at the deep end, but I left on good terms and my best friend in the Welsh Premier League is the chairman there.

“However, this time around, we will be doing things that I didn’t get a chance to do at Caernarfon. I’m pleased we’ve both been given the opportunity at Cefn.”

Jones, who is expecting to complete his UEFA A Licence within the next two weeks, added: “Having played for Waynne at Caernarfon, there were a lot of things he was doing behind the scenes that a lot of people didn’t get to see.

“When he left and I got to the opportunity to briefly take charge there (with former team mate Kenny Irons), it was not a good time as we lost 7-1 to Port Talbot and 3-1 to Aberystwyth. Even though it was two games it was hard as it wasn’t our team as it were.

“But now is the time for us to put our own stamp on things and do our best to get them done right.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity.”