NEW Barrow AFC boss Stephen Clemence says he has the hunger to be a success at Holker Street – and believes he is joining a club on the up.
The Bluebirds named the former Tottenham and Birmingham City midfielder as successor to Pete Willd yesterday.
And the 46-year-old is delighted to have been trusted with the job of taking the club forward.
Speaking about his appointment, he said: “I’m really, really pleased to be here and once I got the call I was really excited about it (the job).
“It’s definitely a club that has been on the up in the past few years and I’m delighted to have this opportunity.
“I’ve managed twice against Barrow recently (while in charge of Gillingham last season) and I can see there is a core of players  here who have done really well.
“I know there are some players who have moved on, so we will need to recruit as well. But if we can’t recruit well this summer we have a great opportunity of doing well next season.
“And that’s why I am here, I want to be part of something that is successful.”
Clemence only parted company with Gillingham at the end of the season just finished, but said he was never looking to take a break and assess what step to take next.
He added: “I was a little bit surprised to leave Gillingham. I felt that it did end a little prematurely.
“But that’s the past now and I’m looking forward to my future at Barrow.
“I think Barrow are getting a better manager now than what Gillingham first got, because I learned a lot in my six months at Gillingham.
“I know what is coming now, and I’m not experiencing things for the first time around.
“I have to say thank you to the owners and Iain [Wood the club’s sporting director] for trusting me and letting me lead this football club.
“It’s exciting times for me and I am happy to be here.
“When I left Gillingham I was still hungry to work. I don’t need a break and there were one or two things which came up when I left Gillingham, but I have to be honest and say they didn’t really interest me. But once I got the call last week to talk to Barrow it did interest me.
“I think there’s a side here already that like I say has got some good players in it, and I think with the group we have got if we can add to it we will a lot more games than we lose.”