STEPHEN Clemence may not have been the only option for Barrow AFC head coach, but sporting director Iain Wood certainly believes he was the right one.

The Bluebirds were left looking for a new boss after a parting of the ways with then manager Pete Wild, and the club’s hierarchy felt they needed to move fast to find a replacement.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, Wood said: “The board made it clear that we had to try and do something as quick as possible just to get the summer recruitment up and running properly, and how we were going to play, and things like that.

“So yeah, a quick appointment was one of the first tasks that I was asked by the board to put in place and I think I did that.

“I had a long list of targets on a long list that we wanted to talk to, and Stephen Clemence came out on top, and I’m delighted to have him on board.”

While the Bluebirds did speak other candidates, Wood admitted that Clemence had already pricked his attention even before the job became available.

He added: “I think Stephen made an impression on me when I first met him, and that was when he was the Gillingham head coach.

“Stuff like that comes across and stays with you.

“You have to be able to work with people, they have to have the same ambitions as you, and see the same page as it is in front of you.

“And he struck that straight away.”

Now Wood is hoping he, Clemence, the players and everyone at the club can push on to the next level.

And he certainly believes they have the right mentality to do so.

He said: “We are winners. We said that at the fans’ forum.

“We want to do well and that obviously comes from the inner circle within you.

“It comes from wanting to be successful, and I think that we all have that.

“We want this club to move forward, and it is moving forward.”

 For now, the hard work with recruitment continues at a pace for Wood, although he does admit that he will welcome the opportunity to take time out when it arrives.

He said: “My work will still be going for a little bit, but I think my missus and my daughter are wanting me back a little bit because I have hardly seen them over this time.

“But they know what it’s like, they’re involved, they are Bluebirds supporters themselves now.

“They’ve really chucked themselves in, so yeah I do need to give my family back some time, but look this is all for the betterment of giving it another good season.

“It’s been a great two years since I’ve been here and I’m looking forward to many more.”