11:20am Monday 1st June 2009
By Ian Whiting
Former Farsley and Liversedge boss Eugene Lacy is looking to get back into the higher levels of the non-league game but is at pains to stress that he did not apply for a second term at Clayborn.
When Sedge were seeking a replacement for Steve Newton, who stepped down after the final Northern Counties East League game of the season, Lacy was actively looking for another managerial role.
But having been there once, he felt it would be a mistake to return – even though he still has fond memories.
Lacy said: “Sedge were asking for applications. I had contacted the NCEL website to put my name around. The T&A put two and two together and came up with six.
“But having been through all that, and come out the other side, I wasn’t going to apply for the manager’s job again; been there, done that – and they were great times.
“Sedge took a chance and gave me a job, I gave them the best season in the history of the club and I still have a lot of friends up there but I don’t believe in going back. I’m looking for a new challenge.”
The squad that Lacy and his assistant Kim Farrand built at Liversedge finished the 2005-06 campaign second in the Premier Division and the only thing that prevented them being promoted was ground grading.
The decision by the FA committee was, unfortunately, the beginning of the end for the squad and Lacy’s tenure at Clayborn, which came to an end shortly before Christmas in 2006.
“The players all had dreams of playing in the UniBond League, which they would have if we had been promoted,” said Lacy.
“We all came back after the close season and had a burning desire to go up at the next time of asking.
“Certain promises were made by the club but the budget was soon cut and the players were tempted away by bigger clubs.
“At the time, many of them were early 20s and most are now playing in the Conference, Conference North or UniBond.”
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