DANNY Forrest hopes his long-standing friendship with Tom Greaves will help Thackley turn a corner.

The two were confirmed as the club’s new joint-bosses last week, with the Dennyboys down in 15th in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, still only nine points above the relegation zone.

Former Bradford City forward Forrest left his role as Silsden’s manager last May to become Danny Ellis’ assistant at Guiseley, but left in November just days after Ellis was sacked.

He is excited to get back into the dugout at Thackley, especially with Greaves alongside him.

Forrest told the T&A: “I’ve not played alongside Tom, but I’ve known his brother Jimmy since me and him were are at college together in our late teens.

“That meant I became friends with Tom too, so I’ve known him for 15 years or so, and we’ve always kept in touch, socialised in the same circles, and had respect for each other’s careers.

“He’s a good lad, and I think the combination of the two of us in charge will be a good thing.”

Greaves is still Thackley’s key striker, so Forrest, who experienced being a player-manager at Silsden himself, is likely to be alone in the dugout at times.

He said: “Tom aspires to play still and he’s physically in a good place, his 20 goals this season prove he still has plenty left in the tank.

“I think Thackley’s defeat to Goole last time out showed the club needed someone senior in the dugout while he’s playing.

“Tom spoke to me about helping him and I spoke to him and Ben Oliver (Thackley’s chairman) about it.

“The whole club have been supportive, especially Ben.”

Forrest took charge alongside Greaves a week ago, but has yet to see his side play, after games at Maltby Main on Saturday and Albion Sports last night were called off due to bad weather.

He said: “If you flip that into a positive, it’s given me time to take training, to get in amongst it and impose my ideas.

“There’s nothing like playing games though, and I’m excited for that, so this break has been a bit frustrating.”

Forrest’s former club Silsden are flying without him in the same division as Thackley, with Luke Lavery and Matt Cavanagh stepping up from managing the reserves to put the first team in the frame for promotion.

There is no resentment from Forrest, who said: “I’ve been in regular contact with Luke and Matt since I left, and I can only admire how they’ve taken the club on and had them competing near the top of the table.

“I’m proud of how I left the club on and off the field though, and though I know a lot of people were against me leaving, I just felt Guiseley was a great opportunity for me.

“Ultimately, Silsden are now a rival and while I’ll always have an affinity towards them, I’ll be doing what I can to have success against them.”

As for his brief spell at Guiseley, Forrest reflected: “I felt I could cope with the step up, and the tactics and training required at that level.

“I maintain I did that, and though I’d have liked the results to be better, I felt it was a positive experience.

“Danny leaving was raw for me as I’d hoped to be there for years to come, but though I didn’t want to go, the club probably needed fresh perspective.

“I learned a lot about myself and that level of football in my time there and I want to get back up there at some stage, which I’d love to do with Thackley.”