NEW boss Paul Harris revealed Pershore Town would have a youthful outlook next season after stepping up to the top job.

Harris spent last season serving as Quentin Townsend’s assistant and quickly threw his hat into the ring when his predecessor left two weeks ago.

Townsend indicated Town had planned to cut or scrap altogether their provision for player expenses over the summer with Harris politely declining to comment on whether he had been granted any budget to work with.

However, the new man insists a mid-table target is realistic as he looks to “make Pershore big again”.

“When it became available I just could not walk away from the club,” said Harris. “I wanted to stay to see what I could achieve.

“For me it is a new start. I have a lot of young players from the surrounding area which I will bring to the club.

“We want to stay in whichever league we get put into. We don’t want to fight relegation, we want to build on what we have achieved with the aim of finishing mid-table.

“Hopefully, we can use that as a stepping stone to build foundations for the future.

“I would like to keep some of the youth players we had last season. It will be mainly the younger players.

“I have worked with a few of the coaching staff before and am looking forward to doing so again. This is new for all of us but we want to make Pershore big again.

“Last season was my first at senior level and I loved it.”

Harris was also adamant his decision to go for the job had not impacted on his friendship with Townsend.

“I spoke to Quent and there were no hard feelings whatsoever. I coach his lad so we have become close friends and he wished me all the best,” added Harris.

In a club statement, Town chairman Daniel Parvin said: “I am very pleased with this appointment. Paul brings with him extensive knowledge of our current league and the local area.

“His desire to help to nurture the players in our existing youth teams at the club, with the aim of bringing them into the first team squad, is superb.”