Paul Carden on move from Warrington Town to AFC Telford

He was appointed as the new manager of National League North strugglers AFC Telford United yesterday, with Saturday's 2-2 draw at Mickleover proving to be his final game as Yellows boss.

> In-depth reaction to Paul Carden's departure from Warrington Town can be found here

Here, Carden chats to Guardian sports reporter Matt Turner to reflect his time at Cantilever Park, explain why he's chosen to leave now and offer his parting message to Town supporters...

MT: I guess it’s mixed emotions for you – excitement for the challenge ahead at Telford but sadness at leaving a club that has become close to your heart over the past five years?

PC: It is really and it’s been hard, especially telling the players and Toby (Macormac, club chairman) what was going on.

They are difficult conversations to have because like you say, the place has become close to my heart and it has been a big part of my life for five years.

I left full-time football at Tranmere and this was my first job in part-time football. It was all new to me in the way the schedule was.

We quickly got our head around things – Bees (Mark Beesley, Carden’s assistant and now interim manager) was there from day one and with Toby, we built the club the right way.

I’m delighted that I can come away from the club with it in a really good place, the squad is young and full of assets.

The place is primed to move forward, so this wasn’t easy.

Paul Carden salutes the Yellows fans after the FA Trophy win over Chasetown on November 13, which turned out to be his final home game in charge. Picture by Darren Murphy

MT: People will look in from the outside and say the club is at the same level as it was when you took over (not through lack of trying of course) but are you proud of the work you’ve done and do you feel you’re leaving the club in better shape than when you arrived?

PC: Definitely.

When we came in, training was for an hour one night a week on a third of a pitch at Orford Park.

Now, we’re able to train on Warrington Sports Club – the club don’t own it but we’re able to use it when we want on a Tuesday and Thursday without being pressured to leave.

From that point of view, it’s a massive, massive improvement.

We had more contact time with the players and more time to work on things and I think that is showing.

The ground has progressed with the pitch, the dug-outs – all the little things that have come together.

It’s not just me saying we needed to do it – everything has been done as a team and it’s been a collective effort.

I can’t thank everyone enough for the support they have given me in the past five years because without them, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we have.

While we are still at the same level, I think anyone who knows us will see we’re a different club with a different outlook and that’s down to everyone’s efforts.

Yellows came agonisingly close to promotion to the National League North in 2019, losing a one-off "super play-off" against King's Lynn Town. Picture by Mike Boden

MT: Looking at Telford – the stadium and facilities are up there among the very best at that level and they’re clearly a club looking to go places, so did you view this as too good an opportunity to turn down?

PC: It was – I’ve played at Telford in the past and there was a good crowd there.

As a club, the way they’ve conducted themselves towards myself and towards Warrington has been first-class.

Like I say, it wasn’t an easy decision to make but when you go there and see what they have and hear what they want to do, it’s exciting.

It’s not ideal where they are in the league, but you tend to get jobs come up when teams aren’t fulfilling their potential for whatever reason.

I went there yesterday and the ground is lovely, they train on floodlit grass pitches at Lilleshall – there’s a lot of things we can work with and there’s a lot of good players there.

MT: I guess the ideal situation for you is that you meet Warrington again next year, in the National League North.

PC: 100 per cent.

That was the aim this season and anybody who has asked me about the squad will know I think it’s as strong as it’s ever been.

There’s a lot of potential in there at a good age. The senior players are top lads and because of them, you’re getting performances out of the younger players.

Dan Atherton at 21, Luke Duffy, Stefan Mols and Eddie Clarke at 22, Matty McDonald, Matt Grivosti and Ben Hough all at 18 – there’s a core of young players that will take the club on again.

They’ve got good guidance on the pitch and with the staff that are there, they won’t be allowed to stray or go off track.

Them finishing the job and going up and Telford staying up would be the perfect scenario.

The outgoing manager has backed the players he leaves behind to build on their solid start to the season. Picture by Darren Murphy

MT: Unfortunately, you never really got to say a proper goodbye to the supporters so what is your message to them?

PC: I would say thank you for all the messages since the news came out and for all of the support over the years.

I hope we have given them some good memories that will live long with them.

I’d ask them to keep backing the lads as they do and I’m sure there will be more celebrations and enjoyment to come out of that team.

Paul Carden celebrates the 2019 play-off win at South Shields. Picture by John Hopkins