NEW Weymouth manager Matty Hale is now focusing on the “massive challenge” that lies ahead after admitting it felt good to be home at yesterday’s Press conference at the Wessex Stadium.

The 30-year-old, who was born in Bristol, enjoyed several spells at the Terras as a player and he is now looking forward to helping lift the cash-strapped club off its knees by building a young squad with the capability of delivering entertainment and stability.

Most people’s first response to Hale’s appointment on Monday night was one of shock but the UEFA A Licence coach is full of passion and is confident he can give the Weymouth fans what they want.

He said: “This is my home if you like. That is how I look at it anyway. I have been to a lot of different clubs but no one has made me feel more welcome than here and I am chuffed to bits to be back.

“A lot has happened at the club but we now have a blank canvas to work with and I like it that way. The situation here has been well documented but I certainly would not have taken the job if I did not feel confident and I am now looking forward to the massive challenge that lies ahead.

“The players that will be coming in will be my players, and my aim is to bring in good young talent that possess the right commitment and professionalism.

“I know that is the type of player Weymouth fans want to see and we will look to put together a squad with those qualities in the weeks ahead.”

Following his time as a player at the Terras, Hale had a short stint in the Royal Marines and enjoyed several spells at different clubs, including Longwell Green where he was player-manager for three years. He then eventually joined Team Bath where last season he looked after the academy players and under-19s.

Hale has also done some coaching at Southampton and Bristol City but it appears his full-time job of Football Education Manager at Bath Univer-sity is likely to become a major part of his plans at Weymouth.

Team Bath, whose head coach is Hale’s assistant Andy Tillson, resigned from Blue Square South at the end of last season and with most of their players having now become free agents there is a good chance some of them will be wearing claret and blue in 2009-10.

Hale added: “There is a pool of players at Team Bath that are all young, enthusiastic and talented, and they proved that last season.

“So of course we will have a look at some of those but not all of them. We have other players in mind as well, and we will just have to see how recruitment goes over the next few weeks.”

Team Bath finished 11th in Blue Square South last season but it is not just the university’s players that may be utilised by the Terras in the coming months.

Hale said: “We are looking at the possibility of training in Bath but that is again down to how the recruitment process goes. We will be looking at players in the Bath and Bristol area but we also know there is a lot of talent around here as well.”

Hale, who along with Tillson, will continue with his job at Team Bath, has refused to set any targets for next season but he has promised to deliver stability.

He added: “Again it all depends on recruitment. We have already been speaking about players but it depends on which ones we are able to bring in. Perhaps if I am asked that question in a couple of weeks time I will be able to give a more realistic target but the main aim at the moment is to get some stability and sustainability here with people coming in and playing for the right reasons.

“The key to stability is not to have a massive turnaround in personnel all the time and that is why we want to put together a squad and set of staff that will have the time to develop together.”

When asked whether he will be pulling on the boots next season, Hale, who is an accomplished left-sided defender, said: “We will see how pre-season goes but first and foremost I want to manage, and to be honest I have a better left-back in mind.”