AS widely expected, Helston Athletic have appointed veteran striker Andy Trathen to take over the role as manager of the club's Jolly's Combination League side until the end of the season.

Trathen was brought into the club by the departed manager Kevin Goldsworthy in a bid to halt the poor run of results, but now he finds himself managing the team.

The club had no shortage of applicants for the job, but either the demands of the applicants did not sit well with the structure that the Kellaway Park hierarchy wanted to pursue or those that were spoken to withdrew from the picture for one reason or another.

Club chairman Mr Barry Dunstan is confident that they have made a good appointment: "We had a number of enquiries about the job and also spoke to our own preferred choices, but we think we have appointed the person who will do a good job for us.

"Along with Graham Blake he's been in charge for the last two games and the manner in which he has gone about the business has impressed us quite a bit.

"We have no doubts about his ability and having been at the club for a while knows the players, so I think at this stage of the season it is silly to tinker with something that appears to be working well for the club.

"Kevin (Goldsworthy) obviously thought Andy was a good acquisition for the club, so we will now be able to see how he manages the club until the end of the season and take it from there."

Speaking to Andy Trathen earlier in the week, the new incumbent appeared to have plenty of enthusiasm for the job.

"It's obviously a big challenge because Helston are a big club, but I'm confident that I can do the job. I am very confident in what I can achieve.

"When you look around the changing room you see a lot of good players and I have belief in the changing room.

"I know why I have been brought into the job, I'm under no illusions. It's to steady the ship, restore confidence, and hopefully start pushing the team back up the table. We probably need to add another striker, but we have all the basics already here for a good side."

Trathen has had previous managerial experience with Ludgvan who have been one of the league's perennial strugglers, but during his two seasons with the club he transformed their fortunes.

"I worked on a limited budget at Ludgvan and got them to a respectable level and I will be doing the same at Helston," said Trathen. "The difference is that the level of expectation at a place the size of Helston is much bigger.

"The club has put in place a very good youth section which is good for the future, but my role is all about now and trying to stabilise the position in which the club finds itself.

"The club is not in a position to go out and get any player that they want. At the moment players are just being silly if you speak to them about a move, but I'm very confident in the players we already have in the squad.

"Along with Graham Blake, the club captain, I've been in charge for two games and we've won both, so that's a step in the right direction.

"I think we're playing a bit of football, we look more compact, and the team spirit is very good.

"It might not appear so to most people, but we have achieved a lot in the past two weeks."

At present Trathen is sidelined following a torn groin sustained against Falmouth Town, but he also added that he is not the long-term solution to the striker problem and that his role will be rather more on the touchline than on the pitch.

"I enjoy managing people and I enjoy the changing room environment and I see my job as motivating these players to produce the results that the club needs to get it back up the table.

"We've played more games than anyone else, but I'm sure there are enough games left in which to reach a good position.

"I full understand the position here and I understand that there are no guarantees from either side, but I will work as hard as I can and I will expect 100 per cent from the players.

"Hopefully, that will improve the results and that will take care of the season. What happens after that for next season is anyone's guess, but I am really looking forward to the rest of the season."