Kettering Town's title-winning duo reunite at Stratford Town

KETTERING Town’s title-winning management duo of Thomas Baillie and Scott Machin are reuniting at Stratford Town.

The club have yet to officially confirm the news, but Machin will be joining the club in a management capacity next week.

Baillie and Machin enjoyed considerable success when in charge of the Poppies, leading them to the Southern League Division One Central title in 2014/15.

Machin was present on the sidelines alongside caretaker bosses Steve Walker and Nathan Marsh during Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Redditch United.

He will miss Saturday’s game at Rushall, but is expected to return to the dugout for next Wednesday’s Birmingham Senior Cup clash against Coventry City Under-23s at the Arden Garages Stadium.

“Scott will be joining the club,” said Baillie, who plans to recruit a further coach in the next week.

“We have just got to work out where everybody fits in. He is certainly someone who I want at the club.

“We get on very well and we often know what each other is thinking before we say it.

“It’s an ideal opportunity for myself and Scott to work together and try to be successful again.”

On Machin’s qualities, Baillie added: “Scott knows how to win games of football. He brings a lot of experience, he’s a fantastic coach and motivator. He will bring an awful lot to the table.”

Saturday’s victory saw Town record back-to-back wins for the first time this season against a Redditch side who were short on confidence and quality.

Two goals inside five minutes earned Stratford a deserved three points and Baillie said: “It was good to get the win, but we need to show a bit more togetherness and confidence. That will come as our results improve.

“We were better in the first half, but for whatever reason we didn’t really get going in the second.

“We’re not far away now from being a really, really good side. We just need to add that bit of confidence and togetherness and it will happen. It’s a very strong team with some very good players.”

Next up for Stratford is Saturday’s league trip to Rushall Olympic, where Town are expected to name an unchanged line-up for a third game in a row. Like Town, Rushall have experienced an indifferent start to their Southern League Premier Central campaign, claiming just one win in seven.

But Baille feels Rushall, who were plying their trade in the Northern League last season, will provide an extremely tough test at Dales Lane.

He added: “Rushall have had a difficult start, like we have. But if any team in this league puts a couple of games together, things can change quickly as the league is so tight.

“We’d absolutely love to get a win there but we know they will have their threats.

“I know their manager and his teams are very good. The position they’re in at the moment is a false one and they will end up higher than where they are now (18th).”

Meanwhile, Town face the possibility of not having a game on Saturday, 6th October after Coalville won their Emirates FA Cup second qualifying round replay against Buxton on Tuesday night.

They had been due to visit Town for a league match on that date, but instead will be travelling to St Neots Town for a third qualifying round tie.