Clem Bennellick joins Sean Joyce at Bideford after a decade at Ilfracombe

After a decade with Ilfracombe Town, manager Clem Bennellick joins Bideford’s coaching staff, where he’ll work alongside Sean Joyce to steer the team out of relegation danger

Manager Clem Bennellick has left Ilfracombe Town to become an assistant to Sean Joyce at Bideford.

Bennellick was the manager at Ilfracombe for 10 years and helped the club reach the Western League Premier Division from the North Devon League.

Ahead of Saturday’s home goalless draw against Cinderford Town for Bideford, Joyce welcomed Bennellick by saying: “I am really pleased to bring Clem to the club, he’s a great addition for us. He’s a young coach-manager, brings fresh ideas, and I think he’s made the right move at the right time in his career. He’s a breath of fresh air, really.”

Bideford sit just above the relegation zone in Division One South and after the 4-1 defeat at Mousehole in midweek and Saturday’s 0-0 draw there will have to be an improvement if the team is going to avoid being involved in a relegation battle this season.

But Joyce has now also added former Barnstaple Town stalwart coach Kevin Darch as a second assistant manager, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Westbury United.

Ilfracombe, who lost 1-0 at home to Ivybridge Town on Saturday, are now looking for a new manager – with Bennellick saying on their X feed: “I have had the most amazing time with the club and some brilliant memories that will stay with me forever.

“I’ve always been proud to represent my home team and have tried to give everything to the role.”

After losing 2-1 at AFC St Austell on Saturday – a week after beating the same team at home – Barnstaple Town faced a difficult game at Western League Premier Division at Buckland Athletic on Tuesday night.

Both Barnstaple, who are fourth in the table, and Buckland, seventh, are in the race for promotion to the Southern League with one automatic and one play-off place available.