STUART Nethercott says the offer of the Heybridge Swifts manager's job was too good to turn down after taking over in the Scraley Road hot seat.

The former Tottenham Hotspur defender has taken over in the role from Karl Duguid, who left the position last month for family reasons.

Nethercott, who had a spell at Swifts towards the end of his playing career, worked as Duguid's number two last season, prior to it being cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

And the 47-year-old says having that continuity was important to both him and the Swifts board as they look to make progress in Isthmian League division north.

He said: "I don't think I could have turned it down.

"This club has something about it.

"Gary White, Steve Spreadbury and the rest of the committee wanted to see that continuity and I'm looking forward to it.

"I took sessions last season as Karl's assistant and we bounced off each other well.

"It's a well-run club.

"It's a difficult situation for everyone at the moment, as we don't know when we might be back.

"We have a new bar up and running and it can't be used at the moment.

"That's a real shame but it's the same for other clubs.

"We've said to the boys to come back in the first week in July but will that happen? We don't know.

"We've said to them to have a good rest, have five weeks off and to look after themselves.

"We have our targets and that hasn't changed.

"We have Zoom meetings with the staff and Ryan (Handley), who does the player side of it.

"That's what we've been doing.

"We know that there's a possibility that some of our boys might be poached or spoken to by any clubs.

"If one of our players goes higher, we've done our job.

"But we don't think there'll be a better club than what we have here."

Duguid left his role at Swifts last month, after less than a year in charge at Heybridge.

The former Colchester United favourite quit the role in order to spend more time with his family.

Nethercott added: "It came as a big surprise.

"We have a WhatsApp group between us and when Karl put a message on there, I had to read it twice.

"I thought we worked very well, last year.

"I was expecting to meet with Karl and talk about possible players coming in, for next season.

"He's had a lot of time to think things through and he's just become a grandad.

"He wants to spend more time with his young family, which I totally respect.

"He's been in football for 27 years non stop and he hasn't had a break, in that time.

"At the time, you do wonder what's going to happen and whether or not any new manager would keep you there, so I'm very pleased to get the job."