The ex-Kirkley & Pakefield, AFC Sudbury and Wroxham manager will once again link up with long-time assistant and former Blues keeper Andy Reynolds following Dale Brooks' resignation last week.

After being confirmed as the new man in charge of the Trawlerboys, Sean Galea-Pace caught up with Jamie following his appointment.

How pleased are you to be the new Lowestoft Town manager?
"I'm obviously delighted and also very proud to be appointed as manager of my hometown club. Having spent 13 successful years as a player, I have an affinity to this football club and always felt I would be back at some point in some capacity. I've had some amazing memories in a blue shirt and now thankful that I have the opportunity to make lots more."

After last season's struggles, how much does the challenge of getting Lowestoft firing again excite you?
"There's no doubt that it will be a challenge, and one that I'm very much looking forward to. Brooksy did a fantastic job of keeping the club in the division last season, and the opportunity of being placed in a new league with a new set of players is an exciting one. I'm also realistic that a new set of players within a new environment might take a little bit of time."

What do you feel that your previous managerial experiences at clubs such as AFC Sudbury and Wroxham has taught you as a manager and what will you be bringing into this role?
"Each experience has been a different one and each has provided its own unique challenge. I've experienced bouncing back from play off heartache to winning promotion as champions the following season - but then followed up with relegation the season after that, so you could say I've experienced what it's like to win and lose regularly. Managing feels easy when you are winning, but I learnt so much about myself when losing. It was not something I was used to as a player, but whilst it was difficult to go through at the time, I feel like I'm much better for the experience."

Having had those experiences as a manager at other clubs, do you think that you are now better prepared to take on the main role at Lowestoft than if you had got the job as soon as you retired?
"100%, although to be honest I still haven’t announced my retirement just yet so I still haven’t ruled out my role as a player manager! I feel like I've served a great apprenticeship up until now, and will continue to learn and grow every day/week/month/year. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunities that Kirkley & Pakefield, AFC Sudbury and Wroxham have given me and hope that those clubs feel the same about having had me as their manager."

You once again link-up with Andy Reynolds as your assistant. What does he bring to the club?
“Andy will bring professionalism, high standards and a passion for strategy and forward thinking. He is an excellent coach and has a great understanding of the game. Andy and I have worked with each other since we started out in management and believe we are similar in our values, beliefs and footballing philosophies whilst being like chalk and cheese in our appearance and personality - with me being small, good looking and excitable! We don’t always agree on matters, and I very much see it as his role to offer alternatives to potential problems. He will be an excellent addition to the management team. I am also bringing Chris Bond with me. Bondy is another local lad who has an eye for spotting potential. Ask him any player within a 50 mile radius and he will be able to tell you his club, position, height and more likely what he had for breakfast!”

In terms of recruitment, do you have already have a few names in mind that you would like to bring to the football club?
"Yes, we have drawn up a list of potential players. We are working within a strict timeline and I imagine the players on our list have been speaking to clubs at this stage of the closed season. Some players on the list have already signed elsewhere so we will be working hard over the next few days to speak to those that are still available. We have a profile of player that we want to bring to the football club, and must ensure we try to get a good balance whilst trying to assemble a competitive looking squad.”

What are your aims for the club moving forward?
“My short term aim it to put together a group of players that are competitive enough to win football matches. If we can do it in a way that is exciting to watch then that would be a bonus. Longer term, I would like to play my part in ensuring the club belongs to the town; we should strive for sustainable success, more local players aspiring to play for Lowestoft with fans being part of the fabric of what we do. I would like to say in 5 years time that the club is an active part of our community and that I played a small part in making that happen.”

Jamie made 500 appearances for the Trawlerboys, scoring 155 goals in 13 years at the club from 2000-2013 whilst Andy made 404 appearances as first-choice goalkeeper from 2002-2013.

Everyone at Lowestoft Town Football Club would like to extend a warm welcome back to these two former greats and wish them both all the best in their new roles at the club.