CHARLIE GRIFFIN’S last act as a footballer was appropriately to put the ball in the back of the net for Cirencester Town on Tuesday night at Basingstoke – only for it to be ruled offside.

“I know I stray offside a bit too much but that one was definitely onside,” insisted Griff, who maintains he has now retired after nearly 20 years as a player.

He was appointed as club manager the very next morning and he is already loving his new role.

“I went scouting at a game on Wednesday night (Larkhall Athletic v Frome in the Somerset Cup) and I’ll be holding my first training session with the lads this evening,” he said.

“I’m so excited about this job I haven’t slept.”

Of quitting as a player, Griffin said: “I’ve talked to enough people about it and there is no way you can do the two jobs.

“I might name myself on the bench on Saturday against Hitchin but I’ll just be making up the numbers. That shouldn’t be an issue from next week.”

Griffin put in a seven-day approach for a familiar and close-to-home striker within five minutes of putting down the phone to chairman Steve Abbley when he was offered the job on Wednesday.

“I have since put in another seven-day approach for a winger/striker and I am talking to an out-of-contract player who was a team-mate in the Conference,” he said.

“We may get one of them in for Saturday’s game.”

Griffin has been a universally popular choice for the role at Ciren and he has been overwhelmed by the positive reaction he has received – apart from one special fan, his mum Maureen, who hardly misses a Cirencester Town home game.

“Mum said I should carry on playing – but I told her I just can’t anymore,” said Charlie.

Griffin was always set on football management when he could play no longer and he is delighted to be taking over at Cirencester Town.

“I’ve been in football all my life and I am very passionate about doing well at this job,” he said. “It’s a great level to come in at and like everyone I want to be the best I can be and eventually manage at the highest level.

“Cirencester Town is a fantastic club that can still go places despite its small fan base – we just need to find a winning formula.

“And the chairman knows his football inside out because he’s done it himself.”

Griffin’s day job is as a full-time coach at the Bath Community Foundation dealing with kids from four to 16. He also helps out with the Bath City U18s, whose current and past players could prove a source of talent at the Corinium.

He is about six weeks from completing his UEFA B licence, a process he has thoroughly enjoyed.

Charlie is on the same course as former Swindon Town players Oggie Hunt and Alan Connell, one-time Bournemouth stalwarts Warren Cummings and James Hayter along with his current Cirencester team-mate Andy Elcock.

“I’ll be coming up against James again soon as we play his side Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Trophy at the end of October,” said Griff.

“They are all good lads and the lectures on the course are second to none.”

Of his own management style, Griffin insists there will be a lot of positive thinking.

“We have several talented players at this club as they showed when beating Basingstoke on Tuesday,” he said.

“It was important we kept a clean sheet, and that Ross (Langworthy) got another goal to boost his confidence, and I thought Aidan (Bennett) led the line really well.

“They just have to iron out the mistakes and learn to express themselves more.

“I want to build confidence and to play football without overplaying which you see some sides do.

“I have worked with some great managers and I’m sure I will take something from all of them.

“I won a Conference title with Graham Westley at Stevenage and even when we were going well he never took a step back – he always wanted more.

“At Wycombe, I played under John Gorman who went on to help Glenn Hoddle with England. He was all about looking after the players and getting them to play with confidence “Nick Holmes, Peter Beadle, Dave Hockaday, Jimmy Quinn, the list of good managers I have worked with goes on and on.”

As for his back room staff, he is disappointed Jody Bevan has decided not to take up his offer to stay on as assistant.

“Jody is coming as a fan on Saturday,” said Griffin. “He wants to spend some time away from it after his experience as caretaker manager.

“He’s a great lad and I’d like to thank him so much for what he has done. He will make a good manager himself one day.

“There will probably just be Scott Rose (goalkeeping coach) and Lisa (physio) with me in the dugout on Saturday but there are some irons in the fire and I should have some help in by next week.”