New Barking manager Mick O'Shea.

New Barking manager Mick O’Shea picks up two wins in opening week.

Mick O’Shea has been installed as the new manager of Barking following the resignation of Alan Dickens last week.

Dickens, the popular West Ham and Chelsea player, took over the management of the Mayesbrook Park team at the start of the season and they were 13th in the Essex Senior League when he announced his resignation.

Barking were quick to react, installing O’Shea ahead of last Thursday’s training session and he made the perfect start when his new team beat Clapton 2-0 at the Old Spotted Dog Ground on Saturday.

“We acted quite quickly in confirming the new manager once we heard Alan was leaving,” said Barking chairman Rob O’Brien.

“Mick has been a good friend to the club and had expressed an interest in management and we thought he was the right man for the job.

“It’s a real shame about Alan, one of the nicest people around.

“However, after a few results didn’t go our way, he called me and said that he wanted to call it a day.”

Enjoyed

Dickens said “Unfortunately things just didn’t work out. I have really enjoyed working with all the players over the last three seasons as coach and as manager.”

And that good start continued with a 3-0 win over Ryman One North side Ilford in the Essex Senior Cup third round tie last night.

“They are a very resilient group of lads who all worked hard (against Clapton) which I appreciated in very poor conditions,” O’Shea said. “They played the ball well and I was really pleased with the effort.

“We will play pretty much the same core group of players against Ilford in the cup tonight.

“I have invited some new arrivals to come and train with us and have a few other names in mind, but have made no definite plans yet and everyone that is at the club now will get their chance.

“My objective is to finish in the top six this season and to consolidate on what we have already got. I am not satisfied with where we are now.”