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Hood turn to Lightbourne as new coach

Kyle Lightbourne (left) coaches at his former club Walsall last season. Lightbourne has be appointed new head coach of Robin Hood.

Robin Hood have confirmed former national team boss Kyle Lightbourne has been appointed as their new coach.Lightbourne, who hasn’t been involved in the domestic game since quitting PHC during the 2010-2011 season, replaces Andrew Bascome who stepped down as Hood coach at the end of last season.Ex-Bermuda international midfielder Meshach Wade has also been drafted in as Lightbourne’s assistant.The pair will be charged with building on the solid foundations laid by Bascome who led Hood to a seventh place finish last term after guiding them to promotion the previous season.Lightbourne had hoped to take up a position at his former club Walsall and only agreed to take the Hood reins after a move to the League One side failed to materialise.Last summer saw Lightbourne return to Bescot Stadium, his old stomping ground, where he spent some time working with Walsall’s strikers.Although he still intends to further his coaching career in the UK, Hood secretary Bobby Emmett said Lightbourne was committed to helping Hood establish themselves as a top-flight force.“It’s been a while coming to fruition because we’ve been waiting on Kyle. He was hoping for an offer from Walsall which never came due to financial constraints,” he said.“Kyle is still hoping to go to Walsall at some point but in the meantime he is more than happy to be at Robin Hood until that day.“He’s looking to go back to the UK, preferably with Walsall, because that’s where his family is.“In the meantime he’s happy to at the Hood with Meshach and we’re looking forward to the new season.”Lightbourne, a close friend of forme Hood president Paul Scope, enjoyed an 11-year playing career in the UK at nine different clubs, including Stoke and Coventry.His most prolific period came at Walsall where he scored 65 goals in 165 games.Since returned to the Island in 2003, Lightbourne has coached the senior national team, Bermuda Hogges in the United Soccer Leagues and Premier Division side PHC Zebras.In the 2007-08 season, he led PHC to a memorable treble after winning the Premier Division, FA Cup and Martonmere Cup.He has recently been linked with the part-time post along with North Village coach Shaun Goater and Bascome.