Eastbourne Borough appoint Mark McGhee as interim manager until the end of the season

EASTBOURNE BOROUGH have unveiled the appointment of Mark McGhee as interim manager until the end of the season.

McGhee, 61, replaces Jamie Howell, who parted company with the National League South club at the weekend.

A club statement, which was published on www.ebfc.co.uk, said: “Mark brings a wealth of experience to the role.

“As a player, he was Sir Alex Ferguson’s first major signing for Aberdeen with whom he won the European Cup Winners Cup (defeating Real Madrid in the final) and the UEFA Super Cup.

“He won three Scottish League titles and was voted PFA Players Player of the Year in 1982. During a playing career of 489 appearances and 175 goals he also enjoyed spells with Newcastle United, Hamburg, Celtic, IK Braga and Reading. He was also capped for the Scottish national team, scoring two goals for them.

“In an extensive management career Mark has taken the helm at Reading, Leicester City, Wolves, Millwall, Motherwell, Aberdeen, Bristol Rovers and Barnet.

“He was also appointed as the Scottish assistant manager to Gordon Strachan in 2013.

“Locally, Mark will be best remembered as the Brighton & Hove Albion who led the club to the Championship in the 2003/04 season.”

McGhee said: “I live in Brighton and when the call came to ask if I could assist at Eastbourne Borough. I was delighted to offer my services.

“I look forward to the challenge of helping to improve what is clearly a progressive club trying to do things the right way”.

Danny Bloor will continue as assistant manager, as will Dean Lightwood as goalkeeping coach.

Bloor, who was brought to the club by former boss Howell, added: "This is a wonderful club to work with and I am delighted to be continuing now with Mark. I and all of us at Borough can only learn and benefit from a man with Mark McGhee's credentials and experience."

Eastbourne Borough – who are in fifteenth-place in the Vanarama National League South table with 35 points from 31 games and are nine points adrift of the relegation zone – have appointed Charlie Oatway as first-team coach.

The club statement added: “Charlie was a Brighton & Hove Albion favourite in the Withdean days and a redoubtable figure in the midfield of Mark McGhee’s team, which won promotion from Division One to the Championship in 2004.

“One of Charlie’s many claims to fame is that he has 11 first names – his parents – committed QPR fans – named him after Rangers’ entire 1973 squad (not actually including the name Charlie).

“So the Sports’ new coach goes on the team sheet as “Anthony Philip David Terry Frank Donald Stanley Gerry Gordon Stephen James Oatway. But we’re happy to stick with plain Charlie!”

Visit Eastbourne Borough’s website: www.ebfc.co.uk