Erith & Belvedere appoint Matt Longhurst as their third manager of the season

ERITH & BELVEDERE have appointed former Burgess Hill Town boss Matt Longhurst as their third manager of the season.

Longhurst was appointed the manager of Burgess Hill Town on 20 February but he resigned from the role a couple of days ago, citing work commitments.

“Due to an unexpected change in Matt Longhurst’s working commitments, resulting in him having to change the location of his work, he has reluctantly resigned from his role as Burgess Hill Town FC first-team manager with immediate effect,” said a club statement.

“The club and Matt tried to find a solution that might have worked given Matt’s logistical change in circumstances however, one could not be found that suited Matt or the football club and the club therefore have accepted Matt’s resignation.

“We wish Matt and his young family well for the future and thank Matt for all he did for the club in his short time as manager.”

Former Ramsgate manager Longhurst was in charge for five games, starting off with a 1-0 defeat at Hythe Town the following day after his appointment before the Hillians won 4-0 at East Grinstead Town before losing to Whitehawk (0-1) and Cray Valley (1-3), before beating his former club Corinthian 4-1 at home last Saturday.

Burgess Hill Town have swiftly appointed club captain Lewis Taylor as his successor, with the club sitting in sixteenth-place in the Isthmian League South East Division table with 35 points from 31 games.

VCD Athletic (31 points from 31 games) and Haywards Heath Town (31 points from 31 games) are both in the relegation play-off zone.

Faversham Town (21 points from 31 games) and Corinthian (20 points from 31 of 38 games) remain in the relegation zone.

Erith & Belvedere have still not issued a statement concerning the departure of interim-manager Andy Constable after 14 games in charge at Park View Road seven days ago – and have not confirmed that Longhurst has began his second stint in charge at Park View Road, despite being listed as Erith & Belvedere’s manager on the club directory page of the League website.

The Deres are eight points clear at the top of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, having only lost three league games and have accumulated 68 points from their 29 of 38 league games.

Deal Town (60 points from 30 games), Phoenix Sports (58 points from 28 games) and Erith Town (56 points from 28 games) are waiting to pounce should Erith & Belvedere slip up tomorrow, when seventh-placed Whitstable Town visit Park View Road.

Chairman Adrian Deane has been contacted for a club statement on Longhurst’s appointment, the departures of Tony Beckingham and Contstable this season, his short-term and long-term plans for the club, etc.

His reply.

“Absolutely not.”

Since his departure in December, Beckingham has joined Adam Woodward's management team at Erith Town.