Faversham Town appoint Simon Austin as their new manager

FAVERSHAM TOWN chairman Gary Smart has appointed Simon Austin as their new manager last night.

The Lilywhites parted company with joint-managers John Embery and Jermaine Darlington after only 13 games in charge on Monday and have swiftly appointed Austin.

Joe Dowley has been appointed assistant manager at Salters Lane, while Stephen Hafner will be coach, with Matt Grant coming in as goalkeeping coach.

“Simon Austin is well known around the divisions as a player, player-coach and a manager,” Mr Smart said in a statement.

“Simon brings a very talented and complete back-room staff with him. Simon and his team also have a very new age and exciting footballing philosophy, which I am sure each and every Faversham Town player will see the benefits in training and the games ahead.”

The new management team will take the struggling side to league leaders Ramsgate in the Velocity Cup Second Round tonight (19:45).

Mr Smart added: "I'm sure you will welcome Simon and his team to the Faversham Town family and after the negotiatons (yesterday) to bring Simon into the club, he can't wait to start woking with such a great squad of players and under 23's team manager Mark Taylor.

Faversham Town arrive on the Kent coast in the bottom two in the Isthmian League Division One South with four points on the board from their opening eight league games.

Embery and Darlington, former Herne Bay joint-managers, claimed three wins, two draws and eight defeats during their short tenure at the club.

"This has been a whirlwind 24 hours but I am obviously delighted and priviliged to have agreed a deal with Faversham Town Football Club as first-team manager," said Austin.

"With the backing and support I've seen from the board over the last 24 hours, Faversham is a club that has the ambition and intentions to progress in the immediate future.

"With plans for the academy and additional plans to raise the revenue for the club next year, I've been patient with my next role and Faversham Town fits all my ambitions.

"I know this is the right time and club personally for me to take on this really incredible and exciting challenge.

"There is a massive task for us as a management team to turn around our current league position, with that, things will have to change and that's not easy and will take time.

"I promise the supporters' hard work and with the current group of players, along with adding some new additions for depth to the current squad in the coming weeks and months, we are capable to turn this around to mee the objectives of the club this season.

"From a football prospective, I am looking forward to working with the squad and make improvements individually, as a group and more importantly as a team.

"The supporters will play a big part in turning this around and I'm looking forward to producing something they can get behind and bring some smiles back on their faces."

Visit Faversham Town’s website: www.favershamtownfc.co.uk