Lewes appoint Tony Russell and Joe Vines as their new management team following their shock exit from Cray Wanderers

LEWES have appointed Tony Russell as their new manager.

 

Russell cut his managerial teeth in the Kent League with Erith Town where he won the Kent Senior Trophy, before moving on and winning successive promotions with VCD Athletic, taking the Crayford-based club into the Isthmian League Premier Division for the first time.

He was appointed Cray Wanderers manager in 2015, claiming the Isthmian League South East Division title in 2018-19 and were second-place in the null and voided 2019-20 Isthmian Premier Division season and was just outside the play-offs in the curtailed 2020-21 campaign.

Russell and his assistant manager and former Lewes centre-half Joe Vines were appointed the new management team at The Dripping Pan, replacing Hugo Langton, who left the club by mutual consent after 13 months in charge of the club on 25 March.

Lewes chairman Stuart Fuller said in a statement: “Tony is an outstanding manager, with one of the best track records at our level over the last few seasons.

“There won’t be many who haven’t admired the way that Cray Wanderers have played in that period and we look forward to Tony and Joe bringing their style of football to the Dripping Pan.

“Our ambition is to be playing Step Two (National League South) and we believe Tony and Joe will build the platform to get us there.”

Russell added: “We are both excited to be joining the club, who will be able to match our ambitions to progress.  Our aim is to bring success to the club, continuing the excellent work the club has achieved with their youth players, ensuring that we play with the same integrity and values that the club has established off the pitch.”

Lewes were in the bottom five in the Isthmian League Premier Division table before the campaign was curtailed, with the club collecting two wins and two draws from their eight games and three points clear of the relegation zone.

Russell's Cray Wanderers side were in seventh-place with five wins from seven games and were a point and two places adrift of the play-offs before the season was curtailed.

Russell and Vines' departure from the club on 25 March came as a shock, especially with a new stadium on the horizon for the Oldest Football Club in London.

Danny Kedwell was appointed the Wands' new manager 14 days ago.

Visit Lewes’ website: www.lewesfc.com