Lordswood appoint Nicky Southall as their new manager

LORDSWOOD have pulled off a managerial coup by appointing Nicky Southall as their new manager.

 

The 51-year-old has arrived at the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club following the shock departure of Matt Barman on 1 December after 42 games in charge of the club.

Lordswood have been under interim management of Lewis Mingle and Charlie Lillis for their 4-0 defeat away to Whitstable Town the following day.

“Lordswood FC are excited to announce the appointment of Gills legend Nicky Southall as the new first team manager,” said a brief club statement.

“Southall’s backroom staff will include Ross Wiles, who has been instrumental in developing the youth set-up at Sheppey United.”

Lordswood travel to Bromley to play fourteenth-placed side Holmesdale on Saturday, sitting in eleventh-place in the table with 24 points (five wins, nine draws and three defeats) from their 17 league outings.

Southall has managed Whitstable Town, Maidstone United (assistant manager) and Dover Athletic (coach), following a glittering career of playing in all of the top eight tiers, from the Premier League right down to playing for Whitstable Town.

Southall, who departed Dover Athletic in June 2022, said: “I’m delighted to be joining a club that’s moving in the right direction on and off the pitch.”

Director of football, Jason Lillis, explained what he was looking for in the club's new manager, with promoting youthful talent high on the agenda at the Medway based outfit.

Born in Middlesbrough, the midfielder played for Hartlepool United, Grimsby Town, Gillingham, Bolton Wanderers, Norwich City (loan), Gillingham, Nottingham Forest, Gillingham, Dover Athletic, Gillingham (fourth spell) and Whitstable Town, where he was player-manager.

Southall made 18 appearances in the Premier League for Bolton Wanderers.