We look forward to a successful league campaign, says Sutton Athletic chairman John Ball

SUTTON ATHLETIC chairman John Ball says the club will be pushing for promotion under newly-appointed manager Daniel Kelly.

Kelly was appointed on Saturday, replacing Ben Young, who left to take charge of Glebe, who lost Adam Woodward through mutual consent and is now in charge of Erith Town.

Hextable-based Sutton Athletic finished in third-place in the Southern Counties East Football League First Division table last season, finishing behind promoted pair Glebe and Rusthall.

Mr Ball explained why the club has promoted from within.

He said: “The need to recruit into this role meant the club followed a recruitment process where people were asked to apply and a part of the clubs process meant that any internal applicants would be asked to apply first and seen before any other external applicants. This process allowed club committee members to meet with Dan.

“Dan was the club’s first team coach last season and knew and understood the clubs ethos and was already part of the clubs development and plans and welcomed the clubs aspirations to develop the club, both on and off the pitch and push for promotion after a good season last year.

“I thank all those who applied for the role of first team manager and that you all wished to be part of our club but the recruitment from within the club was something that the club, at this moment in time, wished to continue with.

“We look forward to a good pre-season and successful league campaign.”

Kelly’s first game in charge will be a pre-season friendly against Cray Valley (8 July), before playing Fleetdown United (15 July), King’s Hill (22 July, away), Greenwich Borough (25 July, home) and Bearsted (29 July, away).

Visit Sutton Athletic’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/suttonathletic/