Welling United's Mark Goldberg: Following Steve King’s departure as manager, we have looked at a number of options but feel that at this moment in time it is prudent to make better use of the resources available to us within the clubs hierarchy

WELLING UNITED chairman Mark Goldberg has re-appointed himself as manager after parting company with Steve King last Friday due to budget cuts.

The Wings finished in third-place in the Vanarama National League South last season and after beating Chelmsford City 3-2 in the play-off semi-finals, went down to a 1-0 defeat at Woking in the Promotion Final, courtesy of a sublime free-kick from Armani Little.

King also guided the club to London Senior Cup glory, after beating Brentford 1-0 at Wingate & Finchley on 9 April.

Eastbourne-based King was halfway through a two-year contract at Park View Road but Goldberg has today announced that he is putting his old band together again as the club come to terms with operating on a reduced budget.

Goldberg, who guided Bromley to their first league title in 54 years when the Ravens won the Conference South title in April 2015, first took charge of Welling United as manager in April 2016, replacing Dean Frost, before stepping down in November 2016.

Goldberg will manage the side again and Garry Fiore, the club’s current joint-Academy director, has been appointed director of football at Park View Road.

Hugo Langton has returned as first team coach with ex-Welling coaches Paul Barnes and Osei Sankofa coming back as assistant coaches.

“As discussed during our recent supporters meeting, we need to work with a budget that is more sustainable than that with which we operated with last year and does not put the club at risk,” Goldberg told www.wellingunited.com.

“Following Steve King’s departure as manager, we have looked at a number of options but feel that at this moment in time it is prudent to make better use of the resources available to us within the clubs hierarchy.

“With this in mind we have made the decision to appoint Garry Fiore as director of football to work closely with me so I can assume more of the football team management responsibilities whilst I still remain as chairman.

“Garry and I will work together with my newly-appointed coaching staff to take on the responsibility of player recruitment and the coaching of the first-team and most importantly to help bring through the great young talent that is currently being developed by our thriving scholarship and youth Academy programme.

“We are also welcoming back to the club Hugo Langton as first team coach and ex-Welling coaches Paul Barnes and Osei Sankofa as assistant coaches.

“We will be announcing some player signings this week, which will demonstrate that whilst we will be operating on a reduced budget, it is still our absolute intention to be very competitive with the aim of pushing above halfway, hopefully within sight of the play-offs.

“I hope the supporters will get behind the new regime and the new squad for the forthcoming season where we will at least show the highest commitment to maintain your support.”

Langton was part of Bromley’s management team under Goldberg and left Hayes Lane at the end of their title-winning campaign.

Langton had coaching and managing spells during his 18-month stint at Eastbourne Borough, leaving the south coast club in May 2017, before he was appointed assistant manager at Welling United under Goldberg but he was forced to leave Park View Road in January 2018, owing to budget cuts.

“I’m really happy to be working with Mark Goldberg again,” said Langton.

“His involvement and input with the team was the deciding factor for me to go back to Welling.

“We both know exactly what we want with regards to our playing style and also have a clear way of how this is going to work.

“It was tough for me last time for whatever reason at Welling and I feel I still have unfinished business with both the club and Mark. Welling never saw the best of me last time, nowhere near it!

“I’m really excited to work also with Paul Barnes and Osei Sankofa, two great guys with great knowledge.

“I spent some time with Paul on Monday and knew within 30 seconds that he’s a class act.

“I know Garry Fiore well and it’s a smart move from the club to make him director of football and I’m fully aware he has been developing some good young players last season.

“I would publicly like to go on record to thank both Tommy Widdrington at Bristol Rovers and Neil Smith at Bromley, who have both kept me very busy since I left Welling.  They are two top, top guys and two of the best out there.”

Welling United picked up 76 points from their 42 league outings, but second-placed finishers Woking (78 points) will join champions Torquay United (88) in the Vanarama National League next season.

The Wings have also lost the services of left-back Craig Braham-Barrett, who has signed for their National League South rivals Hemel Hempstead Town, who are now managed by former Concord Rangers boss Sammy Moore.

Welling United have previously lost two wingers in Brendan Kiernan, who signed for National League side Harrogate Town and Frenchman Nassim L’Ghoul, who has yet found himself a new club.

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com