Lewes appoint former Glebe boss Craig Nelson, while former Glebe defender Jamie Coyle brings in six new players for Whitstable Town

LEWES have appointed former Glebe boss Craig Nelson as their new manager.

The Isthmian League Premier Division club announced the departure of Tony Russell and his assistant Joe Vines on 20 April.

The Dripping Pan outfit finished in eighth-place last season, collecting 20 wins, seven draws and 15 defeats.

Nelson brings his entire management team with him, assisted by Danny Oakins with Bryan Nzinga (coach), Frankie Sawyer (coach), Arron Fray (strength and conditioning coach) and Sheikh Ceesay (goalkeeper coach) joining him in East Sussex.

Nelson and Pitts guided Glebe to the summit of the ninth-tier Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, before they were controversially axed with only four games remaining.

The pair were in charge for 68 games, which is the most any Glebe manager has served under chairman Rocky McMillan.

The pair departed Foxbury Avenue after losing 4-2 in a top-of-the-table clash away to Deal Town, with Steve King’s side going on to seal promotion into the Isthmian League South East Division, along with play-off winners Erith Town.

Lewes director John Peel said in a statement: "I’m delighted to welcome Craig to the club. He’s a manager who fits perfectly with our ethos of playing high intensity, possession-based football.

“Craig and his backroom staff are forward thinking people who excel at creating positive squad environments and outstanding high-performance culture.

“We are excited to have Craig to join us as we prepare for next season.”

Nelson added: “It’s been unbelievable, the process has been gruelling but well worth it.

“I’ve been managing at Step Five with Glebe. We play possession-based football, high intensity, fluid and make sure there’s a lot of energy to get the fans of their feet.”

Glebe appointed Peter Sweeney and Michael Power caretaker-managers for the remainder of the season and Glebe lost 2-1 at home to Erith Town in the Play-Off Semi-Final.

The Chislehurst-based outfit have since appointed former Chipstead (Kent) and Sporting Club Thamesmead manager Fred Dillon on a two-year contract, after the club finished in third-place behind Deal Town and Faversham Town.

Glebe have lost the services of centre-half Jamie Coyle, 40, who was appointed the manager of their league rivals Whitstable Town on a two-year contract on 27 April.

The Oystermen have announced that Ollie Gray, George Sheminant, Josh Williams, Tyler Anderson and Emmanuel Oloyede have left the club this summer.

Coyle has been busy as he looks to improve on a top-six finish and has already snapped up six new players.

Midfielder Zach Dainkeh, 23, (Sheppey United), striker Jerson Dos Santos (Sheppey United), left-back Jake McIntyre (Faversham Town), left-back Karn Miller-Neave (Cray Valley), centre-half Finn O’Mara, 24, (Faversham Town) and central midfielder Michael West (Ramsgate) have all agreed to play their football at Belmont Road next season.