This has been a very hard decision to leave Herne Bay for Hastings, says Hugo Langton

HUGO LANGTON says he is sorry to be leaving Herne Bay after parting company with the club to join the coaching staff at Hastings United.



Sean Ray led the Sussex club to the third round of The FA Cup – going down to a
4-1 defeat to Middlesbrough at The Riverside Stadium last month, their goal being scored by former Bromley striker Bradley Goldberg.

Ray has recently used his Kent contacts to bring in Spanish-born Mikel Suarez from Tonbridge Angels, after the striker recovered from a life-threatening clash off heads with team-mate Lee Browning during a game in October.

Ray also brought in defender Ben Judge, following his release from Tonbridge Angels and Adrian Stone from Faversham Town, although the striker has since been released.

Langton, who moved from Forest Hill and now lives in Tonbridge, has previously coached Gillingham Ladies, Rusthall, Holmesdale, Ashford Town, Thamesmead Town and managed Horsham in the Ryman Premier League last season before joining Herne Bay as Simon Halsey’s coach in June 2012.

Halsey had guided the Winch’s Field club out of the Kent League as champions last season and brought in Langton ahead of their inaugural Ryman League campaign.

The pair’s final game together saw Herne Bay come away from Merstham with a 4-2 victory, which sees the club climb up to fourteenth-place place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with 34 points from 23 games.

”Difficult decision to leave the Bay, I loved every minute,” said Langton, who joins Gary Abbott on the coaching staff at The Pilot Field.

”Simon Halsey is in the top two managers I’ve worked with, along with Steve Lovell.

”Herne Bay are very lucky to have him because he is proper and he will continue to be successful.

”He has backed and encouraged my move and I can’t thank him enough.  The players’ too – wow – what a dressing room! Great characters and players’ and I will really miss them!

”This has been a very hard decision to leave but it’s now one I’m looking forward to.  I wish Herne Bay all the very best and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”

Langton was Steve Lovell’s number two when the pair were together at Ryman League Division One South side Ashford United and influential central defender Ray was skipper of the team.

Langton added: “I worked with Sean Ray at Ashford and he was captain of the side when I joined as assistant to Steve Lovell. He is a proper bloke and always showed outstanding leadership as a captain and now as a manager Sean feels he needs to shake up his backroom staff and I’m chuffed he’s asked me to join him.”

Hastings United presently lie in the bottom three in the Ryman Premier League, with 20 points from 22 games, but they do have games in hand due to their epic Cup run, which took them into the Third Round for the very first time in the club’s history.

Halsey begins the search for a new number two and told the club’s website: “Hugo is a great bloke and we were lucky to land his services at the beginning of the season and he has helped us to get used to the rigours of the Ryman League.   I wish him every success at Hastings.”

Herne Bay chairman Trevor Kennett added: “I would like to thank Hugo for all of his hard work with the first tem and I wish him well for his new challenge at Hastings.”

The Bay travel to fifth-placed Sittingbourne on Tuesday night.  Jim and Danny Ward’s side are ten points behind leaders Maidstone United but with a game in hand.

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

Sittingbourne  v  Herne Bay
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 5^th February 2013
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink Industrial Estate, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB