Soccer Shorts: Tony Beckingham appoints Darren Anslow as his new coach at East Grinstead

EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN manager Tony Beckingham has appointed Darren Anslow as his new coach.

Former Holmesdale, Croydon and Phoenix Sports boss Beckingham was re-appointed manager of the east Sussex club despite finishing third-from-bottom in the club’s inaugural Ryman League Division One South campaign, which earned a reprieve from relegation.

Ken McCreadie has returned to the club as Beckingham’s assistant and Anslow, a UEFA A Licenced coach, comes in as coach following the departure of former Holmesdale player-manager John-Paul Collier.

Anslow has considerable experience of Kent football during his time at Cray Wanderers, Sevenoaks Town, Beckenham Town and Cray Valley before his eight games in charge of Deal Town at the start of last season.

Director of football Ray Tolfrey, goalkeeping coach Tony Prime and physio Kevin Goldsmith remain at the club.

Beckingham told www.egtfc.co.uk: “Unfortunately JP Collier has left the club but I am delighted with the appointment of Ken and Darren, who have added experience and know-how to my backroom team.

“The priority when I came back to the club was to make sure we remained as a Ryman League club and that was achieved.

“Next season is going to be tough for sure, but with a year’s experience under our belts hopefully we can push on.”

Anslow, who runs the Academy at Ryman League Division One North club Cray Wanderers, will work closely with the club’s new head of youth development (Ian Nicholls) to push youngsters into the first team squad.

Wasps chairman Richard Tramontin added: “It has taken a lot of hard work to get the team in place for next season but we are delighted with both the structure we have in place and the personnel we have appointed.  We are looking forward to the new season with real optimism.”

FC ELMSTEAD manager Danny Wakeling says 24 players have committed themselves to the club for next season.

He said: “I can confirm 24 players have committed to FC Elmstead pre-season – irrespective of the current appeal decision for Kent Invicta League status – fantastic commitment!

“There’s a few players of genuine SCEFL experience in that current 24, who I will announce in the coming weeks.

“This is very positive news for our club.”

The club finished their Kent County League Division Two West campaign as runners-up to Stansfeld Oxford & Bermondsey Club reserves and have submitted an appeal to The FA as they bid to gain entry into the Kent Invicta League next season.

They have signed and sealed a three-year deal to share Holmesdale’s Oakley Road ground in Bromley, having shared Coney Hall’s ground at Tiepigs Lane.

LEWES have confirmed that Steve Brown has been appointed first team manager.

The former Ebbsfleet United boss was brought in as interim manager in February and secured the east Sussex club their Ryman Premier League status.

Lewes chairman Stuart Fuller told www.lewesfc.com: “Steve is an A Licenced coach and we were really impressed with the way he approached a difficult situation.

“We set Steve a simple objective of retaining our position in the league and he approached that with a level of professionalism that impressed the board.

“Steve is very ambitious and has the same focus on developing some of our young talent as the board do.”

He will be joined in the dug-out by Lewes stalwart Jay Lovett, who will also be responsible for the Lewes Academy.

Last season’s assistant Dave Jupp has joined Vanarama National League South side Ebbsfleet United.

METROGAS have appointed Joe Glover as their new manager after Roy Davies left to take charge of Kent Football United.

Davies was in charge of the New Eltham based club for four seasons where he guided the club to back-to-back runners-up in the Kent County League Division One West table, before claiming back-to-back Premier Division titles.

Glover, who was reserve team manager at The Gas, was Davies’ assistant manager last season.

WALTHAM ABBEY have unveiled former Arsenal, Celtic and Swansea City star Martin Hayes, 49, as their new manager.

Hayes, who managed Bishop’s Stortford for almost a decade before taking the helm at Wingate & Finchley and Dover Athletic, was unveiled on Bank Holiday Monday as the successor to Paul Wickenden, who left Capershotts last week after five years in charge of the Essex based Ryman League Division One North club.