Stuart is new EP reserves manager

Stuart had been first-team boss at Ferring for the past three seasons and led them into County League Division 3, where they finished 12th this season.

He follows new EP first-team manager Dominic Di Paola and said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve had people say to me is it a sideways step but, at the end of the day, I’m coming to a big club and am really relishing the challenge.

“Dom has been a good friend of mine for 15 years and it will be nice to work alongside him.

“My priority is to get players ready for the first team and try to have two successful sides.

“It’s a big club and I’m looking forward to being part of it. I wouldn’t have gone to manage a reserve side anywhere else or for anyone else other than Dom.”

Di Paola said: “It should be really good. I’ve known Craig for a number of years and think he will do a really good job.

“From day one, I sounded him out about the reserves job. He knows loads of players and has quite a bit of experience and is a really good addition to the club.

“We want to try to have a young side in the reserves, with a bit of experience, and develop them so they can come into the first team.

“We don’t want it to be two separate teams. We want both of our teams to play nice football. We want to have it consistent throughout the two teams that we both play good, attacking football. If we can get success as well by doing that, then great.”

EP’s former reserves manager Stuart Maltman has taken Stuart’s old job at Ferring in County League Division 3, where he will be assisted by former EP manager Paul Curtis.

In other County League Division 2 news, Storrington have named this season’s assistant manager, Nigel Dyer, and reserve team boss, James Baker, as their first-team management team for next season. They replace Ricky Hamilton, who quit at the end of the season.