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Isthmian South East outfit Faversham Town appoint former Maidstone United under-23s boss Simon Austin as their new manager

Isthmian South East club Faversham have appointed their new manager.

Former Maidstone United under-23s boss Simon Austin takes the helm, the Lilywhites having revealed John Embery and Jermaine Darlington had left their managerial positions on Monday night.

Simon Austin, left, is Faversham Town's new manager and he will be assisted by Joe Dowley. Picture: Helen Cooper
Simon Austin, left, is Faversham Town's new manager and he will be assisted by Joe Dowley. Picture: Helen Cooper

Ex-Folkestone and Maidstone striker Austin enjoyed success at Maidstone but left last October in a surprise move.

Others joining the club alongside Austin are Joe Dowley (assistant manager), Steve Hafner (coach), Matt Grant (goalkeeping coach and analyst), Luke Jenner (physio to work alongside present physio Wayne Jones), Jak Nye (strength and conditioning coach) and Dan Foreman (kitman).

Dowley is an ex-Sittingbourne boss while Hafner played for clubs including Sittingbourne, Margate, Folkestone, Hastings and Dartford.

Town chairman Gary Smart told the club website on Tuesday night: "Simon Austin is well-known around the divisions as a player, player-coach and a manager.

"Simon brings a very talented and complete backroom staff with him. Simon and his team also have a very new age and exciting footballing philosophy, which I'm sure each and every Faversham Town player will see the benefits [from] in training and the games ahead.

"The new Faversham Town first-team management will take charge of Town's next game on Wednesday, October 19 away to Ramsgate in the Velocity Trophy, kick-off 7.30pm. All playing staff are to be at the ground at 6pm.

"I’m sure you will welcome Simon and his team to the Faversham Town family and, after the negotiations today to bring Simon into the club, he can’t wait to start working with such a great squad of players and under-23s team manager Mark Taylor.

"Simon and his team, welcome to Faversham Town Football Club."

"With the backing and support I’ve seen from the board over the last 24 hours, Faversham is a club that has the ambition and intentions to progress in the immediate future," Austin said.

"With plans for the Academy and additional plans to raise the revenue for the club next year, I’ve been patient with my next role and Faversham Town fits all my ambitions.

"I know this is the right time and club personally for me to take on this really incredible and exciting challenge.

"There is a massive task for us as a management team to turn around our current league position, [and] with that, things will have to change and that’s not easy and will take time.

"I promise the supporters hard work and, with the current group of players, along with adding some new additions for depth to the current squad in the coming weeks and months, we are capable to turn this around to meet the objectives for the club this season.

"From a football prospective, I am looking forward to working with the squad and make improvements individually, as a group and more importantly, as a team.

"The supporters will play a big part in turning this around and I’m looking forward to producing something they can get behind and bring some smiles back on their faces."

Austin, who was player-assistant at Folkestone and has had managerial roles with Canterbury City, Snodland and Erith Town as well, will be in the dug-out tomorrow (Wednesday) night for Town’s Velocity Trophy tie against leaders Ramsgate.

They return to league action this Saturday at Burgess Hill, sitting second-bottom with four points from eight league matches.

Austin will have to wait quite a while for his first game in charge at Salters Lane, though.

They host East Grinstead on Saturday, November 5 and Sevenoaks three days later but, before then, they face league trips to Whitehawk (October 29) and Cray Valley (November 1) as well as Burgess Hill and their Trophy tie.

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