GRAVESEND & Northfleet have appointed former Welling caretaker boss Liam Daish as their new manager.

The former Portsmouth, Birmingham, Coventry and Republic of Ireland defender takes the reins two weeks after Andy Ford resigned.

And the 36-year-old faces a long trip north for his first game as Fleet travel to Carlisle on Saturday.

Chairman Brian Kilcullen said: "Liam comes to us with an excellent football background.

"Over the course of the last few weeks we have spoken to many people in the game and met some excellent candidates for the job but once you meet Liam you can't help but have confidence in him.

"He has the experience and is a leader with drive and insight. We are very much looking forward to working with him in trying to take this club further forward".

Ford, who had been in charge for eight years, quit the club following their 1-0 defeat to Stevenage Borough in the GLS Cup – the Nationwide Conference League Cup - on January 25.

He subsequently claimed he felt he lacked the full backing of the Fleet board over his decision to appoint former Aldershot assistant manager Stuart Cash as his number two in succession to Adrian Pennock, who had left to become manager of Welling United.

LIAM DAISH FACTFILE

1986: Began playing career with Portsmouth.

1988: Moved to Cambridge United, where he was made captain.

1994: Signed for Birmingham City.

1996: Made the step up to the top flight when he signed for Coventry City for £1.6m.

1999: Forced into early retirement from the professional game with a knee injury.

1999-2000: First season in management as player-manager of non-league Havant & Waterlooville. In four years at the helm he took the club from a relegation battle to third in the league, made the FA Cup first round twice and achieved a place in the FA Trophy semi-final.

2004: Was briefly caretaker manager of Welling United between the departure of Paul Parker and the appointment of Adrian Pennock.

February 10, 2005: Named as the new manager of Gravesend two weeks after the resignation of Andy Ford.

* KM-fm sports editor Simon Watts has been speaking to Brian Kilcullen about the new man in charge at Stonebridge Road...