Former manager Steve Tovey has returned to his original role

Following the resignation of Darren Allen, Club Secretary Steve Tovey has assumed the role of First Team Manager ahead of the club’s pre-season campaign.

Having previously performed the duties of First Team Manager from the club’s inception until 2006, leading the Positive Parrots from Division 6 to Division 4, Tovey also took charge of the Reserves for the 2006/7 season, resulting in the Ressies climbing from Division 6 to 5. Though that one was due more to the league constitution being restructured than anything else, he’s still claiming it as a valid promotion.

With current Reserves Manager Matt Tomlin preferring to continue with the second string, Tovey will take over the Firsts with immediate effect.

Tovey added: “I’m looking forward to it. Darren has left a good squad in good shape, and I’m confident I can help us kick on. I’ll be looking to continue the improvements we’ve been making from day one back in 2003 and I want to challenge for the Division 3 title this year.

“It’s not going to be easy, as there are some good teams in Division 3, but we have the quality to beat anyone, we just have to prove it week in week out. There will definitely be no chance to rest on our laurels as there are no easy games in this league.

“I’m hopeful of bringing in a couple of new faces to improve the squad, not just for the First team, but the Reserves too, and if we can regain the team spirit we had a couple of years ago, added to the performances of last year, we will be hard to stop. I’m chasing my fourth promotion with the club and the squad is good enough to get it, especially with the right additions.”

Tovey’s first targets are thought to be former Bayern Monkwick striker Christian Crissell, a ex- Halstead Town centre-back and Mersea Island’s fullback Chris Godden. He will also turn his attention to persuading several of the club’s former members who have moved on to other things to return to the fold.